Grandparents As Parents

This article has been submitted by a GrownUps member. GrownUps accepts no liability for its content and the views and information contained within are not necessarily those of the GrownUps website.

After bringing up 6 children of my own, I am now raising my 8yr old grandson whom I've had from birth. His mum is under mental health care and his dad no where to be seen. This is a very complicated and difficult role, but I am very thankful for the support I get through 'Grandparents As Parents' group which runs under the umbrella of Presbyterian Support Services in Christchurch. They run 4 support groups around the city monthly, for grandparents to get together as well as a monthly Coffee Group. Regular family fun events, plus a yearly camp are also available. Presbyterian Support also provide a Social Worker, mentoring and counselling services. Research figures just recently released shows that there are more than 10,000 children in N.Z being raised by their grandparents, and this figure is continuing to rise. At a time in our lives when we would expect to be taking life a bit easier, we find ourselves back into child-raising with all that goes with it. Many grandparents are battling with WINZ, CYF, legal and family issues, fatigue, housing and health problems, loneliness, and financial hardships. We are very much left to our own devices with little recognition or help. However, we go on doing all we can to make sure that these children have the best that we can give them.

If anyone reading this finds themselves in the same situation or knows of others, then get in touch with Presbyterian Support Services...033665472. They are our life-line.

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