I can certainly relate to your story. 6 children, 23 grandchildren and 6 little greats with # 7 and 8 appearing this summer. About half of our grandchildren have lived with us, some to adulthood. Now my granddaughter and her 1 yr. old live with us. Lots of trials and tribulations but the return on those investments is priceless. All this is what matters on the last day of our lives.

Dear BB, some people can turn great challenges and struggles around with such incredible attitudes..you are one of those. Much respect😍!!

I work on the theory that any day I wake up has to be a good one and if something curly comes my way its adapt and overcome

Some people simply stand out and shine throughout these pages ,bringing joy and stories of creating happy memories in the everyday things they do and have done with their loved ones. Others do not. You boy blunder, are one of the special ones ..keep on keeping on ! 🌈🧡 As for my story and am I happy ? to answer the question you posed.. I will just say this .For now I am in a better place than I was ,,just take things day by day as I always have :) Also I would like to send out love to Smee who is clearly struggling more than we have known ,as maybe a lot of us are ,but his story down below ( one of the earliest posts) is truly heartbreaking and I am thinking of you . xxEdited 26-Mar-23 22:33pm

I have M.S. and a son with Autism my husband was diagnose with lung disease in 2020 but we still keep going in life and enjoy what we can. Nothing make me happy seeing my son getting his driving licence and going to Tafe I really have to thank the school he attended that help him transition in life.

People like you bring joy to the world, Thank you for being just wonderful. Each day is a blessing and I try to make someone smile every day, I am very ordinary and appreciate my life.

Blessings to you and your family sir. My lil fella is 9, diagnosed with Autism and ADHD when he was 4. I self referred him cos his daycare wouldn't lift a finger in helping me. He's doing so well in school Year 5 and loves his newfound friends circle. Family weren't very supportive, perseverance kept me going. Empowering myself, research and continuous support from the school helped me through all the different avenues to access support for him. You're truly a Saint Many more blessings

you're awesome....clearly a hippie at heart who loved the beatles...love is all we need! Chaos is movement and movement is life...there is plenty of time for boredom and sleep when we are dead, that said donuts and netflix are my happy place

They say you write your path before your born well I would have never wrote this life path it's a pity when before we are born we cant see our future so if we don't like what's ahead just have a reject button so I would say no I'm not happy with life

I am not totally happy yet with my life but I guess love and family keeps me going.

Congratulations with all your blessings. No wonder you are happy when you can see all the improvements around you. When my partner died just over a year ago I thought I would never be happy again - I still grieve, but there are so many people I can help and be there for that would not have someone if I were not there. My own family are completely self sufficient but a lot of friends are not so capable.

well, I can say yes to being happy, if it was not to the ouches, gosh its tough getting old

to a large extent, but on the other side of the coin, to a small extent, no- regarding future career.Edited 25-Mar-23 21:05pm

We all have our failures and our blessings

Thank you for your story. I loved it. I am happy with my life too. I actually live on my own but have two children - both of which are doing fairly well with their lives. I have 3 gorgeous grand children. To be quite honest - I firmly believe that happiness comes from your own heart. I see a lot of miserable people around me - and they appear to be their own worse enemies. Look for something positive and you will find it. Best wishes to you.

Yes, blessed life, you have! Thank you for telling all. That’s not chaos, that’s real life lived to the fullest with love. Wishing you and to your whole beautiful family all the best! Sending you a big smile

Your choice

Happiness is a choice. I choose to be happy, and that’s largely due to my faith. I lost my husband to cancer just over two years ago, and there are times I still grieve. However, every single day I see God’s amazing provision in my new circle of friends, my new opportunities, and growth in my work.

I want to be 30 again, I want to 55 kilo's again, I want to be able to kneel down and be able to get back up again without needing to use something to pull myself up. I want to win Lotto or have a million in the bank, I want a convertible coupe, a house on the harbor and I would love to be able to fly off to wherever I want business class, but am I happy? I still have all my teeth, knees and hips. We own our home and the only medication I take is for my thyroid. My husband has early dementia but I'm treating him, we have 3 healthy children who all have their own homes and our 9 grandchildren are all also healthy. Who could possibly ask for more? One would have to be extremely greedy.

You are a strong, blessed family. If all families were like yours, there would be no wars, no hunger, no prejudice, but all would help each other and get along. Keep setting the Godly example, and maybe others will follow! ;-D

You may not always get the best hand dealt to you, but what you do with it and how you live your life is what will make your life. I wasn't dealt a very safe, healthy or happy start at life, but now I'm so happy with where I am and my family that I am lucky to have. Four beautiful kind kids and a partner who loves me flaws and all.

I took the long way around to get to my happy place but I made it!

I take my hat off to you. There is no way I could do what you do. I find it hard managing life on my own. I’m 44, left home at 15 as soon as I could. Home and family life was intolerable. Constantly being told that I wasn’t wanted. Lots of violence and disharmony. I thought I I’d be truly over it by now but without the proper and normal support networks, it’s really hard. I have to keep telling myself that life could be a lot worse. I feel lucky that I’m in Australia and not in some war torn or dirt poor country. I just feel like my upbringing has left a lifelong legacy on me that is insurmountable and affects every facet of my life. Deep self esteem issues and feeling like everyone hates you. As they say, what doesn’t break you makes you stronger. Thanks for reading. CheersEdited 25-Mar-23 17:56pm

Yes, everyone has a story about their life. As a full time grey nomad I am very happy with my life. I LOVE Australia.

Anything is possible these days.

Me.

According to your problems, I have nothing to worry about and I am 74.

Well done!

Lovely to hear there are happy people. I've had some really hard times in the past but am comfortable with my life now. It's taken a long time but I'm in control of most of my life...it just takes hard work and keeping at it.

It is alright

I like boring.

Life sucks somehow!!

It is partly due to culture. Stress is a part of life in my culture and having that many people in a household is not typical. More than likely it is just their idea of chaos because they know it would stress them out. I think it's a good thing to look at things the way you do. I was taking care of/raising 8 kids myself at one time and I can't say I didn't feel stressed, but it was also something that wasn't typical of my life. I had 4 kids of my own (only 3 living with me, my oldest was already in college), got back with my ex who had 3 of his own and then we had two together and it was back to back. The second was more of an accident and I had never had 2 kids back to back that close in age. It was a lot to take on in a short time! I wasn't taught how to deal with stress well, either. So, I guess my point is, I loved each and every kid, but it's hard to make progress with ANYTHING when you don't have time. I felt like if I could just have more me time I would have been a lot better. I didn't get it, though for a long time. I can't say I love every aspect of my life at all times, but I know that if I want to make things better that it is up to me and I constantly work on improving what I feel isn't working. I feel very grateful for all the good I do have. I had a hard childhood and without it I wouldn't know what I know nor be who I am. I think it's made my life harder in even realizing for a long time is could change it. I just thought it was the way things were until I realized it wasn't. I am still working on being happier, but I know what it takes and I use it to my advantage. Sometimes I feel like the universe hates my guts, but I know better and have to remind myself. I will get there eventually, I hope!

I think that one of the ways to be happy is to be of service to someone- which you are doing with your family, "boy blunder". Also to count your blessings and be grateful for what you have.

Life is what you make it,

We all have some hardship stories to tell and life is hard but we just have to move on and get on with it

You and your wife should be very proud of your achievements, I am very happy for you and yours. I have been single for 26 years, in between a few short relation ships. I’m very independent, loving my life I can do what I want and with whoever I want. The majority of my time is spent with my grandies love them to Mars and back times centillions.

No,I need another life to do it better!

At 85 and after 63 years of marriage my husband passed away just before Christmas and I do miss him. I have a wonderful family who just completed a granny flat for me at the beginning of the year. I feel so blessed to live at the same address - altogether there are four generations living side by side and it is such a joy to see my little great grandson every day - he is eighteen months old and he is walking now and comes to my door every day play and dance with me. I thank God each day for another day to watch him grow up[.

Do you need a hand shake of congratulation. I can give you a hi-five. Life is not easy. For some of us, had a difficult upbringing, and we learned how to cope with it. so life goes on. They say, you can NOT chop off your own toe and throw it away

At 85 I am just glad to still walk my suburb, enjoy cooking our dinners and still do a little gardening, even though my hands are barely able to type these words now. Love to have a holiday but I guess we might get around to it soon, who knows!

I think society is all about solving problems and figuring things out as they truely are, so that people can find their way to success in getting the things they truely want in life (thus making them happy), no matter what their abilities or setbacks are. People often say that School is a miniature version of society. In school, I learnt that if you ever tell your teacher that you don't have any problems, they will open up your textbook and say : There are Lots of problems right here - when you can solve the ones which is part of your syllabus, you can get a very decent mark in your final exam! School teaches you how to learn and once you complete your classes you have the skills to learn new subjects which you haven't been taught yet. As a sign of Respect you rarely call your teacher by their first name. You call them 'Sir' if they're male, 'Miss' if they're female. So, it's a good thing that school is Compulsory in Australia! It's a lifesaver :-)Edited 25-Mar-23 11:46am

no im not 'happy' - but this life is what I was born into....so what ever tasks I was assigned... i guess im working through them to make the most of things. *sighs*

I am happy in my life now, second marriage and neither of us were excepted by each others children so we don't see them at all. They have all grown up and I guess some have children of their own by now. I am glad you are happy in your life and it sounds like a lot of hard work but also rewarding work. If we were put in that situation I am sure we could cope too but I doubt if we ever will be but you never know. I don't forgive any of them for putting us through what they have and not once have they asked for forgiveness and there are of course other way to personal issues that I won't get into on here. They haven't done any thing but cause a lot of heart ache and misery in our lives and we are happier left alone to do our own things. They sure did nearly caused us to split more than once. It does sadden us greatly though. I am quite traumatised from having children and dealing with others I would never want them again.

Boy Blunder I was going to respond to you earlier but I ran out of time after responding to another grandfather in a similar position, but your story must also have a response. I think that grandparents are the "unsung heroes" of today's society because we step in when things get challenging and other parties, quite often our own children, cannot cope with the challenges that life has placed on them. I'm 58 now but because I was born with a dislocated hip and to which I was the first Australian baby to have my hip successfully operated on by an Australian team in Camperdown's Children's Hospital in 1996, I had always been told, or at least my parents were advised at the time, that I would likely develop arthritis young and apart from needing a hip replacement when I get older, that my mobility would be challenged after 45 years of age, which turned out to be fairly accurate, I always knew that I needed to pack a lifetime in about 2/3rds of one. Over the years, apart from raising 5 kids and both going to University and working at night to then becoming an RN, I have had several teenage girls live with my family when they were unable to live with their own families, I have cared for my ex husband's father for years until his death at age 97 coming up to 5 years ago this August and spending 10 years effectively being my grandsons other parent as his mother was 18 when she gave birth to him and suffered from Bipolar disorder. When I look back on my life up until about 5 years ago I don't know how I managed it all, but I am enormously grateful that I did! My children's father left me for someone else 19 years ago and my FIL was a rock that helped me daily. I miss him now and I always will! But while you have the satisfaction to be able to say that you see progress in YOUR grandsons behaviour and his ability to cope and integrate into society and I hope that this continues on, in my case all I see for MY grandson is that HE has integrated all the WORST of his mother's behaviours and anxieties and now, having recently turned 18 he is a man with no future at all, no ability to manage his bad temper, no capacity or drive to get a job and unfortunately he has no more than a 7th grade education! For YEARS I had the role of feeding him, washing him, taking him to preschool and school all the while his mother told him as frequently as she could that he didn't have to do what Grandma said! One morning after returning home from a night shift and beginning the lengthy process of cajoling him out of bed +++, monitoring the speed at which he got dressed and prepared his breakfast and lunch for school, we were FINALLY ready to walk up to the school bus. I started walking ahead and telling the person behind me to hurry up, a phrase I'd used 1000's of times, but when I turned around I discovered he wasn't behind me. He hadn't bothered leaving the house because he KNEW that there would be no repercussions for NOT doing what he was told by me to do and his mother didn't care enough to make him do so. I still remember that day vividly because I realised that after years of HER blaming ME for her problems that she would destroy any opportunity her only child had of a decent pro social existence and it broke my heart! They moved out a few weeks later and the close relationship I had with my ONLY living grandchild has never been the same since. My daughter, my grandson's mother, and I are about to become permanently estranged as she has turned from a selfish child into a selfish adult and doesn't feel obligated to return my OWN car which she and her sister have been using for the past 9 months, leaving me in a small country town with ZERO public or other transport options except "shanks pony" as the local butcher refers to walking as! She believes that I am being unfair in wanting it back and sadly my much loved grandson has been turned against me, believing in my "unfairness" although I would have at ANY time past and forward given MY life to save HIS! I am grateful that I have been blessed over my life and have had the opportunity to help change some lives over the years, but now I'm poor, having lost my own home because of the divorce and also having to retire young and miss out on work opportunities when I could have had an opportunity to save money not having dependent children, but I have what I need and a roof over my head, but I wouldn't say I was "happy". Pain breaks you down physically and psychologically and I cope better being alone, except for my 5 cats of course, but I AM content! I wish you all the very best Bob Blunder and I believe that you deserve it! You are doing a GREAT job and I also believe that someday someone will realise just what sacrifices you have made in their lives and say "thank you" and THAT acknowledgement will make it ALL worth it! All the best to you and yours!

An amazing life you lead you take everyday as it comes you are blessed to be surrounded by love and chaos. So many would give to be surrounded with love and family. Whom gives a bugger how you live it’s your lives and you’re surrounding yourself with amazing people the young keep us young. Godbless amazing efforts

I live from day to day and do the best I can for my children grandchildren and my mother it all works out in the end you just have to do what you can to help them thats life

Firstly we need to be grateful to God each day when we are still able to stand on our own two feet and continue living day by day as best as we can. I lost my husband at 57, and become a widow at 47, my husband was a big strong man in good health. Everything changed unexpectedly between Friday night and Saturday Morning My husband had passed away. The biggest shock of my life still kills me, which sometimes people cannot understand or have sympathy for what you are going through. It's 4 years since my husband passed there has been a big change for me and my family, There is nothing I could change God is our dictator who wanted my husband and took him. Now I just try my best to live my life without my husband whom I adore so much and be grateful for the 25 years we were married, the memories we shared, and most of all for all the sacrifices he has done throughout the years for me and the family . As precious as he was to me then and still now all I know I could not replace or substitute ever another man to be called my husband.

Fairly happy. Things could be a lot better but my life is the choices I made.

I’m ok other than my husband doesn’t wanna be with me anymore. My kids are grown and over 18, so I guess it’s time for me to fly away…..

Bless you & your wife. It's the love & patience that you both have shown your grandson has helped him so much. I'm happy with my life. My husband is 75, has a few health issues, I'm 63, hypertension, cholesterol. We're both blessed to be here together. I just want to stay healthy so I can take care of him & our pets. They are all seniors too.

Life might seem like to have dealt you some tough cards to deal with, but, it's how you use them to your best advantage, whatever circumstances you may have, and hopefully improve things day by day

I would love to get my life back from the age of 16 and redo it with what I know now. Life for me has been one disappointment after another. I have had 'friends' and family that have deserted me so my heart has been broken.I've married twice and had to put up with so much. I am an optimistic person and have made the most of it but overall I am very unhappy with my life. Having said that I have 2 out of 4 children that are the best and 5 beautiful grandchildren, so I am grateful for that

Like most I've had bad moments, mostly medical, but that's what happened. I just carried on and would say I'm happy with my life and at 82 now can't complain.

I have just wasted eight years of my life. Finally I got the correct diagnosis. I had not really realised how much I had struggled through everyday activities. Peripheral arterial disease or clogged arteries was finally fixed with stents in both thighs. The difference is astounding. I have so much energy and able to walk shoulder to shoulder with my strapping 6' 2" husband. Onwards and upwards now for the rest of my life. Looking forward to getting out in the community and doing some voluntary work plus maybe having a holiday, which I swore I would never do as I was no company.

WOW to your attitude and I take my hat off to salute you. Well done for a loving, perspective effort.

It's a 50/50 they're 50% of people who are happy and it's 50% of people who are not You make life what it is I do believe we all regret some decisions we made in life and I also believe there's a point that we should have made in our life to make things better but we don't realize until it's too late I also believe we make our own happiness And if you don't like the road you're on take a different direction you're never too old for that

we are all delt with cards in our life and it depends on how we play them out lot in life

Like it

I have no regrets, My life has been and is full of ups and downs, laughter and tears, but my life has been blessed in so many ways I would not change a thing. We grew up before the world most of the domestic progress, water tanks, outhouses, lots of good fresh food, milk and meat, and we decided only to partake in what was essential, still have no TV, radio, credit card, Internet is for learning and surveys. Still have plenty of like minded simple living family and friends. And very happy our parents and friends taught us the simple, uncomplicated life, value of friends , living within our means and dangers of loving money, greed and living beyond our means on credit, Not always easy. BLESSINGS

I agree my husband and I have our granddaughter living with us. I just had my 4th stroke and I’ve had a heart attack, my husband has COPD and emphazema, he also had a heart attack,. It is very difficult surviving on social security and disability, but, the joy my granddaughter gives us is so worth it all. I don’t think money or status means anything but the love is so much more important than anything else.

Good on you... I wish there were more people like you in our world! I too lead a chaotic life, but I wouldn't change it for anything and I love life and am exhausted, but happy :)

We manage we have no choice. When it is family we do our best. I have a sister with issues for 40 years we help the best we can we are there for each other. Sometimes she comes to my aid as well. We listen to each other and we keep going. Life is like that, but there are also many good times and I remember them as well. We live for the good and the bad times it is life. Tomorrow maybe a good day or it may turn out rotten but I know around the corner it will pass.

Life’s challenges are life’s lessons and it is how we deal with them, make’s or break’s us! It is not always easy to see the blessings in disguise, and I for one have tripped and stumbled many times, however resilience is a strength of character, enabling one to pick oneself up and carry on, or in some cases a leap of faith. I believe that living in the moment, being mindful of the gifts of life, like natures bounty, love of family, friends and our planet. There are rewards in everything we’re offered in our life’s journey!

How awesome are you and your wife, you are both amazing people and the difference you both have made in your daughter and grandchildren's lives is tremendous and done with great love.

Wow, what an important purpose that you have in life. Good on you, Boy blunder

I am not happy where my life has taken me in the last twelve years.

Good for you. We all make different choices in out lives. It is great that you can help out and enjoy it. We all have different tolerance levels and what one can handle another can't. Continue enjoying. When people ask "how do you cope?" take it as a compliment

KUDO! I salute you, Boy Blunder and may God Bless You More

Freedom is never free.

The happy I ever been was when my grandchildren were little and I spent time with them teaching them how to make cookies ,etc..Children or pets make life better.

ENJOY ! At 60 you have years left and a wonderful chaos to participate in.

I would never say that I am happy with the cards that I have been dealt, but those cards have made me a person who is much more empathetic and accepting of other people, the choices that they make, and how they conduct themselves in the society that has been thrust upon them. There is a whole lot of people out in the world suffering, while the other half look on in judgement and down in condescension.

Bravo to you and your wife for your selfless commitment and dedication.

I am very happy with life for now.

It's all about karma, having to learn lessons from previous lives and preparing for lessons still to be learned.

As family, we do what we must for each other. Thankfully, your grandchildren have you in their life. You are a true blessing to them.

Wow that is awesome! I think that is true success what you have done for your family. Life is challenging, but with love and devotion to one's family, like you have done, one can give one's child and grandchildren better opportunities despite the setbacks. You are inspirational!

Well done you deserve a medal

Good for you and your family!! As long as you are happy the rest doesn't matter

As long as you're happy, I'm happy for you.🙂

Mate There's a bright light that shines on your home and in the face of all that goes on you draw the strength to go on every day and do what you do You are a true legend and I truly wish all the best the very best to you and your family. Edited 26-Mar-23 07:41am

I commend you highly boy blunder! You are such an inspiration to others. You have invested in your daughter and grandkids lives, meaning you have put them as top priority in your lives. They will flourish because of your love toward them. Life gets messy and chaotic; that is how we learn to thrive and grow as human beings. I took in my daughter’s friend to live with us when her mother told her to leave the house for good. She had a lot of emotional trauma, did the work and healed, finished her schooling, got married and now has 1 child. She is my 2nd daughter to this day! Am grateful for the experience! Enjoy the day!

Not me that's for sure. I had a lousy father. My late mom is great. I growing up being afraid all my life. Did not accomplish much; but at least I work hard all my life so I did have to rely on anyone.

It's really important to maintain a sense of perspective...what could be...there are millions if not billions of people worse off than you...so be happy...consider yourself lucky and enjoy your life......

I don't like the cards that were dealt to me by society (USA)! Since, you only get one shot at life - you play the cards dealt to you by society - to the best of your abilities - WHAT other reasonable options do you have (?). Still, I have two reasons to SMILE - every day - (never had any kids - got a vasectomy - to make 'sure' I never had kids - later in life) - if nothing else I made 'sure' - my descendants did not go thru the personal HELL I have endured in life. IN ADDITION, I ENJOY BEING ABOVE GROUND (DEALING WITH RACISM EVERYDAY OF MY LIFE WITHOUT ANY BREAKS) - INSTEAD OF BEING PLANTED IN THE GROUND (but I am an atheist - LMAO)!Edited 25-Mar-23 07:04am

I'm a 65 year old Grandfather, we have never been without children all our lives, we had 3 of our own and 2 have died at young ages - we have one grand-daughter who is autistic who lives with us as did her uncle who was schizophrenic all his life and died last Fathers Day at age 33 (his sister, mother of the above grandchild died 2 days after her 21st Birthday). I'm on a Disability Pension having had 5 Heart attacks and a body full of clots which means I have 40 percent Lung Function - I can now barely walk and basically cannot leave the home. I have a very weak wall on one side of my heart which will probably blow if I get another clot stuck in my heart as well as a raft of other medical conditions. We sold our own home out from under us due to the Medical expenses my late daughter had and am now renting for the first time since I was 20! ... So to answer the question I'm not "happy with my life, the cards I have been dealt, or the the position I am now in! - As former Prime Minister Paul Keating said "Life wasn't meant to be easy" but fair dinkum give me a break!

Good on you. Sounds like you and your wife are wonderful people. Yes life throws us some curveballs. We have to deal with deaths, troubles, health issues, financial issues, family dramas, you name it. We do our best and sometimes that is not enough but if you smile every day then that's a good day. Edited 25-Mar-23 08:47am