By SYDNEY SCHWARTZ
The Patriot Ledger

One in a series of stories chronicling the needs of South Shore residents who will benefit from The Patriot Ledger's Lend a Hand holiday fundraising campaign. Please consider making a donation by clicking the link below.

BRAINTREE - Most days Anne doesn’t get to bed until about 11 p.m. But the sound of crying toddlers has her up again within a few hours.

Anne and her husband, Joseph, both in their 50s, thought they would be done raising kids at this age.

But earlier this year, the couple adopted their 20-year-old daughter’s two children, who both have special needs. —

‘‘I thought we were all done with that,’’ Joseph said as he sat in a Head Start office in Braintree where the couple’s 3-year-old grandson attends preschool.

‘‘My house isn’t big enough. I need a bigger house,’’ Anne added.

Anne and Joseph adopted their grandsons in February, after the state took them away from their daughter and her former boyfriend.

Jacob, 2, is autistic. Nicholas, 3, is being evaluated for possible developmental delays.

Adding to the grandparents’ troubles, Joseph has been out of work for the past year because of an injury that required surgery. The family’s primary source of income is workers’ compensation, and that isn’t enough to pay the mortgage and monthly bills and feed the kids.

‘‘I try to pay whatever comes in - like pay one, let one go, then get my check, pay that one off,’’ Joseph said.

Joseph also takes care of his mother, who lives down the street and needs 24-hour care. He doesn’t think he’ll get back to work any earlier than March.

The family is reluctant to ask for help, but Anne says their financial struggle is too much to handle alone. She has been using credit cards to buy everyday items.

‘‘We’re getting by,’’ Joseph said. ‘‘We’re eating spaghetti and stuff and like that.’’

Anne and Joseph want to do all they can for their grandchildren, but taking care of the boys is a lot of work.

Anne spends a lot of her time taking care of Jacob and bringing him to appointments. Nicholas is enrolled in Quincy Community Action Programs’ Head Start program and receives other services through that agency.

‘‘I cook, clean and take care of the kids,’’ Anne said. ‘‘I just want to have one day to myself; mMaybe two days to relax.’’

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Sydney Schwartz may be reached at sschwartz@ledger.com .

Copyright 2007 The Patriot Ledger
Transmitted Friday, December 28, 2007

The boyfriend was on drugs, Joseph said, and his daughter ‘‘wanted to go to parties and be with him.’’ They spent a lot of time in court, since the father’s family was also fighting for custody of the boys.