Types of family members raising a relative's children (usually grandchildren)

By Karen Best Wright, B.S., M.A Health & Wellness

www.RaisingYourGrandchildren.com

A few weeks ago I added a question to my grandparents survey. I was wanting to know which family members are raising their relative's child. Because of my own experiences, I tended to think most about the maternal grandmother doing the raising. Actually, it was another grandmother (a paternal grandmother) who put the idea into my head to add the question in my survey.

If you have not filled in the grandparent raising grandchildren survey, please click here if you wish to do so.

Out of the 191 respondents so far for this particular question, here are the results. There will be many more responses to come. So far there have been over 2,900  grandparents who have filled in my survey over the past two years. Thank you to all of you who have taken the time.

Grandmothers

Maternal grandmother 54.5%

Paternal grandmother 26.2%

Maternal step-grandmother 6.3%

Paternal step-grandmother 2.6%

Grandfathers

Maternal grandfather 2.6%

Paternal grandfather 2.1%

Paternal step-grandfather 2.1%

Maternal step-grandfather 1.6%

Other relative 2.1%

I found the numbers interesting. Now keep in mind, these are people who have filled in my survey and may not be indicative of everyone in the country. But it is a start for the research I am collecting. This information shows the variety of family members raising the children of relatives.

Karen Best Wright,
Health & Wellness Educator
www.TheWellnessWay.org

 

Comments

[Susan Adcox]

I've had a deluge of emails and posts recently from grandparents raising grandchildren. It seems to go in cycles. I will send them over to take your survey.

[Karen Wright]

Thanks Susan. That would be great.