Grandparents Raising Children: The Effects The substantial increase in the number of grandparents assigned as primary caretakers for the well-being of their grandchildren is on the rise in society. Grandparents play a significant part in the life of the child but when grandparents assume the parental role and take on the duties and responsibilities of a custodial parent, several stressors can surface which may cause strain within the family structure. This paper will examine the emotional and social effects this placement has on the grandparents, discuss possible challenges that may arise and briefly incorporate research on consequences that develop in the child due to lack of support and resources. Developments The number of grandparent headed families is rising. As Edwards and Daire (2011) indicate that in the United States, there are approximately four billion grandchildren who have grandparents that serve as their primary caretakers. There is limited research on the academic effects this type of family structure has on the child, but evidence does support the fact that stress developed from the change eventually transcends to the child. Grandparents who raise grandchildren tend to have elevated stress that often “negatively impacts the child’s well-being such as behavioral, emotional, and academic” …show more content…
The purpose of grandparent headed families include keeping the family unity, reducing separation trauma, providing stability for the child, and reinforcing cultural identity (Kelch-Oliver, 2011). Certain challenges are anticipated when grandparents have limited access to resources and the support needed. These challenges influence the way grandchildren are educated and nurtured. As a result, stressors accumulate affect grandparents emotionally, and in return influences the child
The story “Adam Robinson Acquires Grandparents and a Little Sister” by Edward P. Jones, published in his collection of short stories All Aunt Hagar’s Children, tells the story of Noah and Maggie Robinson as they take their grandson out of foster care. The story could be said to primarily be about the importance of family bonds, and about establishing and reestablishing them, but it also is very strongly focused on the difficulty in handling and rebuilding a family for grandparents who must take responsibility for their grown children’s children. This very severely stresses Noah and Maggie in ways that impact their expectations about how they would be leading their lives at this phase of their marriage, after having completed their own child rearing and finally reaching a stage where they could focus on their own plans. They now see themselves having to deal with often difficult issues that they had not previously faced while raising their own children. In general, though it seems that grandparents raising their grandchildren in place of the parents is just an un-dramatic variant of the basic function of a family where those parents may sometimes not be available, it can be very stressful on the grandparents, negatively affecting their everyday lives and their enjoyment (Mills, Gomez-Smith and De Leon 194) and upturning life plans (Fitzgerald pp). This is true in spite of the fact that this may ultimately be the far better alternative in this situation (Koh, Rolock and Cross). While having the grandparents raise the children is the better alternative to neglect, abuse or an unstable situation, it is potentially complicated, however, by the behavioral and emotional problems that can often affect children who have been through the ...
According to Dyk, the family life has become complicated because of a number of stressors. These stressors include the difficulties that people face on a daily basis, in shape of physical, emotional and psychological needs. Moreover, while families have to maintain social relationships,
As the above quote shows, parents are customarily seen as willing to to do anything and everything for their children's safety and health. Their perpetual love for their offspring allows them to willingly put themselves in any situation, if it benefits their children. This powerful love also extends greatly to grandparents. Due to their elderly age, many grandparents are viewed as incapable of providing sufficient care for their grandchildren. Although age does act as a roadblock, grandparents love for their grandchildren overcomes this. In “A Worn Path”, a short story written by Eudora Welty, the protagonist Phoenix Jackson defies
Healthy families foster environments of safety and relationships that are grounded on trust. One major factor in healthy family systems is positive parenting. Both Brooks (2014) and Feldman (2014) advocated the authoritative parenting as being the most beneficial for growing children. Generally within this style of parenting, Brooks noted that these types of parents provide emotional security and build up self-esteem in their children. Clear Rules are given, but they can be somewhat flexible and can come with explanations if the children would want to discuss the reasoning behind the rule (Brooks, 2013). Feldman explained that the environment that these parents create by parenting in this manner exudes warmth and support. Another factor in healthy family systems is that they lay the foundations for positive growth. Because open communication with the children is a common practice in this family life, the children are able to strengthen their communication and social skills (Brooks, 2013). Feldman supported that fact and added that with an environment that provides a strong sense of security, children are better able to make and maintain lasting relationships. With the safe, emotionally se...
4.14).” “Major issues that confront families include financial pressures and money management; trying to balance home, work, community, and personal responsibilities; infidelity; decision making and conflict resolution; dealing with health problems; addressing personal, educational, and occupational needs of family members; maintaining a home and household; dealing with substance abuse, crime, or domestic violence problems; co-parenting; divorce and stepfamilies; and dealing with aging parents. The family shoulders a tremendous responsibility and usually requires assistance from others as a result (Vissing, 2011 sect
Many parents have multiple children, while working a nine to five job, attending family activities and meetings, and staying on top of bills and home duties. Family life can get hectic and parents may not take the time to realize their importance in their child’s academics. Some parents may be too busy, and others may simply not care, but their involvement in their children’s life is essential. Whether parents or children realize it, involvement of parents in children’s lives positively affects their children’s academic success at all grade levels, including elementary, high school, and even college.
Parenting can be a challenge the first time around, but many parents are finding themselves parenting for a second time, this time around, as the child’s grandparents. Grandparents may assume the role of parent for their child’s children when there are problems of substance abuse, abuse and neglect, incarceration, HIV/AIDS, mental illness, divorce, and death. (Dolbin-MacNab, 2006, p.1) Grandparents usually are not expecting to have to parent again, this is the time most are enjoying their new found freedom. They expect to have a freedom to choose what they want to do, come and go as they please without the responsibility of another human being. Due to the many years they have not been parents, many grandparent will need to be educated on the recent changes to being parents. Some of the areas may include: child development, newly discovered childhood disorders such as ADHD or ADD, depression, and conduct disorders. (Dolbin-MacNab, 2006, p.2) In many instances the grandparents will shape their parenting of their grandchildren by how they raised their own children and where they are now socioeconomically. (Dolbin-MacNab, 2006, p.3) Many of the grandparents interviewed for this study described the feeling of “personal satisfaction” as they tried to do things differently with the raising of their grandchildren than they did with their own children.
Within this population, children are most vulnerable. The “cycle of stress” can create a circular continuum of stress from one generation to the next in the A.A. community (Robinson, 2015). Throughout the lifespan, stress can change or
As you can imagine, the financial cost and responsibility of caring for an aging parent are not the only demands family members must face. Most of the concerns and hardships these caregivers deal with are ways to address the needs of their parents while making sure they still provide them with the necessities. Eldercare creates a complex situation in which traditional roles of parent/child relationships are revealed. You may already be in that position or soon looking at it of being part of the 'sandwich generation', providing support for your own children as well that of your parents. Physically as well as financially.
They say grandparents, are the two most favorite people in the world to children. Grandparents are the main characters of your childhood, they are the ones that leave you with the most beautiful memories of your life. Some grandparent’s teach you a very valuable lesson of life, they teach you respect, hard work, family values, and unlimited love. They show you their love in many ways, they say I love you in words as well as actions. Grandparents are the ones that sometimes get you out of trouble and guide you to the correct path. They show you trust, a trust that cannot never be broken.
I have a lot of cousins; therefore I am not the only grandchild for my grandparents. However, I was the only one that was raised by my grandparents. They spent the most of their times on me compared to my other cousins. For example, I slept with my grandma when I was young. Because of my body was weak, and my hands and feet usually cool all night, my grandma always held my hands and feet to make my body warm. She was told me fairy-tales or real stories at night when I was sick, because she wanted me to feel better. When I was little girl, on the family trip, grandpa always carried me, because he didn’t want me to walk too long. Living without the parent, it made me sad but my grandparents given too much love on
The data came from a 23-year intergenerational, seven-wave panel study of mothers and their children. The mothers were selected...
Extended family can influence the upbringing of children in multiple ways. To properly review and analyze research in this particular area, it is necessary to highlight important information from which this foundation was formed. Extended family members have direct influence on children by serving as their role models in aiding them with success, encouragement, support and guidance (Jger, 2012). Grandparents, crucial extended family members, who have direct interaction with their grandchildren when they are in need of help or assistance. Grandparents most likely will step in whenever their grandchild is experiencing a crisis, such as the death of a parent, divorce, or illness (Dunifon, 2013).
I am a product of “other-parenting”. This is when extended kin provide care for a child and complement or supplement what parents can or cannot provide (Beyond the Nuclear Family, 2011). As early as I can remember as a child, my family has always been involved in my life. Being the first born child of teenage parents - my mother was sixteen and my father was nineteen, the responsibility of raising me was shared by my grandparents, aunts and uncles; the same was true for my sister who was born three years later. Though my parents were not married, my father’s presence was so consistent in our lives, we did not miss the fact that he did not reside in the home with us. My uncle lived with my mom, my sister and I, so he served as the authoritarian when my father was not present. Growing up in a home with extended kin gave us a strong sense of security because my uncle was able to step forward and fill in the gaps.
Societies each have different concepts revolving around the idea of the family unit. While some societies encourage a strong independence from their families, other societies advocate for interdependence, relying on each other for many needs. These needs can extend to child rearing practices, as instilling these family values begin at a very young age. In quite a few societies that encourage interdependence, the family unit is very close knit, stretching into extended family members as well. Due to the close-knit family dynamics, a mother has the possibility of raising multiple children at the same time. Because of this, juvenile offspring often assist the mother in the child rearing process. Juveniles then have to allocate their time differently than they would if they did not have to care for other children.