This text is part of the special Intergenerations booklet
Charles-Édouard was two weeks old when he met his loving grandmother. Two months later, this woman is now part of his family. Meeting with a mother and a grandmother who may not have blood ties, but who are linked by heart.
“This is my fourth match,” says Hélène Bourgoin. Aged 65, the lady signed up for the Mamie tenderness program when she had just celebrated her 60th birthday. “I have always loved children and babies. I actually started babysitting when I was 12. Today, cradling a baby brings me great well-being. I also feel useful to help a mother,” explains the sixty-year-old, who has kept in touch with the families of the babies she cradled during her three previous matches.
Three hours a week, Hélène Bourgoin therefore goes to Jessica Béliveau to take care of her infant. “This is not a babysitting service,” explains Nathalie Robert, director of services at the Rivage de Trois-Rivières Volunteer Action Center. The parent must be present when the grandma visits, and she comes once a week for three consecutive hours. »
A guilt-free respite
Having decided to resort to artificial insemination, Jessica Béliveau did not hesitate to find out about the various respite services. “Knowing that I was going to be a single parent, I took steps to find out about the various resources available after the birth of my child. In my case, it was the midwife who recommended the Mamie tenderness service,” she recalls.
By combining this service with other types of respite, the young mother benefits from eight hours of rest per week. “I am one of those who believe that it takes a whole village to raise a child. However, I will not hide that at the beginning, when I took advantage of certain services, I felt guilt. But now I accept this choice and recommend that all parents seek the necessary help after the birth of a child. “The help received also allows the 33-year-old mother to feel more rested: she thus has more quality time to enjoy the presence of her son.
In addition to providing respite, the Mamie Tendresse program allowed Jessica Béliveau and her son to meet a loving lady. “Hélène has become an important person for me. Her gentleness and her calm soothe us, Charles-Édouard and me. His presence is reassuring! Hélène also gives me a lot of support and she is a great listener. When she’s there, I can do different things,” says the doctoral student in neuropsychology.
The Mamie Tendresse program exists in different forms in certain regions of Quebec. Information on such services is usually distributed to parents following delivery.
According to the observations of Nathalie Robert, head of the program in Trois-Rivières, the parents who use the service are generally young mothers who have absent or deceased mothers or mothers who live outside their region. The ages of the grannies vary, but on average they are in their 60s.
Only positive
The presence of tender grannies in the heart of homes allows parents to do different things. “Some will do the housework, while others will take the opportunity to sleep or take a bath. There are parents who also choose to use the services of Mamie tendresse to study or telecommute,” notes Nathalie Robert.
In the case of Jessica Béliveau, household chores and writing her doctoral thesis seem to take priority when grandma tenderness shows up. She also takes the opportunity to have a little chat. “With Hélène, it’s simple. Even without speaking, we feel good. Sometimes I just watch her rock my baby and take the opportunity to rest. »
Hélène Bourgoin savors every moment. “My relationship with Jessica and Charles-Édouard is only positive. Every moment spent with them is pure happiness. Let’s bet that after saying “mom”, the toddler will say “granny”.
This content was produced by the Special Publications team of the Duty, pertaining to marketing. The drafting of Duty did not take part.