Are you a grandparent navigating the chaos of raising neurodivergent grandchildren, feeling like you’re exceeding your emotional limits every single day? Do you find yourself craving just one uninterrupted breath, struggling to reconcile the clinical language of “disorder” and “correction” with the vibrant, complex reality of your family? Are your own sensory needs clashing with those of the children in your care, leaving you feeling both isolated and unseen?
Jennifer Brunton, is an autistic mother and grandmother, and primary caregiver to two brilliant, intense, neurodivergent toddlers. Her projects encompass books, talks (including Keynotes), thought leadership and other articles, and consulting. She is coauthor of The #ActuallyAutistic Guide to Advocacy. She's worked as a writer and editor at Forbes, Random House, Mirabella, and Bristol-Myers Squibb, as well as for a range of individual, corporate, and academic clients.
Welcome to “Grandparents Raising Grandchildren,” where we break down old, pathologizing walls and build a house rooted in acceptance, honesty, and shared challenge. Here, you’ll find solidarity from other grandparents who understand what it is to stretch past capacity, expert insight on neuroaffirming advocacy, and real tools for adapting your household—headphones, comfort chickens, and micro-adjustments included. Together, we reframe compliance as compassion, and disorder as difference.
Join me on this journey as we create new blueprints for our families, root out stigma, and uplift each other. In community, we honor the survival—and the leadership—of kinship caregivers like you, dismantling isolation with every honest story shared.
Send us Fan Mail
New! Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Online Support Circle! Starting Wednesday, October 7th, we meet every other Wednesday from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM Eastern.
A peer-first, confidential space—free from cross-talk, judgment, or unsolicited advice. Guided by certified therapists, specialized family coaches, and counselors who truly understand kinship care.
When we look at the child welfare system today, it’s clear that the framework we've inherited is completely outdated. We keep trying to "fix" programs, but what if the problem isn't just funding or execution? What if the problem is how we frame the issues in the first place?
Ali Caliendo, founder of the Kinship Policy Lab, reminded us that the questions we ask determine the policies we write, the data we collect, and the outcomes we pursue.
I want to know how you’re doing. Is the podcast giving you what you need? What support are you missing most right now? Send me a Direct Message on Facebook or Instagram or email me directly at [email protected]. I read and reply to every message because this community is built on supporting each other!
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
