[proud American in Canada]

I totally understand. I grew up in Chicago and my best friend had to leave at 6 o'clock in the morning to get the train to go downtown to work. She got home around 7 because the commute was a b****. You'll never get that time back with your little ones​... It is so great that you had extended family to help. I am sure that they will treasure that time or in some way, they will remember that. My father paid for a townhouse that was about two blocks away from where I grew up. For his mother and father. Some of my best memories are of spending time around my Babi's kitchen table. When I got my first job working in a factory, at about 16, the first thing I did with my first paycheck was buy my grandmother a huge bag of groceries. I still remember reading The Enquirer on her kitchen table with her. She was a lovely lady. :-)

[kearnyirish2]

I’m also glad they have that relationship with family before those people pass on; I couldn’t imagine having kids without that help (and now repay them by caring for them in their old age).