Navajo Grandparents Raising Their Grandchildren: Their Strengths, Challenges, and Needs

Abstract

I interviewed 15 Navajo grandparents who were raising their grandchildren in order to discover their strengths, challenges, and needs when raising their grandchildren. The participants lived in the northern sector of the Navajo Nation. Three research questions guided the study: “What strengths do Navajo grandparents bring into the relationship with their grandchildren?” “What challenges do Navajo grandparents face as they are raising their grandchildren?” “What do the Navajo grandparents need to help them meet or overcome the challenges?” Strengths included teaching their grandchildren, setting a good example, nurturing them with proper teaching, and working with them to help them become independent. Challenges included lack of financial resources in addition to the dysfunction and alcoholism in their own children who were the biological parents. The grandparents also experienced challenges related to their grandchildren such as keeping them safe and not having child care. Challenges related to themselves included having health issues, having to start over again being parents, and feeling overwhelmed. The grandparents indicated that they needed financial assistance to help with their grandchildren. They also wanted more information about how to help their grandchildren with education and how to help them learn their Navajo culture. The grandparents wanted to meet with other grandparents to talk with them about how to raise their grandchildren. They wanted time to take care of themselves. The Navajo grandparents wanted to enjoy their later years; however, because they were raising their grandchildren, they were experiencing emotional, physical, and financial difficulties. They cared deeply for their grandchildren, yet they were willing to make the necessary sacrifices and show ajoobaa’ (care) to them. Despite the difficulties they had, they found joy and fulfillment in their role as grandparents. Recommendations for practice include providing financial resources as well as providing information about raising grandchildren. Recommendations also include providing networking opportunities with other grandparents who were raising their grandchildren. Recommendations for future research are included.