Photo by Bethany Carter

. Jack and Nancy McSloy with grandson Matthew

Grandparents who are parenting again face many challenges, but community support for them is often lacking.

In London, a family support group called Childreach recently held the first support seminar for grandparents who are raising their grandchildren.

Numbers...

• Over 56,000 Canadians are raising their grandchildren
• That number has almost doubled since the 1996 census

Community program co-ordinator Ann McKay is still smiling about the success of the seminar for grandparents.

"We had 22 participants crammed in the room and they were thrilled to be there with each other…that's what we kept hearing again: 'I'm not alone'".

Why grandparents are raising their grandchildren:

• Parent drug or alcohol abuse
• Parents are too young or are unprepared for a child
• Parental disabilities
• Death of a parent

McKay says it's important for grandparents to have a strong support system, especially when they're raising young grandchildren.

Nancy McSloy and her husband are raising their 10-year-old grandson Matthew. Although she cherishes the experience, McSloy admits parenting again has its challenges.

"As far as energy levels, Jack and I say we both have days when we feel like we're 90…sleeping on the ground in a tent is a lot more difficult than it was 25 years ago".

Photo by Bethany Carter

Matthew smiling at his grandparents

It was McSloy who came up with the idea of holding seminars, and she's thrilled with the outcome.

"It's been great to meet other grandparents who are in the same situation as we are… the awareness is absolutely wonderful".

McSloy has been getting calls from all over southwestern Ontario about the seminars and more than 30 people are on a waiting list for the next session.

Childreach has scheduled five more seminars between now and the end of April.