Are parenting strategies from decades past falling short with your neurodiverse grandchild? Do meltdowns and anxiety leave you feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or questioning your instincts as a caregiver? Are you searching for actionable solutions to soothe trauma-driven behaviors, foster emotional health, and rebuild the bonds in your family?

I’m Laura Brazan, and as both a seasoned mother and a grandparent unexpectedly raising my granddaughter Athena, I know firsthand the struggle of navigating sensory processing challenges and emotionally charged mornings. In "Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Nurturing Through Adversity," we go beyond old-fashioned advice—this episode offers neuroscience-backed tools for mastering co-regulation with children who are strong-willed, deeply feeling, or navigating neurodiversity.

Join us for authentic stories, expert guidance from Board Certified Behavior Analyst Melissa Schulz, and practical steps for addressing big behaviors while honoring your own emotional journey. You’ll gain insights on mindfulness, polyvagal theory, and a trauma-friendly approach that helps you ditch the compliance battle and build lasting connection. For more information about Melissa and the GUIDE Process, please visit her website.

If you’re ready to transform your family legacy—replacing reactive patterns with hope, connection, and confidence—this podcast is your supportive community. Let’s rewrite the future for you and your grandchildren together.

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The 750% gap is real, but it doesnt have to be your family's destiny. We are gamifying the 'motherboard' to bring our partners and grandchildren back into the center of the mission!

Join us in The Grand Challenge!

Jolene Thiessen has been with us since the beginning of our podcast. She wrote in to thank us for our 100th episode! She looked for help online and found us- the only podcast that came up when she searched for help. I live to help these children have better lives and to be sure that all our pain doesn't go to waste for you grandparents and kinship caregivers out there! I love hearing your stories and comments. Keep sharing! Your stories make a difference.

Thank you for tuning into today's episode. It's been a journey of shared stories, insights, and invaluable advice from the heart of a community that knows the beauty and challenges of raising grandchildren. Your presence and engagement mean the world to us and to grandparents everywhere stepping up in ways they never imagined.

Remember, you're not alone on this journey. For more resources, support, and stories, visit our website and follow us on our social media channels. If today's episode moved you, consider sharing it with someone who might find comfort and connection in our shared experiences.

We look forward to bringing more stories and expert advice your way next week. Until then, take care of yourselves and each other.

Want to be a guest on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Nurturing Through Adversity? Send Laura Brazan a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/grg

Liked this episode? Share it and tag us on Facebook @GrandparentsRaisingGrandchilden

Love the show? Leave a review and let us know!

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Have you noticed the unequal load—both seen and unseen—that grandmothers often carry, while searching for ways to bring grandfathers more fully to the caregiving table? You’re not alone. The gender gap in kinship care is real and significant, often leaving women overwhelmed and resentful, while men struggle to find their place and purpose in the caregiving journey.

I’m Laura Brazan, and on "Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Nurturing Through Adversity," we get real about the deeply rooted neurobiology, social norms, and emotional dynamics that shape our family roles—especially in times of crisis. In this powerful episode, Dr. Anthony Silard, renowned researcher and author, helps us unpack the 750% disparity in household labor, the science behind why men and women approach caregiving differently, and—most importantly—how we can rewrite these scripts with compassion and creativity.

Together, we’ll explore actionable strategies to foster greater empathy, assertiveness, and active involvement from grandfathers, from creating men’s caregiving groups to launching fun, family-based competitions that root every member in connection and legacy. You’l

Send us Fan Mail

The 750% gap is real, but it doesnt have to be your family's destiny. We are gamifying the 'motherboard' to bring our partners and grandchildren back into the center of the mission!

Join us in The Grand Challenge!

What's your #1 survival tool? Listener Tina Patrick Pastorelli commented that after 6 years of raising her children that are not even biologically hers, "Just be the family they never had". It's a simple reminder that we don't need a perfect biological connection to create a perfect sense of belonging for these kids we're raising #kinshipcare #kinshipcaregivers #grandparentsraisinggrandchildren

In this special pre-roll segment, I’m sharing a moving letter from a member of our community, Laurel. Her story of loss, resilience, and raising her grandson after the unthinkable is a raw reminder that none of us are walking this path alone.

We want to hear from you. If Laurel’s story resonates with you, or if you have a journey of your own to share, join our private community. Your story might be the exact lifeline someone else needs to hear today.

Thank you for tuning into today's episode. It's been a journey of shared stories, insights, and invaluable advice from the heart of a community that knows the beauty and challenges of raising grandchildren. Your presence and engagement mean the world to us and to grandparents everywhere stepping up in ways they never imagined.

Remember, you're not alone on this journey. For more resources, support, and stories, visit our website and follow us on our social media channels. If today's episode moved you, consider sharing it with someone who might find comfort and connection in our shared experiences.

We look forward to bringing more stories and expert advice your way next week. Until then, take care of yourselves and each other.

Want to be a guest on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Nurturing Through Adversity? Send Laura Brazan a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/grg

Liked this episode? Share it and tag us on Facebook @GrandparentsRaisingGrandchilden

Love the show? Leave a review and let us know!

CONNECT WITH US: Website | Facebook

Are you a grandparent, foster, or adoptive parent feeling overwhelmed by the emotional rollercoaster of kinship caregiving? Do you find yourself longing for peace and clarity as you juggle legal, financial, and family traumas—sometimes sinking under the weight of tough choices, chaotic homes, and the persistent sense that you "should" be able to handle it all? You’re not alone. The unseen labor of nurturing children through adversity can be isolating and exhausting, leaving you searching for hope, connection, and tools that actually work.

In this episode of "Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Nurturing Through Adversity," master life coach Bonnie Butler joins us to share her hard-earned wisdom from raising four biological children, fostering 17, and adopting six siblings from traumatic backgrounds. Bonnie’s journey from self-doubt to emotional confidence proves that thought management—and emotional hygiene—are the invisible superpowers every caregiver needs.

For more information on Bonnie and her coaching work, Please visit her website. Get Bonnie's free guide-

Send us Fan Mail

The 750% gap is real, but it doesnt have to be your family's destiny. We are gamifying the 'motherboard' to bring our partners and grandchildren back into the center of the mission!

Join us in The Grand Challenge!

What's your #1 survival tool? Listener Tina Patrick Pastorelli commented that after 6 years of raising her children that are not even biologically hers, "Just be the family they never had". It's a simple reminder that we don't need a perfect biological connection to create a perfect sense of belonging for these kids we're raising #kinshipcare #kinshipcaregivers #grandparentsraisinggrandchildren

In this special pre-roll segment, I’m sharing a moving letter from a member of our community, Laurel. Her story of loss, resilience, and raising her grandson after the unthinkable is a raw reminder that none of us are walking this path alone.

We want to hear from you. If Laurel’s story resonates with you, or if you have a journey of your own to share, join our private community. Your story might be the exact lifeline someone else needs to hear today.

Thank you for tuning into today's episode. It's been a journey of shared stories, insights, and invaluable advice from the heart of a community that knows the beauty and challenges of raising grandchildren. Your presence and engagement mean the world to us and to grandparents everywhere stepping up in ways they never imagined.

Remember, you're not alone on this journey. For more resources, support, and stories, visit our website and follow us on our social media channels. If today's episode moved you, consider sharing it with someone who might find comfort and connection in our shared experiences.

We look forward to bringing more stories and expert advice your way next week. Until then, take care of yourselves and each other.

Want to be a guest on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Nurturing Through Adversity? Send Laura Brazan a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/grg

Liked this episode? Share it and tag us on Facebook @GrandparentsRaisingGrandchilden

Love the show? Leave a review and let us know!

CONNECT WITH US: Website | Facebook