Grandparents Answer a Call As a third generation native of Brownsville, Texas, Mildred Garza never pleased move away. Even when her daughter and son asked her to move to San Antonio to help their children, she politely refused. Only after a year of friendly discussion did Ms Gaf finally say yes. That was four years ago. Today all three generations regard the move to a success, giving them a closer relationship than they would have had in separate cities. No statistics show the number of grandparents like Garza who are moving closer to the children and grandchildren. Yet there is evidence suggesting that the trend is growing. Even President Obama's mother-in-law, Marian Robinson, has agreed to leave Chicago and into the White House to help care for her granddaughters. According to a study grandparents. com, 83 percent of the people said Mrs. Robinson's decision will influence the grandparents in the American family. Two-thirds believe more families will follow the example of Obama's family. "In the 1960s we were all a little wild and couldn't get away from home far enough fast enough to prove we could do it on our own,"says Christine Crosby, publisher of grate magazine for grandparents. "We now realize how important family is and how important to be near them, especially when you're raising children." Moving is not for everyone. Almost every grandparent wants to be with his or her grandchildren and is willing to make sacrifices, but sometimes it is wiser to say no and visit frequently instead. Having your grandchildren far away is hard, especially knowing your adult child is struggling, but giving up the life you know may be harder. What was the reaction of the public to Mrs. Robinson's decision?
17% expressed their support for it. Few people responded sympathetically. 83% believed it had a bad influence. The majority thought it was a trend.