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Grandparenting
Grandma. Gran. Grandad. Grandmother. Grandfather. Granny. Paw-Paw. Perhaps
your favorite title for your grandparents is one of these. Most of us can remember
some special term or characteristic of our grandparents. My "Granny" knew just
how to get her grandchildren into a cool swimming pool in the middle of August
or into bed at night. She just said her favorite warning, "Last one in is a
rotten egg!" For most of us, grandparents are or were the anchor that holds
a family together and provides a source of inspiration for all. Recently, however,
new concerns in grandparenting began to emerge, such as grandparents' rights
to see their grandchildren after the parents divorce and grandparents raising
their own grandchildren.
A number of reasons have increased the number of grandparents raising their
grandchildren, including the incarceration of parents, drug use, and the AIDS
epidemic. It has been estimated that at the dawn of the 21st century 125,000
children will have lost their mothers because of AIDS. Often these children
wind up in a grandparent's home. As may be expected, this new responsibility
puts immediate economic strain on these older persons.
Church leaders can help these older persons by recognizing the special challenges
they face. Grandparents who are raising grandchildren face problems with their
own health and access to health care. Frequently they face depression and tend
to delay seeking care for themselves, especially with emotional problems. As
might be expected, they have fewer contacts with their friends, and their marital
satisfaction declines.
Church leaders can improve the quality of life of grandparents who are raising
grandchildren by offering support groups, which can offer important short-term
emotional and informational provisions. AARP offers assistance through its Grandparent
Information Center. They operate a computerized database of support groups and
services.
Today's grandparents are in the midst of widespread dissolution and reconstruction
of families, making kinship relationships more complicated. Researchers often
speak of the "sandwich" generation, those who are simultaneously taking care
of younger children and teens as well as older parents. These demands are often
intense and competing. That is, these adults must make inevitable choices between
caring for their children and their parents. Furthermore we are seeing the phenomenon
of great-great grandchildren as the population ages, and 75 percent of adults
can expect to become grandparents. Another indication of 21st-century changes
in grandparenting is the emergence of adult grandchildren, whereas in earlier
years the attention was on much younger grandchildren.
For further reading:
AdultApplication: Does
your church have grandparents who are caring for grandchildren part- or full-time?
Some may be caring for grandchildren while parents work. Even this can be draining
and confining for senior adults. How can your church support these grandparents
and help to meet their needs?
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