Economy sends more kids to grandma's house

[Shadow]

(CNN) -- Olga Santiago said raising four of her grandkids has led to an odd dynamic: Her daughter comes to visit her own children.
"I thought that I'd be the grandmother visiting the kids," she said. "I thought I'd be the one saying (to the children), 'You need to go back with grandmother,' " she said, "I'd be visiting once a week instead of dedicating myself to buying diapers," she said, allowing a brief laugh. "Not feeding them."
Santiago, a lifelong Hartford, Connecticut, resident, said she is in the process of adopting one of the four, a 12-year-old boy. The other three grandchildren she cares for belong to Santiago's other daughter, who Santiago says "had issues and we both decided I should just take them until she got her act together, which she did about a month ago."
When asked how she is getting by, Santiago said, "Love and patience."
The 48-year-old grandmother is not alone.
Recent statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau (http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/children/cb11-117.html) show that in the past two decades, the number of children living with a grandparent has risen 64%.


http://www.cnn.com/2011/LIVING/07/28/grandfamilies.census.rise/index.html?hpt=hp_bn8

[fj1200]

http://www.cnn.com/2011/LIVING/07/28/grandfamilies.census.rise/index.html?hpt=hp_bn8

The ECONOMY did it???

In 1991, 15% of black children, 12% of Hispanic children and 5% of white kids lived with at least one grandparent. By 2009, 17% of black and 14% of Hispanic children lived with at least one grandparent, a slight increase. Nine percent of white children lived with at least one grandparent, "a significant change," the census report said.

Why quote the official numbers of almost 20 years worth of trends but blame the current economic conditions which likely had little to do with those numbers?

[Shadow]

The ECONOMY did it???


Why quote the official numbers of almost 20 years worth of trends but blame the current economic conditions which likely had little to do with those numbers?

I don't think they did. It said right in the article:

"Recent statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau (http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/children/cb11-117.html) show that in the past two decades, the number of children living with a grandparent has risen 64%."

My take? It has always been bad...but has just gotten worse. Probably a lot of factors involved...the crappy economy just being the huge obvious glaring one...and being selfish and not taking responsibility for your own actions (which is nothing new in today's me me me society) being another.

[SassyLady]

I don't think they did. It said right in the article:

"Recent statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau (http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/children/cb11-117.html) show that in the past two decades, the number of children living with a grandparent has risen 64%."

My take? It has always been bad...but has just gotten worse. Probably a lot of factors involved...the crappy economy just being the huge obvious glaring one...and being selfish and not taking responsibility for your own actions (which is nothing new in today's me me me society) being another.

I don't think it's the economy ... I think the grandparents didn't raise responsible kids and now they are once again stepping in and enabling their children to continue to be irresponsible by supporting their grandkids.

[Kathianne]

I don't think it's the economy ... I think the grandparents didn't raise responsible kids and now they are once again stepping in and enabling their children to continue to be irresponsible by supporting their grandkids.

Certainly true in a lot of cases. There are also exceptions in that the parent of the child due to circumstances also lives with the parents, for a limited time. Certainly happened with my kids and myself when the court ordered temporary support payments of $50 per month per child. Yeah, no way could I pay rent with 3 kids and $150 per month! The ex at the time was also challenging the divorce so we were in court at least 6 times per month! Those legal fees were exorbitant.

It was at that point though, that I went to the college in my town and looked at how expensive it would be to get my history degree and teaching creds. With my income being just child support, 3 kids, between the need based scholarships and academic it cost me $0.