A decorahnews.com special report: Grandparents raising grandchildren--some of the problems they face

When Northeast Iowa grandparents are called upon to become parents to their grandchildren, they have a lot to learn in a hurry.

"It's so different now," sys HAWC Partnerships for Children Family Education Program Manager Barb Fjelstul of Decorah.  For instance, says Fjelstul, the electronic age has brought about video games, cell phones and computers--and all of them come with issues involving use and access.

But it's not just new inventions that face parenting grandparents.  "There's been so many changes in child-rearing practices," says Fjelstul.  That can range from straightforward subjects like child seats to more complicated ones like discipline and peer pressure.

Fjelstul says another problem is that many grandparents grew up in a time when it was typical not to ask for help.  So rather than turn to experts for advice, grandparents may just do "what was good enough for me"--although that was 40 or 50 years ago.

More to the point, such an attitude can get in the way of getting help for problems that are bound to arise when such a big age difference separates kids from the parenting grandparents.

Tomorrow--Will Northeast Iowa grandparents be able to get some help soon?