Many children live with a caregiver or someone other than their parents. This book explains to kids that even if you live with your grandparents, your life is still normal, and your parents still love you.

Parentless Parents is the first book to show how the absence of grandparents impacts everything about the way mothers and fathers raise their children--from everyday parenting decisions to the relationships they have with their spouses and in-laws. For the first time in U.S. history, as the average age of women giving birth has increased significantly, millions of children are at risk of having fewer years with their grandparents than ever before. How has this substantial shift affected parents and kids? Journalist, award-winning television producer, and parentless parent Allison Gilbert has polled and studied more than 1,300 parentless parents from across the United States and a dozen other countries to find out. Through her pioneering research, Gilbert not only shares her own story and the significant and poignant effect that this trend has had on her and hundreds of other families, but also the myriad ways these mothers and fathers have learned to keep the memory of their parents alive for their children, and to find the support and understanding they need.

[This title] operates on the radical premise that neither child nor parent must dominate. -- Review.

There’s a quiet epidemic in our culture: The fastest-growing type of family unit is grandparents charged with the task of raising their children’s children. Though there are myriad reasons for this—the death of one’s adult child, parental drug addiction, abusive living situations, or incarceration, to name a few—the effects tend to be the same: Senior citizens who expected to spend their golden years relaxing or traveling are now seeing their dreams dashed. Those on limited incomes are feeling the strain and are frightened about their futures. And the mental, spiritual, and physical exhaustion of parenting and disciplining children many decades their junior, exacerbated by a technology gap, is overwhelmingly real. And yet, through their sacrificial service, these seniors are acting as kinsman-redeemers for their grandchildren—keeping them out of the foster care system and giving them the best shot possible for a successful life. In When Grandparents Become Parents, experienced author Rick Johnson details both the challenges and solutions these heroic seniors face, offering strategies and resources (including real advice from other grandparents) to deal with major areas of stress—incorporating humor, common sense, and practical advice along the way.

Over six million children live in grandparent-headed households in the United States today. The number continues to rise.

You are not alone if you are one of the staggering numbers of grandparents who are raising their grandchildren! Are you confused by the generational gaps, challenging communications, and tough questions like, “Why are my parents so old? Why is my father in jail? Why doesn’t my mother show up to visit when she promised?” The Sacred Work of Grandparents Raising Their Grandchildren is the first book that contains answers and stories to address these unique issues and challenges—from one grandparent to another. You’ll enjoy the practical suggestions on how grandchildren can manage and solve some of their own problems, while learning how to cope with your own distinctive life challenges. As a parenting grandparent, a kinship caregiver, a teacher, or a social service worker, you must read this book for invaluable insight. No other book takes on the complex challenges that parenting grandparents face with such depth and truth. How relieved and grateful you’ll be for the inspiration, knowledge and wisdom by the time you reach the conclusion! “Through the stories told by grandparents themselves, Elaine K. Williams reveals the challenges, commitment, and love experienced by grandparents raising their grandchildren. This book not only provides understanding and helpful information, but will also touch the hearts of all who read it.” —Sandy P., a grandparent who raised a grandchild “I’ve waited five years for this wonderful author, Elaine K. Williams, to complete her groundbreaking gathering of knowledge from three generations so that we can clearly see the patterns of grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. The most important points are to help grandparents understand the dynamics of the emotional and behavioral challenges their grandchildren face, and the impactful trauma that all generations experience. She brings the keys of caring, connection, and communication forward to assist families to heal. Highly recommended.” —Dr. Caron Goode, EdD, NCC, author of the award-winning book Raising Intuitive Children

Expert suggestions for guiding your child through the rough teenage years Does it sometimes seem like your teenager is trying to push you over the edge? Learn what your child is going through and what you can do to help your teen navigate this difficult period in this practical guide from psychologist and parenting expert Carl Pickhardt. In an easy-to-read style, Dr. Pickhardt describes a 4-stage model of adolescent growth to help parents anticipate common developmental changes in their daughter or son from late elementary school through the college age years. Provides unique advice for dealing with arguing, chores, the messy room, homework, and many other issues Offers best practices for teaching effective communication, constructive conflict, and responsible decision-making Includes ideas for protecting kids against the dangers of the Internet, bullying, dating, sexual involvement, and substance use An essential road map for parents looking to guide their children on the path to adulthood.

Within these pages are hundreds of easy, creative suggestions for ways that grandparents can pass on family traditions and spend the kind of warm time with their grandchildren that brings the generations closer and makes the grandparent/grandchild connection flourish. 20 line drawings.

Written from a child’s point of view, this touching picture book centers around a nontraditional family of grandparents raising their grandchild. Sometimes It’s Grandmas and Grandpas shares a child’s experience living with and being cared for by grandparents through the eyes of a cheerful and delightful little girl. Uplifting watercolor illustrations give extra warmth to this caring and loving story, to which a growing number of children can identify—over 4.5 million children in the United States are primarily cared for by a grandparent. Poignant moments expressing the child’s curiosity and questions give way to comforting and playful exchanges at home with Nonnie and Poppy. Spending the day with this grandparent–led family, we see that it’s not always Mommies or Daddies that care for children, and that’s okay! Sometimes It’s Grandmas and Grandpas is the winner of the 2012 Book Award for Best Children’s Literature on Aging in the primary reader category from the The K-12 Committee of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE). It provides a great resource for children who seek reassurance about their particular experience. This unique book will appeal to any grandparent raising or providing long–term care for a grandchild, as well as any teacher who wants to educate children about nontraditional families. Sometimes It’s Grandmas and Grandpas sensitively addresses a topic that has been nearly absent in the children’s book market, until now.

One day, Sullivan's entire world clouds over! He moves in with Grandma when his parents are unable to keep him safe. Sullivan's big worries about the future cause him deep heartache. He wonders why he can't live with his parents, and his emotions start to take over his body! Because he doesn't understand how to handle his uncomfortable feelings, he lashes out at Grandma. While Grandma gives him time to calm down, Sullivan meets a friend who understands what he is going through.Will Sullivan find the courage to shift his cloudy day to clear skies? Follow alongside Sullivan, his grandma, and a wise friend as they weather the storms of life in this hopeful story about kinship care, and becoming a grandfamily. Sullivan's story is a resource for families broken apart by mental health issues, incarceration, and the addiction epidemic. It is a tool for teachers, counselors, CASA volunteers, psychotherapists, social workers, and the caregivers of children in kinship care. Due to unfortunate societal factors, the number of grandfamilies is quickly increasing, and there are very few resources available to this community. Raising grandchildren and other relatives trigger challenging behaviors and emotions for the entire family. Sullivan's story can help make this heartbreaking time in a child's life a little less frightening by showing him/her that they are not alone. In the back of the book, there is a list of well-known people who have been raised by their grandparents/relatives, additional coping techniques, and guidance for the adults who are raising neglected and traumatized children. The goal of the book is to bring awareness to an often invisible community of families that are struggling with loss, separation, and trauma. If it helps one child fall asleep at night knowing he/she is not the only one going through hard times, this book will be a massive success, in my opinion. When raising a grandchild, you can quickly become overwhelmed with the responsibilities, behaviors, and unique needs of a child exposed to loss and trauma. A Grandfamily for Sullivan is a children's book, but it is also helpful for the caregiver experiencing anxiety about the changes in their life. Please spread the word about Sullivan to help children unable to live with their parents due to safety issues in their homes.