GRAND Magazine - Spring 2024 - 27

grandfamilies
Dear Kinship Family Caregiver,
Yes, I'm talking to you...I see you..
You are not alone.
I am so proud of you for taking
the time and energy to help out
your family members' children. It's
a big and courageous step and you
have more help than you know. You
are keeping your family's culture,
customs, and legacy intact. The first
step is to find a support group in
your community or area. This will be
so helpful in connecting with other
families in the same situation you
are. The wealth of information, knowledge, and resources
are amazing and they will take care of some of the questions
and gaps that you are up against. There are so many families
that have traveled the path you're on and made it out on the
other side.
Victoria Gray
I was on the path and felt alone, I felt that no one understood
what I was going through. I know that the support
group saved me. The support I got from the group was
amazing because they had been there and traveled that
path.
Sometimes we forget to take care of ourselves during this
time. You must reach out to your family, friends, and other
people in your life for a little help. Don't think you have to
do it all yourself. Remember, if you go down, who will be
there to care for the children? My sister came over one day
and just let me take a much-needed nap for two hours, I
felt so much better and could continue to give care to our
grandchildren.
Stay the course, stay in touch, and continue to reach out.
The children need you and they will grow up to be better
citizens because of you.
Victoria Gray, Arizona
27 GRAND SPRING 2024
Dear Kinship Caregiver,
I will never forget the day I got " the call " from a social
worker asking if I could care for my infant grandson, rather
than putting him in foster care. At the time, my thoughts
were flying every which way, and I was sure I could not do
that. Yet I heard myself say, " Yes of course. " It felt a lot like a
disaster. All my plans and dreams for my golden years were
blown up in an instant. How would I
ever manage? Will I be able to meet
the needs of my grandson? Would I
ever be able to reclaim my freedom
again? You may be having similar
thoughts and feelings.
What I know now, and wish I
knew then, is how this turn of events
would eventually enrich my life
beyond measure. I wish I knew it
was another chance at the deepest
love, at seeing the world with new
eyes, and to receive that love and
care right back. I also eventually found my way to the kinship
community and met so many wonderful, loving caregivers
who all understood what I was going through all too well.
I now have good friends and a close community. My one
piece of advice is to reach out to the kinship community.
Don't do it alone, it can get heavy when you do it by yourself.
We are all out here just waiting for you. You got this!
Laurie Tapozada, Rhode Island
Laurie Tapozada
Dear Caregiver,
What a blessing you are to be the caregiver of your
grandchild. There are so many things I want to tell you, but
don't know where to start. My first thoughts of you in this
new role are that you may feel everything is happening
quickly and you are having to make decisions on the fly. Such
as adjusting every aspect of your life from work, living space,
and finances, and moving from grandparent
mode to parent mode or how
to blend these or keep them separate.
I remember those days. It was a
whirlwind of emotions, uncertainty of
expectations, and figuring out what
a new normal is going to look like.
Through all that I wish I would have
told myself to stop for a moment and
breathe, to step outside and smell the
flowers, or better yet, buy a bouquet
because I deserve them, and they
make my soul happy.
As you step into this new role give yourself grace and
Bernadine Atchison
room to grow with your grandchild, but also find the tools
you need to fulfill your life goals through classes, training,
and hobbies. Take good care of yourself!
Duk'idli - Respectfully your friend always, GPFF -
Grandmother, Parent, Friend, Florist Bernadine Atchison,
Alaska, Kenaitze Indian Tribe Resources:
RESOURCES FOR GRANDFAMILIES
* Becoming a Grandfamily: First Steps
* Grand Resource: Help for Grandparents and Kinship
Caregivers Impacted by Opioids and Other Substance
Use Disorders- Where to begin when children are suddenly
in your care.
* Grand Fact Sheets: Facts and Local Resources for
Grandfamilies in Every State
Jaia Peterson Lent is Deputy Executive Director
of Generations United, a national organization
dedicated to improving lives. Home to the
National Center on Grandfamilies, Generations
United is a leading voice for issues affecting
families headed by grandparents or other
relatives.

https://www.facebook.com/GRANDmagazine https://www.gksnetwork.org/resources/first-steps/ https://www.gu.org/app/uploads/2023/03/01_GU-PartTwo-GrandResource-WEB.pdf https://www.gu.org/app/uploads/2023/03/01_GU-PartTwo-GrandResource-WEB.pdf https://www.gu.org/app/uploads/2023/03/01_GU-PartTwo-GrandResource-WEB.pdf https://www.gu.org/app/uploads/2023/03/01_GU-PartTwo-GrandResource-WEB.pdf https://www.grandfamilies.org/state-fact-sheets https://www.grandfamilies.org/state-fact-sheets http://gu.org https://www.gu.org/explore-our-topics/grandfamilies/

GRAND Magazine - Spring 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GRAND Magazine - Spring 2024