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Tying a New Knot
How Grandparent Remarriage Affects You and Your Family By Becky Lane
Green says the family dynamic has not changed much with the remarriage of his mom because she lives out of town. But he sees a change in the relationship with his dad, who lives close by. Green's time with his father and his children's time with their grandpa has decreased markedly with the addition of the new grandma.Lewis says a new spouse can take Grandma or Grandpa away from the family, either by relocating or simply with new priorities and schedules, and this can make the transition more difficult, causing resentment.
Masini agrees. "Inheritances may change as a result of a marriage late in life and Grandpa doesn't have to marry Anna Nicole for there to be a lawsuit!" she says.
Both my parents decided to keep their estates separate from their new spouses' when they remarried. My mom and her new husband, who has no children of his own, kept their separate bank accounts and debts while opening a new joint account for future purchases and investments together. My dad and his new wife, who has three grown daughters and two grandchildren, did the same.
"Grandma and Grandpa may be having sex and they may be having public displays of affection,"Masini says. "They may even be flaunting their new sex life, where before it was easy for children and grandchildren to not have to think of Grandma and Grandpa 'doing it'."