Are you a grandparent shouldering the daily Stress of raising your grandchildren while quietly navigating your own chronic pain or Health challenges? Have you found yourself getting up at 3am to manage Family needs, only to realize your own body is running on empty? Do you feel guilty for putting your medical needs last while caring for kids who have experienced Trauma—kids who might be battling their own struggles with body image or eating?
After becoming a kinship caregiver, I learned how easy it is to sacrifice your health for the sake of stability at home. In our community, we rarely talk about how stress, medical trauma, and the demands of Caregiving can lead to disordered eating, body image struggles, or emotional Burnout. But ignoring our own well-being puts our families at risk—if the kinship CEO crashes, the whole organization feels the fallout.
In this episode, Tamie Gangloff, unpacks how chronic illness and eating disorders intersect—both for grandparents and the kids in our care. We'll share practical steps for self-advocacy with medical providers, tips for re-centering your health in the midst of chaos, and gentle daily reminders that nurture compassion for yourself. For more information about Tamie visit her website and don't forget to download her “medical appointment planning worksheet” here!
As a grandmother raising two grandchildren, one of my favorite things is watching them connect with the world around them. That's why I'm so in Love with Dr. Dale Atkins new children's book “Dear Deer”. Purchase directly through her website, Amazon or Barnes and Noble. Help our kids log off the screeens and tune back into the world!
Learn how to turn everyday moments into joyful connection — with zero guilt and zero gimmicks. Visit Parenting Harmony.
Dr. Jennifer Brunton holds a Ph.D. in sociology from Columbia University and has a career spanning from college professor to high-level editor and writer for brands like Forbes and Random House. But it is her identity as a proudly Autistic parent of an Autistic son and grandmother/primary caregiver to two neurodivergent granddaughters, 2- and 3-years-old, that fuels her deepest mission. I recently interviewed her for an episode that will be live the end of August 2026.
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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