Thank God for grandparents. What a huge role they play in the life of our children. While we celebrate Grandparents day but once a year the weekend after Labor Day, let’s remember their precious value daily. Their support and unconditional love is like silver and gold to their families.
During my own childhood, the influence of my grandparents was immeasurable. I have so many wonderful memories connected to trips to my Grandpa Dale and Grandma Helen’s dairy farm in northern Indiana. I learned how to milk a cow and care for a garden at this wonderous place.
Many lessons I learned the hard way. When holding the rope harnessed to a calf, let go if it starts to run and drag you across the barn lot. Always make sure the cow knows you’re behind it before touching it’s backside unless you want to be kicked in the stomach. Ouch! Somethings from childhood you never forget.
Grandpa Dale always had a welcome spot on his lap when he sat in his recliner. When we couldn’t eat corn on the cob due to the loss of two front teeth, he would cut it off the cob for us. In the evening, Grandma Helen was always up for a rowdy game of dominoes or gin rummy. In general, it seems that grandparents have more time in their schedule for the little things that nurture their little ones.
While I was fortunate to have both sets of grandparents alive for most of my young life, many children are not so blessed. Either their grandparents are deceased or they live far away. In other instances, it’s the parents who are absent for work or other responsibilities and the grandparents are taking on more of the care for their grandchildren. If not for my parents and in-laws, I would not have been able to pursue my medical career. Their help was crucial.
Due to many reasons, more and more children in the US have primary residence with their grandparents. In AARP’s publication, Grand Facts, they report more then 2.5 million grandparents now have grandchildren living fulltime with them in their homes. Of these, more than 1/3 have no parents present to care for or financially support their children. Almost 20% of these grandparent-headed households live in poverty. Many don’t have access to social services since they’re not licensed foster homes.
Usually the situation for a child raised by their grandparents is much preferred over foster care placement. However, this doesn’t mean there won’t be problems. An article in Psychology Today from August of 2020, points out that a troubling past plagues many of these children. They reference a study in the journal, Pediatrics which showed 72% of children in grandparent-headed households had experienced at least 1 adverse childhood experiences (ACE) compared to 31% in parent-headed households. Sadly, 17% of these children experienced 4 or more ACE’s compared to 3% in parent-headed households. Many of these children need therapy to overcome this trauma no matter how good a home their grandparents provide.
Thank God for grandparents who are willing to step in to help their grandchildren. When the parents aren’t available, they are a lifesaver. But as the statistics show, their job isn’t easy. Maybe you know one of these heroes or perhaps this is your own situation. Kudos to you! This is an area of great need and government sponsored social services are not able to fully meet this need.
Could the church and other volunteer organizations step up to help grandparents care for these vulnerable little ones? My own church serves lunches to kids during summer break and school holidays as well as provides preschool at no cost. We run a pantry for senior adults that provides items that can’t be purchased with food stamps like paper goods and cleaning supplies. I know these programs greatly assist the families in our community. What other ideas come to your mind that could help this situation? Please leave a comment for me. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.
Proverbs 17:6 NIV
I thank God for my parents and grandparents for the help they’ve given me over the years. Now my husband and I have the opportunity to carry on this precious legacy.
Love you, Mak and Thea!
