subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Thu, Nov 26 2009 

Resources

print this story  Print this story
email this story  E-mail this story
  Post to del.icio.us

Photos


Ruth Brewer of Monroe, Ga., saves clippings of newspaper articles about her grandson, Joel, who was accepted at Massachusetts Institute of Technology on a $184,000 scholarship. The proud grandmother has raised Joel, 17, and his sister Nicole, 10 (in framed photos), since their father died almost 10 years ago.
( / Kelly Kazek/CNHI News Service)


Susan Kelley
(None / CNHI News Service)


Judy Perdue
(None / CNHI News Service)


Nicole Cofield
(None / CNHI News Service)


Caitlynd Ridley, 11, comes to the chair etched with her mother’s name at the Oklahoma City Memorial and Museum so she can honor a woman she does not remember. Her mother, Kathryn Ridley, died in a bomb blast on April 19, 1995, that also killed 167 others. Caity is being raised by her grandmother Martha Ridley.
( / Kelly Kazek/CNHI News Service)


Joel Cofield
(None / CNHI News Service)

Published: August 09, 2006 05:32 pm    print this story   email this story  

Never Empty Nest: Grandparents as parents is booming national trend

By Kelly Kazek
CNHI News Service

At 73 and recovering from a twice-ruptured stomach ulcer, Ruth Brewer of Monroe, Ga., says she worries daily about death and prays it won't happen to her anytime soon.

At least not until her granddaughter graduates high school, goes off to college and begins a life of self-sufficiency.

That day is still years away, but Brewer has a special reason for seeking divine assistance in the face of medical frailty. She is the only parent 10-year-old Nicole Cofield has ever known.

Nicole's father died when she was 8 months old. Her brother, Joel, was 7 years old. Brewer said their mother was a drug addict with serious mental health problems and couldn't care for them.

So Brewer took on the responsibility of raising her son's children by adopting them, guiding Joel to top honors in high school and a coveted scholarship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology this fall. Now, her energy is aimed at securing the same opportunity for Nicole.

"I was scared they'd be split up or I wouldn't know where they went," she said in a recent interview at her home. "We're family and I'm going to do until I can't do."

Brewer's resolve to again parent a family despite her senior years personifies one of America's fastest growing and yet least recognized demographic booms: grandparents raising grandchildren.

An estimated 4.5 million children live in grandparent-headed homes in the United States, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That's 30 percent higher than a decade ago and translates into 6 percent of the nation's kids. In the majority of cases, the Census data shows, the biological parents are dead or out of the picture.

Social experts call the increase and its ramifications a disturbing trend. They trace it to eight major cultural factors:

Alcohol and drug abuse.

Neglect, abuse and desertion.

Increased poverty.

Effects of AIDS disease.

More mothers in prison.

More single mothers.



print this story   email this story  


Terre Haute Progress Retail health medical manufacturing education

Terre Haute
autoconx
Visit zip2save.com for all your favorite circulars & coupons!
Circulars
Coupons
Deals Zip2Save.com, online advertising circulars, deals, coupons and travel specials.
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Terre Haute

Terre Haute News Morning Headlines

Terre Haute ClickLocal

Terre Haute Tribune-Star Newspaper Dial-A-Pro

Terre Haute Tribune-Star Newspaper Live in the Clubs

Terre Haute News on Twitter

Premium Jobs

ELECTRICIAN WANTED. KY LICENSE PREFERRED.
OSHA 10 hr. 10+ years exp., commercial, EOE, Drug free workplace. Job is located in Glasgow, KY. Interested applicants c...>MORE

NOW HIRING OWNER OPERATORS
Call 270-678-7379....>MORE

MANAGEMENT (KEYHOLDER) POSITION WITH LOCAL
shoe store. Exciting career opportunity. Retail experience preferred. Competitive benefit package. Apply at SHOE SHOW, 2...>MORE

DENTAL HYGIENIST POSITION,
part time and or as needed. Send resume to P.O. Box 1172, Tompkinsville, KY 42167.

...>MORE

EXPERIENCED DENTAL ASSISTANT NEEDED
to work 2-3 days a week in a busy dental office, emphasizing in oral surgery. Pay commensurate on experience & backgroun...>MORE

CAREER MINDED INDIVIDUALS SEARCHING FOR A HOME
We offer HOME ON WEEKENDS!!
2500 miles per week
100% no touch freight
No force dispatch to NYC. Safety & ...>MORE

ADULT THERAPIST
LifeSkills has a full-time Adult Therapist position available for our service center in Metcalfe County. The position is...>MORE

See all ads
Premium Autos

93 CHEVROLET CONVERSION VAN,
123,000+ miles., new tires, runs & looks great. Must see. $1795 O.B.O. 453-3726 or 670-8131.

...>MORE

LOOKING FOR A GREAT AUTO DEAL?.....
Looking to buy or sell?
Check here for the Premium Auto Section.
You can post an ad with unlimited text and ...>MORE

2002 HONDA TRIKE GL-1800
40k miles. Asking $27,000. For more info call 270-404-2959.

...>MORE

See all ads
Premium Homes

GREAT STARTER HOME ON CHILDRESS.
3 BR, 1 BA, 1 car garage. $74,900. Call 270-646-7487 for appointment....>MORE

1 BR APARTMENT $425 MO.
utilities paid, inside city limits, service animals only. 270-590-8914.

...>MORE

LARGE 2 BR APARTMENT IN DUGANTOWN ESTATES.
Washer, dryer, stove & fridge furnished. Call 270-651-5071.

...>MORE

2 BR, 1 BA MOBILE HOME IN THE COUNTRY.
$395 mo., $100 dep. References required, service animals only. Call 270-678-3039.

...>MORE

3 BR, 1 BA, HOUSE,
Garage, 113 Childress, $650 mo. Call 270-659-0059 anytime....>MORE

EFFICIENCY APARTMENT.
Deposit & references required. 651-7101.

...>MORE

GLASGOW CITY, LARGE 2 BR APARTMENT, C/H/A,
close to hospital, fridge & range furnished, W/D hook-up. Dep. & references required. $375 mo. Call 270-773-5189 or 270-...>MORE

2 BR, 1 BA, C/H/A, W/D HOOKUP, STOVE, D/W,
refrigerator, storage unit furnished, rear deck. $400 mo. + $300 dep. 678-5982 or 670-5745.

...>MORE

EXECUTIVE HOME IN NORRIS COURT,
4 BR, 2 1/2 BA, 3300 sq. ft., full unfinished basement, 2 car detached garage, completely remodeled. $199,000. Call 615-...>MORE

LOCAL BUSINESS SEEKING FULL-TIME BOOKKEEPER.
Minimum 2 years experience. QuickBooks knowledge required. Benefits available. Please send resume to Box DR, c/o The Gla...>MORE

See all ads
Today's Featured Jobs

Stylist Needed
stylist needed,
low weekly booth
rent. 249-4230

...>MORE

Nurses & CNA's
SIGN-ON
BONUS
Nurses& CNA’s
Full-time
All Shifts
Good work
environment and
support...>MORE

See all ads
Today's Featured Autos

02 Harley
02 HD Heritage Soft-
tail, mint cond, 4500
mi, lots of extras ga-
rage kept $11,500.
765-301-0201...>MORE

53 Ferguson
1953 FergUson
O.H. V. 12 Volt, Nice
tractor $1950
(217)251-1725

...>MORE

See all ads
Today's Featured Homes

340 S 30th
2-bdrm. gar., fenced
340 S 30th., $595
mo. 917-4339
...>MORE

By Campus
By CAMPUS
APARTMENTS.
Effics. & up Prices
that match your budget
235-9353

...>MORE

See all ads
Today's Cool Stuff

CHristmas Trees
SELECT
CHRISTMAS TREES
(812)533-0921

...>MORE

Ladies clothes
brand name gently
used ladies clothes
sz 12 (812)466-6398

...>MORE

See all ads

Loading Calendar...
(requires Javascript)
© 1995-2009, The Tribune Star, TribStar.com 222 South 7th Street, Terre Haute, Indiana 47807 • Phone: (812) 231-4200
Advertising • Circulation • Editorial • Administrative • Online
Place a Classified Ad
rtj

 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index