It's a fact of life these days that so many marriages don't survive. Sad too, that often the grandparents are likely to be full time carers of their grandchildren after such breakup.

It doesn's seem fair.

I've seen it often. The parents are not keen on the marriage or union - often there is already a baby on the way. Reluctantly they give their support to the marriage, and soon they are grandparents.

When the marriage breaks up, it is the grandparents who often have to pick up the pieces.

Not only do they have a traumatised son or daughter, but traumatised grand children as well.

I was speaking with one such grandfather today. Several years ago, against his parents wishes, one son went ahead with a union that already was showing signs of faltering.

Four years on, the wife is gone, and the son comes home with two small children.

What disruption! Grandmother can no longer do what she wanted to do - in fact she had quite a neat little business, but no longer has the time. Grandfather is really over having his small house overrun with two toddlers - as much as he loves them, his whole life is turned upside down.

And it looks like the situation will continue for some time. The soon to be ex-wife doesn't want the children, the son needs to work, and grandmother and grandfather want their life and their house back.

Whoa! What is happening?

I think I'll move home and leave no forwarding address!