DEAR ABBY: I have an amazing grandmother who has five daughters, one son, and more than 30 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She has been widowed for 10 years. She lives on her own after a short second marriage that ended quickly in divorce. Her only companions now are her dog and her fellow residents in an independent living home for seniors.
Gran is able to drive, but chose not to buy a car, so on my only day off, I feel guilty if I don't take her to the places she needs to go for the week. She says I'm the only one in our large family she can rely on. Most of us live fairly close by, but I'm who she calls for emergencies, to take her to the hospital or simply the grocery store.
I love her and jump to help because I would hate to see anything happen to her. But what can I do, Abby? I feel like I'm having to make up for what others are not doing for their mother and grandmother. -- CARING GRANDDAUGHTER IN KENTUCKY
DEAR GRANDDAUGHTER: Your feelings are accurate; what's happening is unfair to you. I suggest that you discuss this with your parents, aunts, uncle and cousins and see if perhaps each family unit would be willing to help your grandmother with these errands on a rotational basis -- say a week a month. There are so many of you that it wouldn't be onerous.