Rick Johnson - When Grandparents Become Parents: How to Succeed at Raising Your Childrens Children

When Grandparents Become Parents

How to Succeed at Raising Your Childrens Children

Rick Johnson

Bestselling author of Thats My Son

Parenting a grandchild is a unique journey full of ups and downs, heartaches, and blessings. Sharing from his own experience and hard-won wisdom, Rick Johnsons When Grandparents Become Parents can be a lifeline of practical information, tools, resources, and encouragement for anyone who is called to travel this path.

Shaunti Feldhahn, speaker and bestselling author of For Parents Only, The Kindness Challenge, and Find Peace

Ive been waiting for someone to write a book on this growing need for many years. Im so thrilled that Rick Johnson not only wrote the book but made it so authentic and practical. He is absolutely right when he says grandparents who become parents are total heroes. I meet them every day. This book will affirm their role and come alongside them in a wonderful way.

Jim Burns, president of HomeWord, author of Doing Life with Your Adult Children: Keep Your Mouth Shut and the Welcome Mat Out

In a flood of emotions, your world has turned upside down. The entire purpose of your life has changed. Its overwhelming. Its illogical. Its beautiful. Thanks, Rick, for giving grieving grandparents a pathway to find new strength, purpose, and joy.

Jay Payleitner, national speaker and bestselling author of 52 Things Kids Need from a Dad and Hooray for Grandparents

If you have accepted the daunting task of raising your childs child, you are already a hero. Learn how to navigate grandfamily parenting successfully from one who understands the many and varied challenges and can encourage you on your journey. For the parenting grandparent, this book is a valuable resource!

Camille Eide, award-winning author of The Secret Place

Rick Johnson has succeeded yet again in producing a timely resource that will encourage, equip, and enlighten those brave men and women who have willingly taken on the mantle of parenting their grandchildren! Johnson explores the pluses and challenges of re-entering the parenting arena with grace, grit, and hard-earned, real-life wisdom. The author and his courageous wife now parent their deceased sons only child. Readers will discover a familiar friend in Johnson as he candidly shares the struggles they have encountered and how Gods amazing grace has met them every time. Read this text for yourself and buy a copy for a friend. It truly is a gift that will keep on giving.

Michele Howe, reviewer, columnist, and author of Finding Freedom and Joy in Self-Forgetfulness

When Grandparents Become Parents is a book that has been long overdue in todays world! Thank God for the courage and example of the Johnsons! Rick has penned a power-packed, practical, compassionate, and compelling handbook for grandparents who find themselves as the best caregivers for their grandchildren. Counselors, pastors, and all grandparents should keep several copies on hand as gifts to aid those raising the next generation.

Pam and Bill Farrel, codirectors of Love-Wise and authors of fifty-five books, including bestselling Men Are Like Waffles, Women Are Like Spaghetti and 10 Best Decisions Every Parent Can Make

We are living in the most turbulent period in modern history. Family dynamics are constantly in flux, and there are many who find themselves navigating uncharted waters. Thankfully, we find lighthouses that illuminate the way and allow us to avoid the dangers that have shipwrecked so many. Rick Johnson is one of those lighthouses, shining the light of truth and reason into the darkness. His message consistently provides hope and practical help. Rick is a beacon to those entrusted with the care of our greatest assetsour families.

Tony W. Rorie, founder and executive director of The Men & Ladies of Honor

When parents think their child-rearing days are over then get unexpectedly thrust into the role of being a parent to their grandchildren, there are countless challenges and emotional bridges to cross. With genuine transparency, Ricks book acknowledges the feelings every adult in this situation struggles with and becomes the friend they need to assure them that its going to be okay and that they are not alone. Rick offers hope and encouragement to those who find themselves on this difficult journey and brings to light how raising grandchildren is a high calling, but also a huge blessing.

Tracie Miles, writing coach and author of the Living Unbroken divorce recovery program

Dedicated to my friend, Diane Markins, who left us much too soon.

Your vision helped inspire this book.

E dith was a seventy-two-year-old great-grandmother when her daughter, a single mother, died. With no other family willing to do so, Edith agreed to take custody of her mentally challenged eighteen-year-old-granddaughter. Shortly thereafter, one of Ediths other granddaughters (also a single mom) passed away tooleaving Edith to care for a six-year-old great-granddaughter and a four-year-old great-grandson. Edith and all three kids now live on a small pension accumulated from a lifetime of hard work, supplemented by minor amounts of Social Security death benefits that the children receive. With little to no help or support from other family members, Edith is exhausted and fearful of the future.

Bill and Susan thought their situation would be short-term, but when their son was killed in the line of military duty and their daughter-in-law remarried an abusive man who didnt want kids, they were forced to take in their grandchildren. With another family to raise and college looming for those kids, Bill and Susans life-long dream of sailing around the Caribbean in retirement has been put on permanent hold.

Mariana is a single grandmother raising her daughters three children and one of her sons children. Both her son and daughter are addicted to drugs and living on the streets. Due to her lack of citizenship, Mariana is scared of getting involved with the system. Consequently, she has no legal status with her grandchildren and receives no benefits from state or county agencies. She and her grandchildren are living well below the poverty line and barely make ends meet. Thankfully, Mariana is blessed to have a large extended family that helps provide resources and positive role models for her grandchildren.

These are just a few of many similar stories that are repeated every day in our world. While grandparents throughout history have always helped raise their grandchildren, today we are facing an epidemic of people being forced to re-parent their childrens families.

If you are reading this book, you probably have a story too. Ours goes like this:

Several years ago, we received the call every parent dreads. My wife and I had been on a date night at a Christian comedy show, having a great time. On our way to the car, we turned our phones back on, only to be met with a sudden barrage of voice messages that created an ominous, foreboding feeling. With trepidation, my wife answered one to learn that our son had tragically and unexpectedly passed away, leaving us to care for his baby girl. It felt like someone had swung a sledgehammer into my stomach. In one instant, our world turned upside down and crashed upon us. As empty nesters, our dreams of retirement and a life of relaxation were suddenly wiped out in a tsunami of grief and new responsibilities.