Just like raising your own? Grandmothers' perceptions of parenting a second time around

A defining characteristic of grandparents raising grandchildren is parenting a second generation of children. To learn how grandmothers compare parenting their grandchildren to parenting their children, 40 custodial grandmothers were interviewed. Results of a qualitative analysis indicated that grandmothers perceived themselves as wiser, more relaxed, and more involved with their grandchildren. Grandmothers also perceived added challenges such as having limited energy, negotiating changing family roles, and parenting in a toxic social environment. In terms of parenting behaviors and emotional bonds, some grandmothers saw similarities in parenting their children and grandchildren. Findings suggest that custodial grandmothers would benefit from parent education and training that takes into account their previous parenting experience yet still addresses the unique challenges associated with parenting grandchildren.