Amy Goyer

Biography: As AARP's Family Expert, I provide expertise on a variety of family issues - from grandparenting to family caregiving, parenting and other family relationships, multigenerational living, family history and just about anything that pertains to families! Right now the most important role I'm playing in life is that of primary caregiver for my parents who are 85 and 88. My Take Care blog posts are about caregiving for them, and you'll also hear about my partner in caregiving: Jackson, their (our) Schnoodle dog. My All in the Family blog posts are about a variety of family issues.

In 2009 I began spending most of my time in Arizona as primary caregiver for my parnets and I return to Washington, DC frequently. It's a crazy life but I'm grateful to be able to support my parents and do the work I love at the same time!

I also write a column on AARP.org, act as an AARP media spokesperson and am a regular guest on AARP radio. Author of "Things to do now you're a Grandparent." Winner of 2012 ALTY Best Blog Award in Caregiving category and Finalist in Seniorhomes.com Social Media Rockstar Award.

Follow me on Twitter @amygoyer and Pinterest! Connect on Facebook, LinkedIn or I'm agoyer here in the AARP Online Community.

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Amy Goyer 'sPosts

Mother-Child Cycle of Sacrifice, Love and Reciprocity

Posted on 05/15/2012 by Amy Goyer | Multigenerational & Family Issues | Comments

Home & Family | Relationships | Your LifeShe was young, beautiful, capable and highly intelligent. A college degree and a couple years of teaching under her belt, she married her college-sweetheart, a WWII veteran working on his master’s degree. Within a few years my Mom had given birth to their first child while living in Germany, far from the comforts of home and family. She embraced the challenge then as she did in the future, giving birth to three more babies while my Dad earned his doctorate …

Charlisa: “Hero! She fought ovarian cancer and she won the battle!”

In One Word: Describe Your Mom

Posted on 05/11/2012 by Amy Goyer | Multigenerational & Family Issues | Comments

Home & Family | RelationshipsThe Challenge: Describe your mom in one word. The Result: A list of colorful (and some remorseful) adjectives that would even make the editors at Merriam-Webster proud. We asked, you responded via Facebook and Twitter. You sent us pictures and explained why your mom, madre, mama or BFF was/is ________. I’ve counted them all and here’s the Top 12: No. 12: Best Friend. Many have such a close relationship with their moms that they consider them to be their best …

Study: Boomers Give Up Savings to Help Parents, Kids

Posted on 05/8/2012 by Amy Goyer | Multigenerational & Family Issues | Comments

Home & Family | Money & Savings | RelationshipsBaby boomers are selfless? Apparently many are, according to a new study by Ameriprise Financial. The financial group’s recent study, Money Across Generations, polls three generations: affluent baby boomers (with $100,000 or more in investable assets) along with both the parents and the children (over age 18) of baby boomers. New findings from the study indicate that baby boomers are holding off on major purchases and instead of channeling those savings into retirement accounts to support their Gen X and …

My parents have saved this pin they received from the hospital where their first grandchild was born. She is now 26 and has just graduated from law school!

Grandparent Bootcamp: Do You Need to Enlist?

Posted on 05/7/2012 by Amy Goyer | Multigenerational & Family Issues | Comments

Home & Family | Relationships | Your LifeIn the 30 years I’ve talked with grandparents, there has been one common theme: “I’ve raised children myself. I don’t need to be told how to be a good grandparent!” In the past people tried to set up grandparenting classes, and for the most part they just haven’t panned out. Not enough interest. And yet, in recent years I’m hearing more about classes and workshops geared for expectant grandparents. It seems to be a growing trend … so what has …

Caregiver Respite: 5 Ways to Make It Last

Posted on 05/1/2012 by Amy Goyer | Multigenerational & Family Issues | Comments

Home & Family | Relationships | Your Life The magic number for the trip was “5.” Five days of the sound of ocean. Five days of reading magazines. Five days of eating scrumptious seafood in lovely beachside restaurants. Five days of chatting non-stop with my dear friend of 45 years, Laurette. It took me five days of this nirvana to finally wake up in the morning without a panicky feeling, “What didn’t I do? What do I need to get done today? What have I forgotten? What …

Grandparents: 5 Ways to Deal With a Bully (or Bullied) Grandchild

Posted on 04/23/2012 by Amy Goyer | Multigenerational & Family Issues | Comments

Home & Family | Relationships | Your LifeBullying has been in the news far too much lately. It’s heartbreaking, life-changing and all too often life-ending. What constitutes bullying and how prevalent is it? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2009 that 20 percent of high school students nationwide experienced bullying. The National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Justice Statistics reports 28 percent of students in grades 6–12 experienced bullying in 2008-09. The federal government-run website, www.stopbullying.gov, defines bullying as: Bullying is unwanted, …