I'm 41, and I thought I'd always be child-free. I decided to have kids so my parents could be grandparents.

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Courtney Kocak with her parents and husband standing in a living room and smiling at the camera.
Courtney Kocak and her husband recently decided they want to have kids.

Courtesy of Courtney Kocak

I respect my kids' decision not to have children. Now, I need to accept it means I won't be a grandmother.

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Silhouette of mother, baby, and grandmother at sunset.
The author's kids don't want to have their own children.

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My mother-in-law often asks my kids when they'll make them great-grandparents. I don't mind if it never happens.

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Baby wearing a striped onesie and resting in grandparent's lap, grandparent is holding the baby's hand.
The author doesn't mind if she doesn't become a grandparent.

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I quit my job to look after my grandchildren. My son initially paid me $10 an hour, but now I gladly do it for free.

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A grandmother embraces her granddaughter outdoors. They're both smiling.
A grandmother (not pictured) said being paid to look after her grandchild made her feel like an "employee."

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We moved my mom in to help us take care of our triplets. We couldn't afford childcare, but we also couldn't do it alone.

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A mom, dad, grandmother, and triplets stand in a backyard dressed for a costume party.
Stephanie Ross, left, with her mom, Monica Ross, husband, Andrew Philippe, and their triplets dressed up for a costume party.

Courtesy of Stephanie Ross

I moved from Texas to Massachusetts and took a 20% pay cut to live near my parents. They get to help with our kids.

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A family of four sitting around a table at a restaurant
Kim Guillois and her family made some financial sacrifices to move nearer to her parents.

Courtesy of Kim Guillois

I'm in my 70s and don't babysit my grandchildren. I've already done my time raising kids.

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A grandmother holding framed photographs of her grandchildren.
Nirmala Sequeira, 71, loves her five grandkids but doesn't babysit them.

Courtesy of Nirmala Sequeira

Growing up we had no family who could watch my sister and me during the day. Our 68-year-old neighbor became like a grandma to us.

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Toddler girl sleeping in the arms of her Grandmother
A girl sleeps in the arms of her grandmother

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Grandparents are the key to millennial parents securing generational wealth

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Grandparents sitting on either side of a leather sofa with a baby in the middle.
Carol and John Mooney, parents of Jessica Pepi, care for their baby granddaughter, Charlotte.

Courtesy of Jessica Papi

My family always felt different. My grandparents raised me and were older than my friends' parents.

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Nicole Johnson with her brother and grandparents when they were younger, they are inside and all sitting on a couch.
Nicole Johnson and her brother were raised by their grandparents.

Courtesy Nicole Johnson

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