Grandparents raising grandchildren: How different can it be

It’s no news anymore seeing grandparents raising their grandchildren these days. This often occurs in a situation whereby the child/children’s parents aren’t available due to external or internal factors that are beyond the control of either the biological parents, not the grandparents.

These factors could be that the parents are the livelihood of the entire family and are usually off to work first thing in the morning and back in the wee hours, trying to make ends meet. They have a different lifestyle and often their children are being neglected.

It could also include other heavier factors such as when the parents are no longer alive, seriously ill, have some mental disorders, in jail or living below the normally required standard by the Government. 

Other factors could be due to a parent’s character such as being a drug addict, keeping a bad company which could greatly affect the kid’s future.

This can make grandparents assume custody and ensure that children have the necessary care in every aspect. Normally they aren’t the most suitable to care for the infants, but in these situations, they become their best hope.

Nationwide, more than 2.7 million grandparents were registered, who were dependent on the care of their grandchildren. However, this is not the actual number, there is a continuous increase in the cases of grandparents assuming the responsibility of nurturing their grandchildren each day.

In 2009, the number of grandparents raising their Grandchildren dramatically rose by 7%.

The love of grandparents at the time of raising their grandchildren is unique and clear that has broad benefits. Some of them are:

With the presence of their grandchildren, they become energetic and feel responsible for the general well being of the kid(s) being raised. 

This has a significant effect on the kid(s) as they will be thoroughly guided on whatever they need to do, due to the fact that the Grandparents already regained their sense of responsibility.

Older people usually have more experience in parenting and life skills than their children and their children's children. Why? Simply because they have had the opportunity to live longer and have more life experiences.

They have accumulated and a lot of up and downs in life gained wisdom and understanding. With all these, they could teach the kid(s) in their care with perfect consideration.

During a personal conversation with each other, they could enlighten the kid(s), thoroughly advise and impart some of their knowledge onto them. These would restructure, build and give a distinguished personality to the kid(s) among peers.

Not only would their mode of thinking be perfectly different from peers, but it would also be outstanding. You would, of course, notice that such a kid(s) behave more mature than their mates.

Surely, it’s better to allow grandparents to take care of grandchildren than allowing strangers. You can’t predict what would happen during the cause of handing over the kids to someone they don’t know and this would affect the kid(s).

Having a grandparent to raise grandchildren would be a better choice because developing a relationship between the two wouldn’t be so difficult. Grandparents tend to care more for their grandchildren and are more cautious. 

Everything that has a benefit or an advantage would surely have its negative counterpart as well. There are a lot of disadvantages of grandparenting. Such as the poor financial status of the grandparents, physical disabilities and all the other physical problems that come with the old age of the grandparents.

Some kids may find it difficult to even go along with their grandparents and this would never allow a good connection between them.

It takes a lot of money to successfully raise a child and these grandparents may not be up for the task due to their financial status. 

Normally, an older person doesn’t generate the necessary income to pay for a child's maintenance. In some cases, the grandparents may have enough money, but if this is not the case, the quality of life of the child will be affected.

An older person may not have the energy to run after the grandchildren given the stark contrast in age.

This is a very common outcome of old age and a large percentage of grandparents have this. 

Imagine a situation in which the child has to take some medication and his grandfather does not remember there is a likely possibility the hour scheduled to take the drug would be missed once in a time. 

Along the line of raising a grandchild, situations whereby the kid(s) would disobey or do things that could infuriate their grandparents; all of these will arise. Sometimes, grandparents may not have the ability to meet up the financial needs.

The good news is that there are some resources that could be of help for grandparents with the responsibility of raising their grandchildren in one way or another.

Most countries have their own aid for grandparents including defense lines and medical help. Others could be financial support.

To see the resources given to Grandparents in your state and country (USA), check Children's Defense and Benefits Checkup out. For other countries, check your state welfare office.

The federal or state government provides a platform for all grandchild to be registered for Medical support. This would somehow serve as an insurance to the grandchild/grandchildren being parented. 
 

Like earlier mentioned, the Government financially aids grandparents who have issues with finance. The support covers the majority of almost every needs necessary for raising the grandchild.

Most important of all is defense aid. Every kid needs some degree of protection, these kids aren’t the exception. The government provides all these, extensively. 

Grandparenting is a very difficult task and many of them could get discouraged over time, but there are some tips that could be used to successfully raise the kid(s).

You don’t necessarily have to depend on yourself all through. Seek help from a third party, preferably from the government. Find out about support groups around you and take the initiative to check them up. www.aarp.org is an online resource that could provide you with such information. You could also take it up with friends.

To make certain decisions regarding education and some important medical treatment like surgery, you need to become your grandchild’s legal guardian. Complete the necessary paperwork and obtain this status.

If grandparent’s income is too low to be depended on, they should apply for child tax credits or additional child tax credits for more than one grandchild. 

Don’t forget to take care of yourself. Being alive, hale and healthy is beneficial for your grandchild. If anything happens, the grandchild won’t find it easy.

Register for free health insurance for your grandchild through the government. And if there’s no free one around, apply for low-cost health insurance within your budget if possible.

Electrical appliances, sharp or lethal instruments, deadly substances and anything that pose a threat to your grandchild’s safety should be removed immediately. 

There is a pool in your house? Cover it up!

Grandparents must strive towards building a family with their grandchild. To do these, they need to establish trust with their grandkids, hear them out and encourage them when necessary. With time, you are going to have a strong and happy family if you are well committed.

No matter how much debate is being held on this issue of grandparenting, it’s never going to be an easy task for both parties –the grandparent and grandkid(s).

However, the benefits are not bad either. A child nursed by grandparents could eventually do better than one nurtured by real parents. It all depends on the circumstances placed before them.

Considering the rate at which grandparenting increases, the government needs some adequate measures to curb or regulate effectively, this issue.

If this problem isn’t solved soon, more than 50% of kid(s) would be likely nurtured by grandparents. This not only would this increase the aid of the Government in this circumstance, but it could also highly affect the rules of standard parenting and lead to poor development of kids in some cases.

Nevertheless, it would be better advised that kid(s) without parents are left with their grandparents rather than a stranger or foster homes.