According to some statistics, the number of grandparents and relatives helping to raise kids has increased and is expected to increase.
Grandparents parenting image: sxc.hu
Many of these are doing it on their own when parents can’t or won’t. Some even are raising great grandchildren. This even includes adopting these children. If grandparents aren’t raising grandchildren on their own, they are helping.
Both my husband and I grew up in multigenerational households with grandparents living with us all or part of the time. They pitched in with child care and helped our moms who were busy with farmwork. When our daughter was younger, we sometimes lived with my husband’s brother and his family. Or their children were at our house much of the time. My mother-in-law, at various times helped raise one or more of her grandchildren and might have them living with her and Dad for awhile. It was a matter of everyone pitching in to help.
When relatives can pitch in to care for children and give them the security of a family environment, it usually works out better than for children to be shuttled from foster home to foster home. A friend is in the process of adopting her 8-month old grandson. Even though she never expected to raise children again, other than helping out with grandchildren, she wants to know who is caring for the baby and have input into his upbringing. So adopting him is the solution for him and her.
For more information of grandparents raising grandchildren and great grandchildren, you may like to read Peggy O’Hare’s informative article, More Grandparents Parenting Again.
Post from: Blisstree