Get Ready for the Most Famous First-Granny in History

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Added: Tue. Jan 13, 2009 9:42pm
Posted in: Intergenerational

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Forget politics. There will be plenty of time to discuss, debate and second-guess. For now, hats off to the first family-elect for already providing an invaluable positive image role model -- a loved, needed, and independent grandmother.

When the Obama family moves into the White House, Michelle Obama’s 71-year old mother, Marian Robinson, will join them. The first-granny will be there to help care for granddaughters, Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, just as she did during the long campaign. For 22 months, she cooked breakfasts, drew baths, helped with homework and drove the girls to ballet lessons and soccer practices.

She’ll also become a role model for the growing number of retirees who are moving in with their children and grandchildren. Even before the economic downturn, more than 3.6 million parents lived with adult children in 2007, according to census data. That’s up 67 percent from 2000. That number will only increase in the years ahead and thanks to our new first-granny, families will know that seniors can still live an active, fulfilling, and independent life under the roof of their children.

Widowed in 1991, Robinson remained in her blue-collar neighborhood and continued working as an executive secretary despite the success of her two Ivy League-educated children and famous son-in-law. She also competed in track and field events at the Illinois Senior Olympics.

Even though she prefers to remain in the background, rarely grants interviews, and never seeks attention, the first-granny will help make a very timely and important statement about the importance of grandparents to American families. Here’s to you Mrs. Robinson.