Grandparent Caregiving Episodes

Too often, grandparents and kinship caregivers are handed life-changing responsibility with little warning, legal clarity, or support—quietly absorbing the weight of the child welfare system at their kitchen tables. In this episode, we move beyond mere survival, highlighting how kin caregivers are stepping into leadership, building peer networks, and mobilizing for policy reform that makes children and caregivers visible and supported. Join us for a grounded, hope-infused look at hidden foster c...

Dr. Janet Rosenzweig reminds us that the kitchen table is not a hiding place—it’s your boardroom. Grandparents and kin caregivers are not just enduring the fallout of a broken system; you are the frontline, demanding justice, resources, and lasting change for your families. The days of surviving in silence are finished. This episode arms you with real-world strategies, radically honest language, and a call to challenge every system that fails our kids. Dr. Janet Rosenzweig, a nationally recog...

Are you a grandparent raising a neurodivergent grandchild, feeling both proud and anxious as high school graduation approaches? Have you spent years protecting them, only to realize that the transition to college is a daunting cliff, stripping away the legal protections and daily support they’ve relied on? Does the idea of sending them into a maze of unfamiliar systems, forced to self-advocate overnight, fill you with dread and uncertainty? Dr. Tara Williams tells us how to proactively prepare. ...

Are you a grandparent who finds yourself thrust into parenting once more, often on short notice and without a clear roadmap? Do you wake up exhausted, tending to children who have walked through trauma, while your own dreams and routines fade into the background? Are you longing for steadiness amid the emotional storms—conflicts, diagnoses, behavioral challenges—that seem to erupt daily in your household? The strain of kinship caregiving, coupled with personal loss or change, can feel endless an...

Are you a grandparent who suddenly became the anchor for your grandchildren’s future, feeling as if your living room has transformed overnight into a command center? Are you buried under legal forms, switching between crisis management and nurturing, and wondering if anyone sees the full scope of what you’re carrying? The reality of kinship care can feel like running a multi-department enterprise in the dark, all while holding together the threads of family. Eleven years ago, Dr. Kristy Smith a...

Do you ever feel unseen as a grandparent or relative raising grandchildren—overlooked by the very systems meant to protect children? Have you discovered, the hard way, that the so-called “support” for kinship caregivers is riddled with gaps, bureaucracy, and outdated ideas? Are you constantly told that “family is enough,” even as you struggle for resources, support, and answers about trauma your grandchild has faced? The silence you endure, the love you give, and the hardship you shoulder—these ...

Are you a grandparent or kin stepping into the role of caregiver, feeling overwhelmed by systems that seem designed to ignore your voice? Do you find yourself battling not just sleepless nights and bureaucratic tangles, but also the invisible weight of holding your family together—often without recognition, adequate support, or resources? If you’ve ever felt like a hidden statistic in a caseworker’s file, burning through savings and hope to rescue the next generation, this space is for you. Aft...

Do you ever feel lost in the maze of court dates, school meetings, and sleepless nights, forced into a role you never expected? Are you a grandparent who has become the last line of defense for your family, while the system treats your love and sacrifice as just another case number? Maybe you find yourself grieving not just the loss of a peaceful retirement, but the heartbreak of watching your own child struggle, all while building a new life for your grandchildren. I’m Laura, and like you, my ...

Jennifer Brunton, is an autistic mother and grandmother, and primary caregiver to two brilliant, intense, neurodivergent toddlers. Her projects encompass books, talks (including Keynotes), thought leadership and other articles, and consulting. She is coauthor of The #ActuallyAutistic Guide to Advocacy. She's worked as a writer and editor at Forbes, Random House, Mirabella, and Bristol-Myers Squibb, as well as for a range of individual, corporate, and academic clients. Are you a grandparent na...

Have you ever felt like the system is writing the ending of your grandchild’s story before they’ve even found their voice? Are your grandchildren weighed down by labels—traumatized, behind, abnormal—while you’re expected to manage their pain and follow rigid rules? If you’ve ever felt powerless to change the narrative or wished you could help your grandchild reclaim their identity from the case files, this episode is for you. I’m Laura Brazan, and after my own family was reshaped by adversity, ...

Are you a grandparent or relative in DuPage County or the AgeGuide region of Illinois suddenly responsible for raising a child? Are mounting legal bills, light bills, or school fees starting to feel heavier than your emotional reserves? Does the simple act of parenting feel impossible when every day brings a new administrative challenge? You are not alone—and you shouldn’t have to shoulder the weight of kinship care by yourself. I’m Laura Brazan, and in this episode of Grandparents Raising Gran...

Have you ever been told that your golden years should be about rest, only to find yourself back in the world of school runs, sports practices, and sleepless nights? Are you a grandparent raising your grandchildren, wrestling with exhaustion and identity loss, while quietly wondering if you’ll ever reclaim a piece of yourself? You may be feeling the heavy weight of duty, but beneath the surface, there’s a quieter transformation happening—kinship caregiver benefits. I’m Laura, and on this episo...

Are you a grandparent fighting the legal system, drowning in red tape, and wondering if the finish line of adopting your grandchild will ever come? Have you sat through courtrooms hoping to be heard, worried for your grandchild’s safety, and navigating a system that seems to mistake your love for inconvenience? Do you long for the day you can finally just parent—no more last-minute visits or home inspections, no more lingering uncertainty? I’m Laura Brazan, and I know how heavy the “club sand...

Are you a grandparent overwhelmed by the high-paced chaos of raising grandchildren, trying to break cycles of crisis and create lasting stability? Do you find yourself burning out, reacting to emergencies instead of building a resilient, nurturing home for the children in your care? Are you searching for practical ways to slow down, reconnect, and find the “campfire moments” that bring warmth and peace to your family? This video is about slow growth parenting. I’m Laura Brazan, and after becomin...

This episode is about kinship care legal framework. Are you a grandparent or kinship caregiver navigating the maze of IEPs, 504 plans, and medical decisions while advocating for a child impacted by trauma and neglect? Do you feel overwhelmed by failing systems, mislabeled as a troublemaker simply for demanding the support your grandchild needs to heal? You’re not alone. I’m Laura Brazan, host of 'Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Nurturing Through Adversity.' In this powerful episode, legal...

This episode is about building a good kinship care framework. Are you a grandparent raising grandchildren while trying to balance compassion with structure in your home? Do you find yourself reverting to “because I said so” parenting, only to meet resistance, trauma triggers, or confusion from the children in your care? Are you yearning for practical guidance, emotional support, and a framework to help you navigate this unexpectedly challenging season of life? I’m Laura Brazan, and like you, ...

This episode is about the ROI of kinship love. Are you a grandparent wondering if the small, steadfast acts of love you give truly shape your grandchildren’s future? Do you ever feel invisible, pouring your heart into healing generational wounds and wondering if your impact will last? Are you navigating the complexities of kinship care, trauma, and family resilience, looking for inspiration and validation along the way? I’m Laura Brazan, host of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Nurturing T...

This episode is about co-regulation for neurodiverse children. Are parenting strategies from decades past falling short with your neurodiverse grandchild? Do meltdowns and anxiety leave you feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or questioning your instincts as a caregiver? Are you searching for actionable solutions to soothe trauma-driven behaviors, foster emotional health, and rebuild the bonds in your family? I’m Laura Brazan, and as both a seasoned mother and a grandparent unexpectedly raisin...

Have you noticed the unequal load—both seen and unseen—that grandmothers often carry, while searching for ways to bring grandfathers more fully to the caregiving table? You’re not alone. The gender gap in kinship care is real and significant, often leaving women overwhelmed and resentful, while men struggle to find their place and purpose in the caregiving journey. We need to engage grandfathers in kinship care. I’m Laura Brazan, and on "Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Nurturing Through A...

Are you a single grandparent shouldering the full weight of raising your grandchildren? Are you constantly battling daily chaos—laundry piles, endless paperwork, and legal hurdles—while sacrificing your own sanity? Do you want kinship care advice? A better way to manage the relentless demands of kinship care, or fear you’re failing at the logistics behind the love? I'm Laura Brazan, and after years of navigating trauma, court dates, and school forms, I learned it’s not a personal failing—it’s...

Are you a grandparent unexpectedly navigating the complexities of raising your grandchildren? Are you overwhelmed by healing childhood trauma, legal challenges, and the grief of lost family dreams? Do you struggle to balance the physical demands of caregiving with the wisdom and love only you can offer? I’m Laura Brazan, and after more than three decades as a mother, I was called to step in as the unexpected CEO of my family when my grandchildren needed me most. In “Grandparents Raising Grand...

Are you a grandparent considering from foster to adopt, or wrestling with what’s truly best for the children in your care? Are you navigating the complex emotional, legal, and financial realities of kinship guardianship, while managing the challenges of parenting later in life? If you’ve ever wondered how to create a loving, secure future for your grandchildren against all odds, you’re not alone. I’m Laura Brazan, and on this episode of 'Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Nurturing Through A...

There are 2.7 million grandparents in the U.S. raising their grandchildren. We are a silent army, often grieving our "Retirement Version" of life while navigating school runs and midnight fevers. In this powerhouse Series 2 premiere, Laura Brazan unveils The 2.7 Million Project Manifesto—a call to action for the "unpaid safety net" of America to move from survival mode to intentional leadership. In this episode, Laura shares a raw, never-before-told look at the midnight phone call that changed ...

A 60-second introduction to the new mission for grandparents and kinship caregivers moving from survival to significance. Send us a text Thank you for tuning into today's episode. It's been a journey of shared stories, insights, and invaluable advice from the heart of a community that knows the beauty and challenges of raising grandchildren. Your presence and engagement mean the world to us and to grandparents everywhere stepping up in ways they never imagined. Remember, you're not alone ...