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I interviewed 15 Navajo grandparents who were raising their grandchildren in order
to discover their strengths, challenges, and needs when raising their grandchildren. The
participants lived in the northern sector of the Navajo Nation. Three research questions
guided the study: "What strengths do Navajo grandparents bring into the relationship with
their grandchildren?" "What challenges do Navajo grandparents face as they are raising their
grandchildren?" "What do the Navajo grandparents need to help them meet or overcome the
challenges?" Strengths included teaching their grandchildren, setting a good example,
nurturing them with proper teaching, and working with them to help them become
independent. Challenges included lack of financial resources in addition to the dysfunction
and alcoholism in their own children who were the biological parents. The grandparents also
experienced challenges related to their grandchildren such as keeping them safe and not
having child care. Challenges related to themselves included having health issues, having to
start over again being parents, and feeling overwhelmed. The grandparents indicated that
they needed financial assistance to help with their grandchildren. They also wanted more
information about how to help their grandchildren with education and how to help them
learn their Navajo culture. The grandparents wanted to meet with other grandparents to talk
with them about how to raise their grandchildren. They wanted time to take care of
themselves. The Navajo grandparents wanted to enjoy their later years; however, because
they were raising their grandchildren, they were experiencing emotional, physical, and
financial difficulties. They cared deeply for their grandchildren, yet they were willing to make the
necessary sacrifices and show ajoobaa' (care) to them. Despite the difficulties they had, they
found joy and fulfillment in their role as grandparents. Recommendations for practice include
providing financial resources as well as providing information about raising grandchildren.
Recommendations also include providing networking opportunities with other grandparents
who were raising their grandchildren. Recommendations for future research are included.
