Generations ago, when unmarried mothers were ostracised by society, it was not unusual for children
to grow up believing their grandmother was their mother and their birth mother was a sister.
Today, family breakdown and parental drug addiction are more likely to be the reasons why children live with their grandparents. Although very young teenage mothers may also be emotionally unable to take on the responsibility of parenthood and other parents may be in prison, homeless or have died. Whatever the reason, grandparents bringing up grandchildren often receive little recognition.
In addition to dealing with the day-to-day needs of the child, grandparents often have no legal rights to guardianship of their grandchild. Having assumed responsibility in a crisis situation, they are frequently afraid to raise the issue and risk refusal. Schools and nurseries may collude with this, by treating the grandparent as they would a parent asking permission from them to take the child on school trips and so on.
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