When Life Changes in an Instant: My Story on Hope for the Journey with Monica Schmelter

I recently had the honor of sharing my story on Monica Schmelter's podcast "Hope for the Journey," and it was both humbling and healing to talk about a chapter of my life I never expected to write.

The Day Everything Changed

One ordinary day, Child Protective Services showed up on my porch with my grandson. In that moment, I went from being a grandmother who spoiled her grandchild with weekend visits and birthday presents to becoming his full-time parent. There was no preparation, no manual, no time to think—just a child who needed me.

Like over 3 million other Americans, I suddenly found myself in the role of a grandparent raising a grandchild. It's a reality that's becoming increasingly common, yet it often feels incredibly isolating when you're living it.

Stepping Up When There's No Choice

The truth is, when CPS arrived that day, I didn't have time to prepare mentally, emotionally, or practically for what lay ahead. I just stepped up and did the best I could. Some days that felt like enough, other days it felt like I was drowning.

Raising a grandchild is different from raising your own children. You're often dealing with trauma, navigating complex family dynamics, and trying to heal wounds you didn't create. You're also doing it at a stage in life when you thought you'd be winding down, not gearing up for school pickups, homework help, and sleepless nights again.

Finding Hope in the Journey

What I've learned through this experience is that even when life throws you the most unexpected curveballs, there's always hope. Not the kind of hope that pretends everything is easy or that there won't be hard days, but the kind that says we're stronger than we think and we don't have to walk this path alone.

My story isn't unique—there are millions of us grandparents who've stepped into this role. We're a community of people who said "yes" when a child needed us, even when it turned our world upside down.

A Message to Other Grandparents

If you're reading this and you're in a similar situation, know that you're not alone. You're part of a growing community of grandparents who are making an incredible difference in a child's life. Some days will be harder than others, but you're doing something beautiful and necessary.

You don't have to be perfect. You just have to show up.

I'm grateful to Monica Schmelter for providing a platform to share these stories and for the important work she's doing through "Hope for the Journey." If you're interested in hearing more about my experience, you can listen to the full episode on the podcast. I also pray you join us on my Grandparents: Parenting, Again? Perspectives on Parenting Grands.