Across the country, more than 2,400,000 grandparents, regardless of income, background, or race, are responsible for meeting the basic needs of their grandchildren. In Illinois more than 103,000 grandparents are responsible for meeting the basic needs of their grandchildren with over 41,000 of these grandparents living in Chicago alone.

These grandparents are caring for children whose parents cannot or will not care for them due to substance abuse, illness and death, abuse and neglect, economic hardship, incarceration, divorce, domestic violence, and other family and community crises.

No matter why or how they came to live with you, your grandchildren will benefit from being in your home. When children cannot be with their parents, living with a grandparent may provide:

- Fewer moves from place to place
- The comfort of a familiar language and culture
- A chance to stay with siblings
- More contact with their parents, depending on the situation

Nevertheless, despite these benefits, the children will face some unique challenges:

- They may feel insecure and unsure that you will take care of them.
- They may act out or challenge you.
- They will miss their parents.
- They may be anxious or depressed.
- They may seem young or act too old for their ages.

As grandparents caring full time for your grandchildren, you will encounter many of these emotional and psychological issues faced by the children. The world is much different for children now than when you as a parent raised your children. Consequently, you may need help not only in meeting the emotional needs of your grandchildren, but perhaps also with the legal, financial, medical, and educational issues that come with this new role. More on this in my next article.