Raising Your Grandchildren Grandparenting Matters

You thought you were done raising children. But now, unexpectedly, your child isn't able to raise their own kids, so you step up to fill in the gap. But what comes next? Do you have the energy to get the job done? Are you equipped in this ever-changing world? And will you be able to help your grandchildren draw close to the God you love? In Raising Your Grandchildren, you'll discover the practical tools as well as the encouragement you need to find hope in Christ and strength for the journey. With wisdom and compassion, this book focuses on common emotional and spiritual challenges, and along the way readers will hear true stories from other grandparents going down this road themselves. No one expects to be a grandparent raising a grandchild, and it can be a daunting task. But take courage--it can also be a blessing. Let this book be your guide to finding hope and joy in the journey.

You are not alone if you are one of the staggering numbers of grandparents who are raising their grandchildren! Are you confused by the generational gaps, challenging communications, and tough questions like, “Why are my parents so old? Why is my father in jail? Why doesn’t my mother show up to visit when she promised?” The Sacred Work of Grandparents Raising Their Grandchildren is the first book that contains answers and stories to address these unique issues and challenges—from one grandparent to another. You’ll enjoy the practical suggestions on how grandchildren can manage and solve some of their own problems, while learning how to cope with your own distinctive life challenges. As a parenting grandparent, a kinship caregiver, a teacher, or a social service worker, you must read this book for invaluable insight. No other book takes on the complex challenges that parenting grandparents face with such depth and truth. How relieved and grateful you’ll be for the inspiration, knowledge and wisdom by the time you reach the conclusion! “Through the stories told by grandparents themselves, Elaine K. Williams reveals the challenges, commitment, and love experienced by grandparents raising their grandchildren. This book not only provides understanding and helpful information, but will also touch the hearts of all who read it.” —Sandy P., a grandparent who raised a grandchild “I’ve waited five years for this wonderful author, Elaine K. Williams, to complete her groundbreaking gathering of knowledge from three generations so that we can clearly see the patterns of grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. The most important points are to help grandparents understand the dynamics of the emotional and behavioral challenges their grandchildren face, and the impactful trauma that all generations experience. She brings the keys of caring, connection, and communication forward to assist families to heal. Highly recommended.” —Dr. Caron Goode, EdD, NCC, author of the award-winning book Raising Intuitive Children

A practical and supportive manual containing a 14-session workshop designed to help grandparents who are raising their grandchildren alone, written by a social services professor at Fordham University. Intended to be used by group leaders teaching a workshop, themes covered may be expanded or revised to fit the needs of a particular work group.

Are you one of nearly 3 million grandparents across North America raising your grandchildren as part of a grandfamily? You may have done all this parenting stuff before, but times have changed since you raised your own kids, and you likely never thought you’d be raising kids again. What has led to all these family issues and the growing need for grandparents to step up? Now more than ever, substance use and addiction have made many birth parents simply unfit for the job, whether the problem is alcohol, opioids, or other drugs. Family dynamics might also be undermined by parents’ mental health or medical problems, incarceration, or a simple lack of preparedness for family responsibilities. Whatever the reason for your new role, you must now help your grandchildren adjust to their extended family as part of their everyday life, through the best care you are able to provide. While your new role means that you will likely have to change the way you live, the kinship care you provide your grandchildren might make all the difference in the world. In The Grandfamily Guidebook—which leading medical experts have called a “must-have” resource for grandparents raising grandchildren—authors Andrew Adesman, MD, and Christine Adamec offer expert medical advice, helpful insights gleaned from other grandparents, and data mined from the 2016 Adesman Grandfamily Study—the broadest and most diverse research study of its kind to date. You’ll also find hands-on tips you’ll be able to reference whenever you need them, including how to cope with difficult birth parents, school issues and social-life challenges, problem behaviors that stem from a difficult past, and your own self-care. Starting with its foreword by the renowned Dr. William Sears, across this book you will find practical, inspiring help as you navigate the financial impacts, legal considerations, and medical issues that commonly arise when grandparents and grandchildren start becoming a grandfamily.

If you are a grandparent raising your grandchildren, help has arrived. According to the US Census Bureau, more than 10% of all grandparents in the nation are raising their grandkids, and the number is going up. You may be one of the millions of these grandparents and it's a role you never expected. Willing as you are to assume this role, you have some questions. How will I find the energy for this? Is my grandchild normal? What if I "blow it?" Each day, you look for ways to make life easier. This book will: •Help ease your worries and guilt; •Offer tips for creating a grandfamily; •Give methods for improving grandparent-grandchild communication; •Suggest ideas for how you can connect with your grandchild's school; •Provide child development information; •Recommend approaches to help your grandchild set goals; •Stress the importance of having fun together; •Offer ideas of how to foster your grandchild's hopes and dreams. So, You're Raising Your Grandkids blends Harriet Hodgson's wise and moving grandparenting story with recent research and findings. It shares her 21 years of caregiving experience, including seven years of raising her twin grandkids. Each chapter ends with What Works, proven tips for grandparents raising grandkids. At the end, you'll cheer for all the loving grandparents---including you---who are putting grandchildren first.

About the Book Our Grandfamily is an honest, yet reassuring look at the struggles and joys of living in a skip-generation family. Designed as a flip-sided book, dual stories allow readers to experience a unique type of family arrangement from the perspective of both grandparents and grandchildren. With humour, heart, and highlighted feeling words to inspire conversation, Our Grandfamily is both entertaining and educational. About Skip-Generation Families The portrait of the North American family is changing dramatically, with skip-generation families becoming increasingly common. These special households consist of grandparents and grandchildren living life together. The middle generation, parents, are absent from the home - but still loved. This complex style of family faces numerous challenges and support can be difficult to find. The purpose of this book is to raise awareness of Grandfamilies, to reduce the isolation felt by many grandparents and grandchildren, and to encourage meaningful discussions both within skip-generation families and throughout the broader community. About The SHARE Project Our Grandfamily is the result of the collective efforts of those involved in The SHARE Project. SHARE stands for Skip-Generation Families Helping Others through Awareness Resources and Education. The project was inspired by grandparents and grandchildren living in skip-generation families in Calgary, Alberta and was generously funded by the Government of Canada's New Horizons for Seniors Program. In addition to this children's book, the SHARE Project group also produced a resource for grandparents titled, Lasting Legacy: A Handbook of Guidance and Hope for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. This resource is available free of charge at www.childrenslink.ca.

If you have grandchildren, you know full well that grandparenting is an experience that makes your heart soar. From the time you first lock eyes through the years that follow, making memories with your grandchildren brings wonder and delight beyond measure. But making memories is only the beginning of what's in store for this blessed and unique time. The H.E.A.R.T. of Grandparenting both celebrates and empowers grandparents for living their journey with success. Through his research, Biblical insight, and personal wellspring of knowledge, bestselling author and granddad of eleven, Ken Canfield wants to impart what he's learned to you: five keys for being the best grandparent possible. Regardless of miles that separate or blended families to maneuver, your chances to be active and connected can change your family, even the world, one grandchild at a time! Book jacket.

Over six million children live in grandparent-headed households in the United States today. The number continues to rise.