How Sharon Found Essential Tools for Parenting her Grandkids in the Digital Age Through Duet

“Duet has been and still is my support. Participation in Duet’s discussions remind I’m not alone, and sharing in the support group allows us to overcome issues together.”

— grateful grandmother, Sharon

Re•sil•ient /ri-zil- yənt/adj.: Able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions.

Sharon knows hard. New Year’s Eve 2021, her daughter, Trinique, lost her battle with cancer at age 42 leaving behind four children, three teenagers and a toddler. Leaning on her strong faith, Sharon, a breast cancer survivor herself, stepped up to parent a second time for her grandkids by herself with resilience, unconditional love, and a healthy reliance on God’s protection and perseverance for the journey.

With a wide variety of educational workshops and support groups available for grandfamilies, Sharon discovered Duet and found powerful tools for parenting in a new landscape of social media and gaming. Sharon says, “Do not try to do it [parent] on your own. Old school has become new school, and keeping integrity while understanding the new generation is not easy.” Duet’s reinvigorated workshops teach grandparents about important topics specific to being a kinship caregiver and positive youth development, while providing a space to connect with others who understand their situation.

For a grandparent or kinship caregiver seeking a supportive community for connection, sharing, and understanding, Duet offers our GrandKin Cafés. These gatherings are a welcoming space just for grandfamilies. Join us to connect with others facing similar journeys and find valuable resources to navigate the complexities of multigenerational family life.

· Connect with a community that recognizes the significance of your role and the challenges you face.

· Enjoy warm conversations, shared experiences, and valuable insights over a cup of coffee or tea.

· Access resources and explore topics impacting your grandfamily, from Healthy Relationships to Child Development.

· Celebrate joys and navigate family dynamics with others who understand.

Raising grandchildren often creates lifestyle changes in which friendships fade and plans are put on hold. Parenting the second time around brings a range of emotions, but you are not alone. Join one of our free GrandKin Café groups in English and Spanish, either virtually or in-person, throughout the Valley.

Sharon has learned new parenting styles to supplement her determination to raise up a new generation in the right way. She feels confident in her ability to manage her teens in a 21st-century world, characterized by youth who are more digitally connected yet socially disconnected than ever before.