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Grandchild Adoption and tips for raising grandchildren

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Adopting our Grandson

We are grandparents who have adopted our grandson. Do you have any idea how hard it is to find information that help guide grandparents through this journey? Does anyone understand what grandparents give up to do this? Hopefully this will help one person.

My grandson started Kindergarten 30 year to the date that I took my youngest son (his dad) to Kindergarten. Has it changed our lives? We no longer travel when we want. We are tied to the school schedule. Baseball rules our lives. It's the best thing we have ever done.

Table of Contents

  2. Articles on Grandchildren and Adoption
  3. When do you stop being the grandparent?
  4. Teaching children healthy eating habits
  5. Kid Stuff
  6. Things to do with your grandchildren
  7. The legal side of raising grandchildren
  8. Grandparents are people too!
  9. New Guestbook
  10. Great Stuff on eBay

I am not an expert and do not have the education to back me but I am a grandparent who adopted a grandchild. What I lack in formal education, I learned through experience. I might be an expert after all.

Articles on Grandchildren and Adoption

I am not a fan of lenses where the reader has to click on links to find information so I apologize for this list. I write a lot on this topic because for us it has been a process and each step has its own pitfalls and blessings.

These are articles I've written on the topic, In fact, this who webpage is a list but there is information here that hopefully the reader will find helpful. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
A debate on Helium - Should adoption by those over age 50 be permitted?
I just had to wade in on this debate and express my opinion. Since I am over 50 and adopted my grandson, I bet you can guess my answer.
Grandparents parenting Grandchildren
Another article on the subject
Adopting your grandchild: Are you more parent or grandparent?
You are in the judges chambers. You sign the paperwork. If the child is old enough, they sign the papers too. The new birth certificate will show you as the parent. This is where grandparenting ends.
Tips for bridging the generation gap when raising grandchildren
He knows all the lyrics to the songs of the 60s. I recognize the Jonas Brothers and I watch Sponge Bob Square Pants.
Financial costs for grandparents raising grandchildren
Raising a child is expensive. There are not only the basic needs like food and clothes; there are other expenses that can add up in a hurry. There..., Ann Hinds
What should your adopted grandchildren call you?
You have adopted your grandchild. In essence, you are no longer the grandparents as your role in the childs life has changed. You are now the parent.
Grandparents raising grandchildren
Helium topic page for grandparents raising grandchildren
How to tell outsiders that your child was adopted
Is it strange to wonder why parents don't announce to outsiders that this is their birth child?

When do you stop being the grandparent?

Totally non-scientific poll for grandparents raising grandchildren. At some time, the grandparenting role changes to a parent role.

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Teaching children healthy eating habits

Tips we've learned dealing with a picky eater.
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Kid Stuff

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Things to do with your grandchildren

Things to do with your kids or grandchildren during time off from school. The kids have a lot of free time.
How to keep kids busy with salt dough art
Easy craft that all kids will enjoy. Dough art is fun and allows the kids to be creative. It does not require much in the way of equipment or materials. Get them started on Christmas decorations or gifts or let them make their own jewelry. There is so much they can do.
How to keep kids busy with fun and free games
These are fun games that kids can play outdoors using items found in every home.

The legal side of raising grandchildren

Hopefully, you will never need to know this but just in case...
What to do when Child Protective Services contacts you
When Child Protective Services (CPS) contacts you, the first thing you feel is fear. If the child is not at home, they will require that you return..., Ann Hinds
Why grandparents should get legal guardianship when raising their grandchildren
The parents walked into the school and handed the staff a tattered handwritten note, written in pencil. The note said that the adults had full cus...,
Grandparents raising grandchildren: What to do when grandchildren are suddenly placed in your care
There are several reasons that grandchildren are placed in their grandparents care. A child can lose their parents in a tragic accident. The child...,

Grandparents are people too!

Being a new age grandparent
Do you know what a new age grandparent is?
How grandparents raising kids are adapting to the digital age
Many grandparents raising kids have already adapted to the digital age. After all, they lived through the birth of the computer age.
Grandparents: Email 101
"Grandpa, I already told you how to turn on the computer" said the exasperated 8-yr-old boy, "how come you cant remember?"

New Guestbook

  • SoyCandleLover-Maker Mar 17, 2012 @ 8:29 pm | delete
    My daughter had her own daughter very young, and much too early for her own maturity. At 2 different times ,during the first 3 years of my granddaughter's life, my husband and I were bringing up our granddaughter ourselves. The 2nd time, we starting preparing to take on this full time, but luckily enough my daughter finally saw the light and took on her responsibility. It's been 3+ years since the last time, and we are happy to be just grandparents again. But we would have done whatever is needed. It's nice to know there is a resource we could turn to if the situation even comes up again. Thanks for the info.
  • Mujjen Oct 7, 2011 @ 3:40 pm | delete
    I have never known anyone raising their grandchildren, I can imagine it presenting some unique situations and problems. You are to be admired! The boy will surely know how much he is loved.
  • priscillaB Sep 17, 2011 @ 10:29 pm | delete
    This is a very timely lens. Many grandparents are finding that they have to do this. this will help so many people.
  • mbgphoto Aug 10, 2011 @ 3:49 pm | delete
    great lens...lots of good info.
  • brendayoungerman Jun 15, 2011 @ 8:28 pm | delete
    This is great! I just featured it!
  • gottaloveit Jun 8, 2011 @ 9:19 am | delete
    I chose not to have children but I'm the mother to a 94 year old currently. I do, however, have a great friend who is raising grandchildren - forwarding this well written article to her. Thanks.
  • Fitzcharming May 30, 2011 @ 3:40 pm | delete
    This is a great resource. I'm a grandmother that has had my 2 grandsons Friday night through Sunday night, every weekend since they were 6 weeks old. I also do the sports thing on the weekend. I'm not their legal parent but I do almost half the parenting. It's great fun but exhausting sometimes.
  • smithlights May 25, 2011 @ 12:00 pm | delete
    Way to go, you and your husband! I'm humbled and amazed by people like you who give up so much to raise grandkids. Great lens!
  • GrowWear Apr 30, 2011 @ 5:12 pm | delete
    Wishing there were more grandparents like you in this world.
  • HelenHoliday Apr 26, 2011 @ 3:54 pm | delete
    Your grandson - and his parents - are fortunate to have such loving people in their lives. Your lens is an inspiration and a help to anyone contemplating raising a grandchild.
  • bikerministry Apr 25, 2011 @ 7:43 pm | delete
    This is an honorable task you have undertaken. I'll admit, I'm so tired when I care for my grandchildren temporarily. And I've found I have so little patience. My hat is off to you, and I hope your support group is truly helpful. I suppose you need the same advise a young couple would need, make sure you get time for yourself occasionally. Something special, pay a sitter and get your nails done? Don't know all the details, but I pray that your journey is rewarding and I know your grandson will appreciate what you are doing some day.
  • oztoo Apr 7, 2011 @ 5:34 pm | delete
    I have a friend who has recently won custody of her grandchildren. I must tell her about your pages. Best of wishes to you in this incredible journey.
  • jseven Apr 5, 2011 @ 10:29 pm | delete
    Great topic for a lens and informative. I raised two of my grandchildren until mom took them back; that was hard on me, but they are all doing good now. It's not always that way, though. I feel for you and all of the grandparents out there who are doing this. These kids need love and a good home.
  • Evelyn_Saenz Apr 1, 2011 @ 12:10 pm | delete
    Congratulations on taking on this difficult but very rewarding responsibility. As a parent of two different generations it must be difficult to shift back and forth between your various roles but it sounds like you are managing well.
  • nancycarol Feb 19, 2011 @ 1:32 pm | delete
    I have a daughter who may be raising her grandchildren soon. You have given so many helpful resources, I feel that I may be able to give her a hand, even though she lives in another state. Thank you for your generosity, both in caring for your grandson, and for sharing these tips for grandparents. Great lens.
  • GonnaFly Feb 1, 2011 @ 3:03 am | delete
    This looks like a great resource which should prove really helpful to the many grandparents raising their grandchildren. Well done.
  • tiff0315 Jan 30, 2011 @ 10:15 am | delete
    Very helpful lens! It's great to have wonderful people like you in this world.
  • ohcaroline Dec 2, 2010 @ 2:59 pm | delete
    You are an angel to this grandchild. God bless you.
  • LindaJM Oct 12, 2010 @ 12:49 am | delete
    (((Hugs))) to you, Grandma! I work with people who have lost their kids to CPS and often have grandparents at my site who need help getting CPS to give them kinship care. I will check out your articles and see if they might be helpful to the grandparents I work with at FightCPS.Com. We have a section of our message board set aside for grandparents to use.
  • vallain Nov 17, 2009 @ 5:14 pm | delete
    You have a great selection of articles listed here. Sure to help anyone trying to raise a grandchild.
  • AlishaV Mar 9, 2009 @ 3:30 pm | delete
    Great lens! My mother had custody of my niece and nephew for many years and then I took over until they were grown. It's difficult to deal with those types of situations but it certainly sounds like you're handling it wonderfully.
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Life changes on a daily basis and we are required to change with it. We used to travel, but after adopting our grandson, we are are at the baseball field... more »

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