Courtesy of Phyllis Cavone
- Phyllis Cavone, 76, and her 75-year-old husband are raising their three teenage grandsons.
- The retired dental assistant and police officer have cared for them since they were babies.
- Cavone said it’s been “challenging” as everyone got older — but they wouldn’t have it any other way.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Phyllis Cavone, 76, from Orlando. It has been edited for length and clarity.
My three grandsons live and breathe baseball . My husband, Francis, 75, and I pride ourselves on taking them to as many games and training sessions as we can.
Recently, however, we got sick. Another parent invited our youngest boy, Christopher, 13, to stay over for the weekend. The mom said Christopher’s older brother, Francis, 17, met them at the practice.
“Thank you for everything you do for my brother,” Francis told her. He’s such a kind, understanding kid with lots of charm. Christopher and our middle grandson, Dominic, 15, have similar personalities. “We must be doing something right,” I thought.