New Support Group Meeting at Holy Spirit

Are you a grandparent? Are you a grandparent raising your grandchildren? As we mentioned last month, The Center for Healing and Wholeness, sponsored by the First United Methodist Church of Tuckerton, will offer a support group facilitated by our own Anna Tews in our own Mary White Library beginning on June 3.

The brochure explains:

Many grandparents are still struggling with the parenting role, whether with their children, grandchildren, or both. Keeping with that, our group will discuss some common issues. The meeting will offer each of us the chance to share our knowledge, hopes and strengths. Together, we will decide what areas of concern we would like to explore. We will have guest speakers and activities. Please join us as we focus on such topics as:

• when marriages fail
• sense of loss due to the inability to visit your grandchild
• changes in your social life due to raising a grandchild
• long-distance grandparenting
• step-grandparenting
• care and wellbeing of the grandparent as parent
• real issues in raising grandchildren
• tensions between parent and grandparent

The purpose of this support group is to provide a safe environment where individuals receive support, guidance, and validation.

This support group meets the first and third Tuesday of each month, starting June 3, 2008, from 10:00 am until 11:30 am. To register, please call (609)296-8300. Walk-ins are welcome!

The support group is free of charge. Donations are always appreciated to assist with the cost of materials.

Anna tells us that she is excited to start this new service project. Holding the meetings in our Library, with our nursery across the hall, is a major help for the attendees even though babysitting is not provided.

Ernie Tews says that he’s just glad she will get the chance to use her degree in psychology!