| Almost 4 million grandparents are raising their | | | | their own sense of self-respect, self-confidence, |
| grandchildren. Grandparents are caring for | | | | self-esteem and self-identity, can come a sense of |
| approximately five and a half million children across | | | | joy in meeting these needs. The presence of |
| the nation. Actually, 10% of all grandparents have | | | | grandchildren can often bring a sense of self-renewal |
| been their grandchildren's primary caregivers at one | | | | to their grandparents. |
| time or another. Of course, to some extent, there | | | | The positive aspects of custodial grandparenting |
| have always been custodial grandparents. However, | | | | include the opportunity to feel fulfilled emotionally, to |
| this situation is on the rise, and there seems to be no | | | | meet new groups of people, and to have a strong |
| tendency toward a decrease in the future. The 1994 | | | | positive impact on the future of your family. These |
| Census indicates that the number of grandparents | | | | positive aspects are both emotional and biological. It is |
| raising grandchildren increased by thirty-six-percent in | | | | very important to be present for children who have |
| a one year time span. | | | | had difficult living situations. Grandparents raising |
| Since 1992, according to a Census Public Information, | | | | grandchildren may act as attachment figures who |
| report (CBOO-FF) dated September 2000, the | | | | provide a sense of positive identity and continuity to |
| number of children who live in homes that are | | | | a family. Of course, these aspects are always |
| maintained by their grandparents has increased by | | | | essential to the upbringing of any child: Stability, a |
| 641,000. Their grandparents today because of the | | | | calming influence, dependability, and unconditional love. |
| dramatic increase in parental incarceration, divorce, | | | | There are many challenges to grandparents raising |
| desertion, AIDS, substance abuse, child abuse and | | | | grandchildren. These include adjustments to finances, |
| neglect, raise many more children. | | | | physical accommodation, and emotional life. Raising |
| There can be much happiness and joy, along with | | | | grandchildren can hinder grandparents' relationship |
| personal fulfillment and satisfaction for grandparents | | | | with their children. Many of them, in fact, experience |
| raising grandchildren, another generation of their | | | | grief for the real or emotional death of a child. Many |
| family. Along with the parenting challenges that come | | | | times, custodial grandparents are dealing with their |
| with the need to give their grandchildren a sense of | | | | own feelings of embarrassment, failure and guilt. |
| security and stability through the encouragement of | | | | |