8 Challenges Faced by Grandparents Raising Their Grandchildren
Financial Pressures
Bringing up grandchildren by their grandparents is not an easy task where finances are concerned, especially when they have to do it completely on their own.
Grandparents may be living on a fixed income or have no additional source of income to support the extra expenses that may be involved.
Some of the additional costs associated with raising grandchildren may included health care, insurance and child-care. Some grandparents may have to quit their jobs to make financial sacrifices or cut back on hours at work.
Here is a list of possible sources of financial aid for grandparents raising grandchildren. Please make sure to check to see if these service are available in your area.
TANF - Temporary Assistance for Needy Families - cash assistance, food stamps, and daycare.
Child-Only Grant - If the household income is too high to qualify for assistance, a grandparent can still apply on behalf of the grandchildren. It is based only on the grandchildren’s income.
Medicaid - Health Insurance
Social Security Benefits - Survivors Benefits of a deceased parent of the grandchildren
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - certain disabilities rules written to cover grandchildren
Subsidized Guardianship - A program that pays subsidies to grandparents, kinship caregivers who are legal guardians of a grandchild. This occurs when the grandchildren has been in the State Foster Care System and the grandparents becomes the legal guardian.
Kinship Foster Care - When the grandchildren is in the custody of the State and being placed in Foster Care. When a grandparent becomes the Foster Grandparent of their grandchildren in State custody, grandparents must meet the same licensing requirements and receive the same Foster Care payments as Non-Kin Foster Parents.
Daycare - Free or low cost daycare maybe available for grandparents raising their grandchildren.
Local Churches and Organizations - Many churches and organizations help families with food, utilities, rent, clothing, Christmas and birthday gifts. Grandparents letting others know that you have a specific need is the first step in receiving help for yourself as well as your grandchildren.
HEALTH PROBLEMS
Grandparents becoming a parent for the second time around can be overwhelming in raising their grandchildren. Some may feel they can not keep up with their grandchildren due to health concerns or because the grandchildren are very active.
Grandparents could have chronic health conditions that may require help with chores at home and may find it tough to keep up with their grandchildren.
Raising our grandchildren some grandparents experience health problems such as hypertension , depression, insomnia, back and stomach problems and many others.
Grandparents care for your health and wellness so that you are well enough to care for your grandchildren.
MENTAL STRESS
Grandparents raising their grandchildren often deal with many feelings of guilt and resentment towards their own grown-up children for being the cause of the heartbreaking state of their grandchildren.
All grandparents are not prepared to handle the anger, grief, sadness or their emotional reactions. Grandparents feel bad for their grandchildren and children if their grandchildren experience trauma and pain.
Sometimes our grandchildren act out because they do not understand why they cannot live with their parents. Grandchildren may have behavior problems that grandparents have to deal with, causing the latter mental stress.
Grandparents if you feel anger, shame or disappointment towards your grandchildren’s parent do not take it out on your grandchildren, you might want to join a Support Group.
SOCIAL ISOLATION
Grandparents raising their grandchildren often times find no time for themselves due to the restricted parenting schedules, not enough time for other family members, friends or take part in church and community activities.
Consider finding a trusted childcare center, babysitter, friend, or a family member to take over so that you can socialize to help keep away depression and stress.
FAMILY ISSUES
Many issues grandparents are faced with are grandparents raising some grandchildren may create problems with other grandchildren in the family who are living at home with their parents.
Sometimes grandchildren want their grandparents to be traditional grandparents, and not act as parents to their cousins. The situation can cause rift and bitterness among the grandchildren.
It gets tough for grandparents to manage their grandchildren’s parents, who sometimes may make unexpected visits and impossible promises.
Grandparents also struggle with protecting their grandchildren while allowing them to visit or meet their parents. Grandparents may get disappointed to see that their children do not succeed as a parent.
Grandparents may want to create a family bonding time to explain to the family about why and what they are doing to clear up any confusion or misunderstanding.
HOUSING ISSUES
Many grandparents who are raising their grandchildren often times do not live in homes or apartments with all the space required. Most of the grandparents live in a small senior apartment, that does not allow grandchildren or have enough room for them.
Most grandparents who have to raise their grandchildren may have to upgrade to a home or an apartment in order to create space for their grandchildren.
LEGAL HASSLES
Grandparents who take custody or get Legal Guardianship and Adopt their grandchildren, sometime have a hard time getting birth certificates, and other documents can be long, frustrating and an expensive process.
EDUCATIONAL CONCERNS
Grandparents raising their grandchildren have to enroll their grandchildren into school, get tutors to help with homework, learn about special education and individual education plans (IEP) which might become a tiresome task for many grandparents.
Most grandparents feel out of touch with what’s happening in their grandchildren’s schools, colleges, because the process has changed substantially since they were parents.
Text Copyright @ 2020 By Gloria Williams Founder/President
