| Our twin grandchildren have lived with us for | | | | Read the GRG blogs and you will find many are |
| almost three years. My husband and I became | | | | living in poverty or close to the poverty line. |
| GRGs -- grandparents raising grandchildren -- after | | | | GRGs need support -- someone to talk to when |
| their parents were killed in separate car crashes. | | | | the going gets tough. "Grandparents may feel a |
| Like other GRGs, we love our grandchildren dearly | | | | desire to talk with people who are in a similar |
| and are happy to care for them. But like many | | | | situation and to have a support network to rely |
| GRGs, we feel like generational misfits. | | | | upon as questions and concerns arise," the |
| The twins are high school seniors and turn 18 in | | | | Montana State University articles notes. While this |
| February. We don't fit in with other high school | | | | is good advice, it may not be possible. I tried to |
| parents because we are older. This is very | | | | find a GRG support group in my community, only |
| apparent at concerts and gymnastics meets. | | | | to find it had been disbanded. Until they moved |
| Some parents stare at us when we attend | | | | away, we relied on family members for support, |
| athletic meetings. | | | | and now we rely on each other. |
| We don' fit in with our own generation because | | | | The tasks associated with being a GRG also |
| we are on different schedules. Friends talk about | | | | make us generational misfits. We thought these |
| their European trips and upcoming travel plans. We | | | | tasks would dwindle in time. Instead, our |
| talk about biology projects and homecoming | | | | caregiving tasks have increased. Court reports |
| events. Our conversations could hardly be more | | | | require hours of preparation time and ongoing legal |
| different. | | | | fees. We are also working on college funding -- |
| Sometimes we feel overwhelmed. As the | | | | another huge responsibility. |
| Grandparents Weekly Website notes in an article, | | | | The American Academy of Child and Adolescent |
| "Tips for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren," the | | | | Psychiatry discusses the roles of a GRG in its |
| responsibilities of being a GRG can be an | | | | article, "Grandparents Raising Grandchildren." "Many |
| enormous weight. "The task of providing total | | | | grandparents in this care taking role |
| financial support and parental guidance to your | | | | underestimate or are unaware of the added |
| grandchildren can be daunting." | | | | burdens in their new role as 'parents' will place on |
| Our weekly food bill has tripled and so has our | | | | them," the article explains. Yet GRGs can provide |
| gas bill. The twins share a car, but when their | | | | stable homes"and be a healthy role model for |
| schedules differ, they use my car. I feel like we | | | | their grandchildren," according to the academy. |
| have a fleet of cars on the road constantly. As | | | | Ballooning tasks, need for support, increased |
| you might expect, our utility bills are higher as well. | | | | expenses, and disparate schedules come together |
| The only solution is to cut back on expenses and | | | | to make us generational misfits. Are there |
| we have. | | | | solutions? We attend social events when possible, |
| Montana State University Extension Service | | | | stay in touch via email, visit family members, and |
| examines the role of a GRG in a Website article, | | | | are widening our circle of friends. I have logged |
| "Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Parenting the | | | | into GRG Websites as well. We are blessed to be |
| Next Generation." Grandparents are willing to | | | | GRGs and appreciate the happiness it brings to |
| accept the parenting role, but many don't have | | | | our lives. |
| the resources they need, according to the article. | | | | |