Wisdom of the Aged: Octogenarian Pens Senior Survival Guide

San Antonio, TX (PRWEB) February 8, 2005

For Margaret Rodgers, life with kids is never dull, especially when those “kids” are adult children. The 88 year-old has just published her first book, “The Other Way Home: A Guide for Seniors Who Live with Their Children.”

The book is a light-hearted look at what happens when three generations attempt to merge into one “happy family.” It offers practical advice about the joys and potential pitfalls of moving in with grown children. “Nearly one-fourth of the adult children in this country will host a parent in their homes at some point in their lives," said Rodgers. "My book addresses this issue from a senior’s perspective.”

Rodgers’ book is based on the ten years that she lived with her children following the death of her husband in 1992. She admits that moving in with kids is not always a bed of roses - for anyone. “There is a tremendous period of adjustment that must take place anytime someone joins an existing household," she said. "But there are things that everyone can do to ease that transition.”

Rodgers’ youngest daughter Alexandra terHorst, now in her late forties, penned the book’s afterword. In it she offers her “sandwich generation” ruminations on life with an aging parent. “It’s an experience that will challenge you greatly, reward you more greatly, and grow you as a human being in ways otherwise impossible,” she said.

Is there an equation for success when living with kids? Rodgers thinks so. “Your attitude is the key. Most people will experience some anxiety about moving in with their kids, and many do it because they have lost a spouse or have medical or financial problems. But a positive attitude can make all the difference in whether or not anything in your life is successful,” she said.

Rodgers should know. Despite the fact that she has been legally blind for over twelve years, she is eagerly working on her next project: a modern-day alternative to the traditional family reunion. Stay tuned.

The Other Way Home: A Guide for Seniors Who Live with Their Children is available in both paperback and e-book versions at http://www.SeniorInTheHouse.com.

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