The other day, a news article came up on my Google feed regarding that mythical “village” that parents often hear about in regard to (successfully) raising children: It Takes a Village to Raise Children.
As always, this topic struck a cord. I never realized how important it is to have trusted friends and/or close family by my side until I began raising children.
Here’s an excerpt from the article: "I recommend living close to family if you are able to and have a good relationship," said one woman interviewed for the article. "It can make such a huge difference and take some of the pressure off of you as a parent. We weren't meant to do this alone. They say it takes a village because it's true."
Having trusted friends and family members available is incredibly helpful to parents. Family support is key to a number of important endeavors in child-rearing, including: regular & emergency childcare, emotional comfort, and spiritual and cultural guidence. However, for many modern families, the “it takes a village” mentality just isn’t a reality.
How Grandparent Support Effects Family Dynamics
Interestingly, having a healthy parent/grandparent/grandchild dynamic helps not only the parent who is raising children but it also benefits the grandparent. This important bond is sadly not as common in North America as it is in other parts of the world.
According to StatsCan:
In some families, grandparents play an important role in caring for children and in others, families provide care for aging grandparents. According to data from the 2017 GSS, foreign-born grandparents (9%) were more likely to live with at least one grandchild than their Canadian-born counterparts (4%).
Similarly, according to the Vanier Institute of the Family:
Studies have shown that grandparent involvement in family life is significantly associated with child well-being – in particular, it has been associated with greater prosocial behaviours and school involvement.
The benefits aren’t limited to children, either, as other research has shown that close relationships between grandparents and grandchildren can have a positive impact on mental health for both.
Among First Nations families, grandparents have also been found to play an important role in supporting cultural health and healing among younger generations.
Please Take This Poll:
If you’re a parent:
If you’re a grandparent or aunt/uncle/cousin:
In addition to taking the poll, I encourage you to share your experiences by writing in the comments here on the Substack channel.
Exciting Book News:
My new guidebook Parent Rewind: Build Stronger Connections with Your Teen is now up on Amazon and available to buy as a digital download for only $9.97 USD.
Please head over to my official page in order to read about the book, purchase it, or share the title with anyone who is interested in creating better bonds with their pre-teen or teenager.
Substack Recommendations:
Below you’ll find two Substack channels that I regularly read. Nedra’s Nuggets is especially helpful for insights on parenting and family and Globetrotting Mama offers advice to parents and families who are travelling.
Until next time…
Yours in peaceful parenting,
Lisa