GRANDPARENTS’ GRACE A Guide to Raising Grandchildren
Whether they do so informally or through a legal arrangement, approximately 2.5 million grandparents in the U.S. are currently responsible for raising their grandchildren. Depending on the circumstances, grandparents assuming a parental role with their grandchildren can be one of the healthiest and most positive directions a family can take. For many children, the arrangement provides a level of comfort, safety, and stability that may not have been possible in a more traditional parental arrangement. In some cases, financial instability, addiction issues, death, or medical emergencies can make that arrangement difficult to maintain. Additionally, they provide grandparents with an opportunity to foster deeper relationships with their grandchildren and experience a second round of raising a child (or children). That said, this kind of parenting situation is rarely free of obstacles and serious considerations. Here are a few of the most common issues that can
arise when grandparents raise their grandchildren, along with tips to make the situation smoother and more harmonious for everyone involved. THE FRICTIONS OF NONTRADITIONAL FAMILIES When taking on the responsibility of raising grandchildren, it is essential to understand that you are assuming that role 100% . This means you are responsible for obtaining guardianship or custody, enrolling the children in school, accessing their medical records, and providing suitable housing, clothing, and food, among other things. This can be a heavy burden to carry, especially when raising children with serious or chronic medical or behavioral conditions or when grandparents are experiencing health issues of their own. While raising grandchildren may be the best short-term solution to problems or unexpected circumstances with their birth parents, the long-term demands
can become difficult for grandchildren and grandparents to sustain.
THE BOND-BUILDING BLUEPRINT Despite these challenges, there are considerable ways to help make a grandparent-grandchild parenting relationship successful. Counseling resources may be available through the grandchild’s school, and a trained family therapist may provide invaluable tools and insights. Additionally, in-person or online support networks may help grandparents discuss and address issues with peers in a positive, encouraging, and empathetic manner. Above all, open and clear communication between grandparents and grandchildren is essential for establishing structures and boundaries. When love leads and commitments remain strong, grandparent-led families can build a foundation for adapting and flourishing together despite life’s unpredictability.
Succession Planning
GREAT LEADERS BUILD BUSINESSES THAT OUTLAST THEM
When you run a business, it is easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day responsibilities without looking to the future. You may plan ahead for the next quarter or even the following fiscal year, but what about a decade from now? Have you considered what will happen with your business when you are ready to retire, or who would step into your shoes if something happened to you? Like estate planning, succession planning must begin years before you seriously consider retirement. It is not a last-minute task you figure out as you walk out the doors for the last time; it is a vital responsibility to your employees and your legacy. You are the cog in the machine, holding everything together, and without any sort of plan or guidance from you, everything could fall apart once you step away. Succession planning is really a proactive process. You do not want to wait until you get diagnosed with a terminal illness to establish a succession plan, as your priorities will likely be elsewhere. Instead, acknowledge what you want to leave behind, put your desires on paper, and establish a plan to maintain your core values when the next generation or a new owner takes over.
may be ready for a bigger role, and what would happen to your business if the unimaginable happened and you were no longer around to run it. There is a lot that goes into succession planning; we have barely even scratched the surface, but it is incredibly important for your legacy and the people you care about.
Ideally, you already have a succession plan in place for your business, but if not, there is no time like the present.
If you care about your team, business, and legacy, it is something you need to establish as soon as possible. We are here to help if you have any questions or need assistance setting up your succession plan.
As you start to explore succession planning, consider your business’s future goals, who will take over key positions and responsibilities, which employees
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