Are endless sleepless nights leaving you and your grandchildren exhausted, frustrated, and overwhelmed? Are you as a grandparent struggling to juggle caregiving, homework, and household responsibilities—all while running on empty? You’re not alone. Sleep deprivation can impact everyone in the household, from your grandkids’ behavior and learning to your own health and emotional resilience.
I’m Laura Brazan, and in this week’s episode of “Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Nurturing Through Adversity,” we shine a light on the science and solutions behind sleep struggles. Joined by certified pediatric sleep coach Allison Egidi, host of the “How Long Till Bedtime?” podcast, we explore the hidden impacts of sleep deprivation on children’s emotional regulation, impulse control, and academic success—and what it means for kinship caregivers like you. Discover practical, research-backed sleep strategies for every age, debunk common myths, and learn when and how to use sleep aids and routines effectively—even for kids with ADHD or trauma histories. To learn more about Allison's work and her podcast, please visit her website.
Tune in for real talk, expert advice, and red-light-bulb moments that can help your family finally get the restorative rest you all deserve. Together, let’s tackle bedtime battles and turn nights of chaos into peaceful, healing sleep, nurturing both you and your grandchildren.
Are you tired of competing with screens? Reknowned psychologist Dr. Dale Atkins has just released a spectacular new children's book called "Dear Deer", inspired by a real wild-life rescue. Grab your copy today on her website Amazon, Barnes & Noble or your favorite book store and bring a little more wild wonder into your family's storytime.
Jill Bryant has spent years researching the deep complexities of counseling and the lived reality of kinship care as a professor and a grandparent raising a grandchild. Her work, focusing on the complete subjective well-being of kinship caregivers. Taking this 10-minute survey gives our advocates the timely, real-world data they need to fight for the funding and structural support your family deserves right now.
Kinship care—stepping up to raise your grandchildren—can often feel like an incredibly lonely journey. When custody happens unexpectedly, it’s easy to feel like you are the only one navigating the trauma, the system, and the sheer exhaustion.
But you aren't alone. And that is exactly why your story matters. Your unique experience holds the power to change the system for the next family. Share your story with us at laurabrazan@grandparents-raising-grandchildren.org
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
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