More and More Grandparents Are Called Upon To Raise Their Grandchildren

In Kentucky (where I live) new  figures show nearly 87,000 Kentucky children are being raised by grandparents.

According to the article I read, experts who follow the situation point to struggles with drug and alcohol addiction as among the reasons grandparents are stepping up to replace absentee parents.

Other causes include abuse or neglect, and the death, illness or imprisonment of parents.
The 2010 census found that 86,788 Kentucky children under age 18 were living with grandparents identified as the head of households.

That’s a lot of folks whose life plans have been altered and a lot of children who have to adjust to life without a mom or dad in the picture.

In many cases, grandparents who once thought they were done with parental duties are finding themselves changing diapers.

The 2010 census found that 22,874 children under age 3 are living with grandparents. (Makes me tired just to think about it!)

On the other end of the spectrum, 20,392 children between ages 12 and 17 are being cared for by grandparents.

Kentucky isn’t the only state where this is happening. Many of my NanaHood visitors are grandparents raising their grandchildren.

Some of them are struggling financially. Some are fighting for custody. Some are physically exhausted.

I wish I had a magic wand and I could wave it around and make the world right for these children and grandparents. Unfortunately the world we live in is so far from perfect the best I can do is to make your stories known. Share them with me and I’ll share them with my readers, my government representatives and any media outlet who will listen. Make your needs ( and your grandchildren’s needs) known!

Remember the squeaky wheel? In this tough economy grandparent’s raising grandchildren need to squeak louder!

Email me your stories at teresa@nanahood.com  All names will be changed or not published according to your wishes.

Blessings to you for what you do! You are making a difference in your grandchildrens lives!

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  3. Grandparents raising grandchildren
  4. The Opioid Crisis and How it Effects Grandparents and Grandchildren

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13 Comments

  2. It is hard and they have sooo many challenges. Hope you have a great weekend too!

  8. I look at it as, at least they are not in foster care! Grandparents need help if they are raising their grandchildren! I am sure it is not easy and some financial aid would probably go along way for some families! have a great week-end!

  11. I know a number of grandparents in my state raising their grandkids, its hard work! New follower from the weekend hop, have a great weekend!

  12. Just stopping by on the blog hop…thanks for your writing. As a teacher, I understand the challenges of raising grandchildren. Thank you.

  13. I would guess that ALL are exhausted. Every grandparent who is raising their grands full time or even doing childcare on a daily basis has my deepest admiration. I get my grands occasionally for a few days or a week at a time and even after that short amount of time I need the equal amount of time afterwards to recover and feel rested again.

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