I live within 30 minutes of my 5 grandchildren. To keep our bond strong, I follow 10 rules.

Tech Insider : Business
An older woman and young girl walk together on a city street
The author (not pictured) says that she has made sure to give the parents of her grandchildren the space they need to make mistakes.

FreshSplash/Getty Images

Kathie Lee Gifford, 72, says chronic pain kept her from running and playing with her grandkids

Tech Insider : Business
Kathie Lee Gifford
Kathie Lee Gifford says her sense of humor kept her going despite chronic pain and multiple surgeries.

Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images

I'm 65 and raising my two teenage grandsons on $40,000 a year. I can't afford to retire or get legal custody.

Tech Insider : Economy, Business
Carol Leonard and her grandsons.
Carol Leonard has been raising two of her grandsons for the past few years.

Carol Leonard

I'm 68 and work out 5 days a week. I lost over 120 pounds after getting sober.

Tech Insider : Business
A photo of a man before and after dramatic weight loss
Glen Wagner before and after losing 120 pounds by eating healthy, getting sober, and working out.

Courtesy of Glen Wagner

My grandmother handed me $2,000 for graduation and said, 'Go to Europe.' I had no idea how her gift would change my life.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
A photo of Taylor and her grandmother.
My grandmother gifted me $2,000 to travel to Europe after graduation.

Taylor Beal

I'm raising my grandson alone in my 70s and can't afford to retire. With gas prices rising, I worry about finances every day.

Tech Insider : Economy, Business
A grandmother and grandson.

Dejan Marjanovic/ Getty Images

Three generations moved in next door and formed a 'family compound.' It's helping them avoid assisted living.

Tech Insider : Business, Travel
Lauuren McCadney and family
Lauren McCadney and her family moved to be closer to each other.

Charlotte Kesl for BI

Lauren McCadney had always wanted to live next door to friends or family. In her late 50s, she finally made that happen, though not the way she'd planned.

I've got all the parenting skills. I just don't use them when I care for my grandkids.

Tech Insider : Business
Woman holding baby
The author learned how much parenting had changed while taking care of her grandkids.

Courtesy of the author

I sold my business to take care of my mother for a decade. Now I'm 72 and have to work to play catch-up.

Tech Insider : Economy, Business
Susan Freeman with her husband.
Susan Freeman works at 72 after years of caring for her mother.

Susan Freeman

Both of my parents died before my son was born. My grandmother ended up being my son's grandma too.

Tech Insider : Business
Grandmother and child posing for photo while fishing
The author's grandmother became like a grandparent to her son.

Courtesy of the author

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