My wife and I raised our 13-year-old granddaughter, who had become too much for her mother to handle. They had moved ten times in her young life, and she exhibited poor behavior and manners.
My wife had difficulty trying to change her behavior. I got involved and wouldn’t let a problem go by without consequences being attached. I got the police involved when she got into some criminal trouble. When things happened at school, I supported their discipline and always went in to show I stood with the school and would not make excuses for her.
I developed a good relationship with my granddaughter’s social worker who was part of a services program. The social worker was able to arrange juvenile detention for her after she had several run-ins with the law. Having consequences for her actions (and not just being given a lecture) is what made my granddaughter change.
It was embarrassing. It made me uncomfortable. And yes, I would rather have been a grandfather instead of being a parent and a disciplinarian. But that’s what she really needed.
She’s a young adult now and has turned her life around. I feel very confident she will be a functioning, moral and law-abiding citizen. It wasn’t easy, but it can be done, and we did it.
Peter
We Helped Our Granddaughter Turn Her Life Around