Grandparent Connections gives adults needed break

Mon, Mar 31, 2008

By CAROLINA MURILLO

The Brunswick News

Exploring the scenic marshes of Glynn was a unique experience for 8-year-old Auderica Chappell.

Warmed by the first rays of the sun, Auderica and 15 other children was given a kayaking treat Friday by Southeast Adventure Outfitters, a business on U.S. 17 that promotes the sport in the Golden Isles.

"I loved it! I saw birds, little turtles and baby crabs," she said with a huge smile. "It was the best experience ever. I was scared at first, but now I want to do it again."

The Glyndale Elementary School seventh grader took off her blue life jacket and hugged her grandmother, Charles Etta Sweet, 73, who had been patiently waiting for her at the dock. Sweet escorted Auderica during a spring break outing organized by Grandparent Connections of Coastal Georgia, a program for grandparents who are taking care of grandchildren full time.

The program received help from the kayaking company in putting it all together.

"It's one way to keep us motivated," Sweet said. "Going through parenthood for a second time at this age is difficult."

Sweet says after Auderica's mother wasn't able to raise the child, the girl's great-grandfather asked her to step in. She took on the responsibility."She was just 4-years-old and I couldn't walk away," Sweet said. "I'm glad I did because I love her."

Besides Auderica, Sweet also takes care of her son's two children: Tyrek, 8, and Tynisha Culbreath, 12.

And on occasion, she takes care of her niece's three children, who live next door.

Margaret Gant, coordinator of Grandparent Connections of Coastal Georgia, is not surprised.

"It's not uncommon to find grandparents taking the role of mom and dad," Gant said.

That is true along Georgia's shoreline. According to the program, there are more than 6,700 grandparents in nine coastal Georgia counties who are raising their children's children.

The coast is not unique in that respect. The National Center on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren reports that more than 164,000 children live in grandparent-headed households in Georgia. In more than half of them, children are living without either parent present.

Across the country, 4.5 million children are in the same situation.

The reason for that varies. Some parents are in jail or dealing with health problems, including drugs. Others simply may not be mature enough to handle children.

"Some have lost their own kids and are now looking out after their grandchildren," Gant said.

Gant knows the difficulties and triumphs grandparents face in their role of caregivers. When her daughter, Joaleen Clark, enlisted in the U.S. Army and deployed to Mideast she had to take care of her kids, Michael Gant, then 14, and Chris Clark, then 4.

"Raising two young kids was not easy, specially at an age when I thought I would be traveling or relaxing," Gant said. "And that's what grandparents are going through – still going to PTA meetings, sporting events and medical appointments with small kids 20 years later."

One way the program is trying to alleviate the pressure is by connecting grandparents to doctors, counselors, healthcare services and even child care centers. Because of the cost of taking care of children, many of them have to start working again.

"We educate them on how to be their kid's advocate in the school system and form a relationship with teachers and social workers," Gant said.

The program also provides access to resources, group activities and partners with experts in wellness, stress management, legal assistance and financial management.

In Brunswick, the program has 60 grandparents enrolled who benefit from training classes and in-home visitation.

The program's support group has become a life support for many of the grandparents.

For Sweet, it is an outlet.

"It gives us an opportunity to get out and talk to other grandparents about our ups and downs," she said. "There is an emotional and spiritual need and the meetings help it bring it out."

But through all that, she says the experience has been a blessing.

"I can't see myself without the kids," she added, wiping creek water off Auderica's face Friday.

"She is like my little angel."

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