Kanesha Baynard Shares the Perks of Cross Generational Caregiving
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How do you maintain your balance as a person, spouse, parent, and careerist when you want to expand your family?
This was the guiding question during one of my Bold Pep Talk calls.
There were about 15 people on the call and there were many ideas swirling about how to get clear on your needs in order to invite others to support what you are trying to do. There was some hesitation around sharing your full dream and vision for your life because others may not understand it and start to question you. This questioning can be damaging if it causes you to second guess yourself and become paralyzed by fear. The flipside of that is the questioning can help you think outside the box and seek out alternative options to help you live the life you want.
In the middle of the lively discussion, one participant asked, “What about getting your parents back in your development game? I mean, they are our first line of support from day one. Kanesha, any thoughts on that?”
My response, “Excellent point. Has anyone tried working with grandparents as a childcare provider or thought about a multigenerational household?”
The responses were mixed:
- Heck no! I cannot have my mother-in-law all in my business.
- That would be too stressful.
- My dad does love grand kids.
- My mom would be good, but I wonder if she would listen to me.
- My mom hates that I work outside the home, so maybe she would want to help me more with the kids. I don’t know.
- It’s a firm no for me. I think that would be too hard on my marriage.
My response, “Let’s discuss ways to turn power struggles, between parents and grandparents, into empowering alliances.”
As parents, we all have skills, values, ideas, and a vision we bring to the table. When parents elect to invite grandparents to be caregiving partners – or when grandparents elect to step up and in as caregiving partners – the skills, values, ideas, and visions can create a deluge of over-the-topness.
The parents and grandparents love and are committed to the child/children in these caregiving situations, but without the proper strategy or plan – the caregiving ideals become too concentrated causing parents and grandparents to dig their heels in and hoard power or control.
Parents and grandparents have to be open and honest about the way they envision and see their caregiving partnership playing out. They have to be willing to own and express their apprehensions about joining this caregiving partnership. They also have to be clear on how their needs mesh with that of the parents, grandparents, and the child/children.
This may sound scary, complicated, and un-fun – but it doesn’t have to be. We all know parenting can be challenging and rewarding. When parents and grandparents are empowered in this caregiving partnership, their collaborative efforts can inspire and motivate each other. They can tap into their inner wisdom and share ideas from a place of openness and love – instead of from a place of power and control. The caregiving partners can tap into their unique energy to positively impact the daily life of the child/children – as well benefiting from the byproducts of teamwork (between the parents and grandparents) as they grow, learn, and nurture their connection to the child/children.
In order for empowering alliances to work effectively, the following should be in place:
Set some norms. No one likes to be blindsided when they are in a caregiving partnership. Creating norms for communication, scheduling, compensation, and whatever criteria you need on your list, should be established right away. The list of norms does not have to be long. The norms have to be specific and doable. They need to empower the caregiving partners to be safe while building and nurturing the empowering alliance.
Be clear about roles and responsibilities. The worse thing caregiving partners can do is be well intentioned while tripping over each other and then wondering what happened. Make a list of what the partners feel are their best parenting/caregiving talents and strategies. Decide which talents and strategies are needed at the time – for the caregivers and the needs/age of the child/children. Then create a roles and responsibilities checklist or poster.
Meet regularly. Meetings can be face-to-face, conference all style, or virtual (email, skype, etc.). Select what works best for your caregiving partnership. Discuss upcoming events, needs, and any changes that should be updated or revised to keep things flowing smoothly.
Cross train. In some caregiving partnerships, you may have 2 parents and 2 grandparents – or 1 parent and 4 grandparents – or 2 parents and 1 grandparent. The point is the make-up of who is on your caregiving team can look a variety of ways. Based on this, it is important the caregiving team members know and understand the roles of all the caregiving partners. Leave room to create ways for information flow and caregiving apprenticing to take place. This will keep the caregiving team functioning well and the empowering alliance will grow stronger.
Celebrate often. Caregiving is not always easy. It’s also not always easy for parents to share their parenting role or for grandparents to rethink their parenting role. As you develop and build your empowering alliance – celebrate small and large successes. Acknowledge what is working and thank each other for a job well done. Celebrate what makes your caregiving partnership unique and vibrant. Notice the daily joys and empowerment that radiates through your caregiving partnership.
Have you had a parent or relative help you with childcare? How have you built an empowering alliance in your caregiving situation? What strategies have positively worked for you?
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Original Post Appears on BLC Life
Photo: The Good Doctors/Flickr
There is a difference between both parents working out of financial need and working so that they can have more things. I’m the grandparent that would have an issue with my daughter working outside the home. But before I get into that ….. Cross train, have meetings, set rules … wow, you’d think that these were strangers taking care of the kids. I also presume that the grandparents by virtue of being “related” get to jump through these hoops for no pay? How dare those, generally retired (time to take it easy in life) grandparents, expect to be paid? You… Read more »