African American Grandparenting

African American grandparenting is one of the cornerstones of black culture. When parents are forced to work multiple jobs to make ends meet, the grandparents step in as babysitters and surrogate parents. When the community needs advice, guidance, or comforting words to get them through their difficult days, they turn to the wise words and invaluable experience of their elders. However, increasingly African American grandparenting has meant taking custody of their minor grandchildren when the parent is unable to care for them. There are several reasons a grandparent may choose to do this.

1. They don't want their grandchildren in foster care. If the parents have been arrested or have lost custody, the only options are usually a relative's home or foster care. Foster care tends to be impersonal, and children often are separated from their siblings. This can add to the trauma. Grandparents do their families and their communities a huge service by stepping up to parent the parentless.

2. They want to pass down black culture and traditions. At a time when many black folk are forgetting their roots, African American grandparenting increasingly means being a gatekeeper to the history of this distinguished culture. Grandparents know that they have a lot to offer a child, and their influence has been a huge aid in maintaining the richness of the black community.

3. They feel they didn't raise their own children correctly. This belief, although usually incorrect, leads them to a sense of guilt and a need to correct what they perceive as their mistake. These grandparents often become the most conscientious, generous, and loving caregivers as they do everything possible to give their grandchildren the best of everything.

4. They feel an emotional attachment to their grandchildren. When grandparents function as babysitters and free daycare, they become used to having their grandchildren in their life on a daily basis. If something happens to those grandchildren's parents, the grandparents still want to maintain their bond.

5. They want the very best for their grandchildren, and are sure they are the ones who can give it to them. This is the most common and strongest reason for becoming a grandparent caregiver. It is almost impossible to refuse one's grandchild the love, care and stability they need. Grandparents in the black community have a lot of love to offer their minor grandchildren. This love has the power to make up for any number of misfortunes and separations. Often, this love can single handedly hold a family together in the face of incredible adversity.

Grandparents continue to have a valued role in the black community. African American grandparenting offers the stability and wisdom to maintain black family traditions while training the next generation for education and success. They perform a service in their community that both indispensable and invaluable.

Candis Reade is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about African American Grandparenting, please visit New Grandparenting Today current articles and discussions.