Recently, I’ve been writing about how children can support and honor their parents as they age and revert to the level of care they needed as a child. However, there is a reverse to this phenomenon also at play in our society: grandparents raising children.

We’re living in an increasingly fatherless society. Broken families seem to be becoming more common than they were 10 or 20 years ago. Families are under more financial strain. To make ends meet, parents are working longer or maybe taking on jobs with odd schedules that don’t necessarily allow them to be at home during those nurturing hours.

More often, adults are relying on their aging parents to help them. That might mean that grandparents are taking on an active caretaker role while parents are at work.

So, not only are people living longer but their responsibilities are also extended. What effect does this have on their lives? What does that do to the quality of health for a person who is aging?

Or it might mean the parents have exited entirely, leaving grandparents raising children on their own as their legal guardians.

So, not only are people living longer but their responsibilities are also extended. What effect does this have on their lives? What does that do to the quality of health for a person who is aging?

Some might have the opinion that it gives the aging adult renewed purpose. All of us have seen how grandchildren can light up the world of an older person who has begun to experience loneliness.

However, that doesn’t take into account the physical and emotional toll of raising children. Older bodies aren’t designed to be constantly running after small children. Older minds may not be equipped for the stressful ups and downs of discipling, educating and nurturing young people.

Furthermore, we should consider the upbringing of the child as well. Traditionally, a grandparent wants to give the child whatever they want. When the grandparent is the primary caregiver, even for part of the day, that relationship must change in order to give the child proper structure and boundaries.

Next week, I want to tackle how can we support these older adults who have become parents a second time.

But for now, what’s been your experience with grandparents raising children? Do you think this is a growing trend? Why or why not?