Raising Their Grandchildren

<p>I interviewed 15 Navajo grandparents who were raising their grandchildren in order</p><p>to discover their strengths challenges and needs when raising their grandchildren. The</p><p>participants lived in the northern sector of the Navajo Nation. Three research questions</p><p>guided the study: What strengths do Navajo grandparents bring into the relationship with</p><p>their grandchildren? What challenges do Navajo grandparents face as they are raising their</p><p>grandchildren? What do the Navajo grandparents need to help them meet or overcome the</p><p>challenges? Strengths included teaching their grandchildren setting a good example</p><p>nurturing them with proper teaching and working with them to help them become</p><p>independent. Challenges included lack of financial resources in addition to the dysfunction</p><p>and alcoholism in their own children who were the biological parents. The grandparents also</p><p>experienced challenges related to their grandchildren such as keeping them safe and not</p><p>having child care. Challenges related to themselves included having health issues having to</p><p>start over again being parents and feeling overwhelmed. The grandparents indicated that</p><p>they needed financial assistance to help with their grandchildren. They also wanted more</p><p>information about how to help their grandchildren with education and how to help them</p><p>learn their Navajo culture. The grandparents wanted to meet with other grandparents to talk</p><p>with them about how to raise their grandchildren. They wanted time to take care of</p><p>themselves. The Navajo grandparents wanted to enjoy their later years; however because</p><p>they were raising their grandchildren they were experiencing emotional physical and</p><p>financial difficulties. They cared deeply for their grandchildren yet they were willing to make the</p><p>necessary sacrifices and show ajoobaa' (care) to them. Despite the difficulties they had they</p><p>found joy and fulfillment in their role as grandparents. Recommendations for practice include</p><p>providing financial resources as well as providing information about raising grandchildren.</p><p>Recommendations also include providing networking opportunities with other grandparents</p><p>who were raising their grandchildren. Recommendations for future research are included.</p>