Raising Our Children's Children

by Deborah Doucette, Jeffrey R. Dr. LaCure (Primary Contributor)

Explores the social, legal, and emotional issues faced by grandparents as parents.

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 12, 1996

About the author

I began writing professionally after some soul searching led me to reflect on where I was in my career and what I really wanted to do. I knew that answer was, write! Soon, I was writing articles for local newspapers and looking for other opportunities. Eventually, I became involved in the issue of grandparents raising their grandchildren and wrote my first book, a non-fiction work, RAISING OUR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN, which has recently been updated and will be re-released July 2014. My novel, The Forgotten Roses, is a story about choices women face, family, a mystery and a little magic. In addition to Blogging for the Huffington Post, I'm working on a new novel.

Reviews

[Robyn Gesek · Rating 5 out of 5]

No longer an avid reader, it's been a while since I read a book in less than a week, but the topic if this book is one of high interest to me; the importance of family. I enjoyed reading the family memoirs and also the layout of the book, which alternated between each family's story, input from a therapist and the author's narration, which included easy to envision descriptions of quaint New England towns any native born could appreciate. I also enjoyed the way the characters were described, just enough to make you want to know more about them, and invites more questions. This book outlines the importance of family ties, extended families and problems that exist (or existed at the time of publishing 1996) within the child welfare system.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking for a resource to help me with some very pressing questions related to kinship care. This is the first book I have read on the subject. It was very helpful in many ways, especially the section on naming, but many others as well. Thank you for taking the time to write this book. May it help others who are wrong for the children of family members.

[Harriet Hodgson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Using interviews as a basis for structure and content, Deborah Doucette brings the issue of grandparents raising grandchildren (GRGs) into your home and heart. I started this book yesterday, went to bed worrying about the families, and finished it today. I'm so glad I read this book. Some stories were a punch in the gut, others lifted me up, and gave me hope. Doucette's observation, interview skills, and empathetic nature shine in every chapter. I felt like I was with her when she talked with GRGs and grandchildren. This thoughtful, well-written resource highlights the challenges grandparents face, and we all need to know what's at stake. Put it on your reading list today!

Harriet Hodgson, author of So, You're Raising Your Grandchildren

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The formatting of this book made it difficult for there to be solid takeaways. It was a bit odd to have a highly sympathetic character giving an interview, only to have the interjection of a family therapist detailing the flaws in their approach. It also does not provide too much solid legal or emotional advice, but rather focuses on individual stories.

[Tomoko Enomoto · Rating 5 out of 5]

This helped me out of my slump. When the circumstances are legally tolerated but takes on emotionally high tolls, there's much at risk, but no one really knows the way out. Glad to read about people who'd been through similar cases.

[Amber]

2 copies