Congrats, you're a mother!

The kids were “dropped on her doorstep.”

And just like that, she was parenting again. But this time there was no baby shower, no partner, and she was thirty-three years older. Yet, as the kids’ grandma, what else could she do? 💔

This is how kinship caregiving begins. Suddenly. Unceremoniously. When aunts, uncles, grandparents step up in monumental ways.

Grandma undertook her role fueled by fierce love and a desire to give the kids a better life. 💪 She lets the younger one sleep in bed with her because of intense fear of night, and abandonment. She parents through difficult behaviors created by trauma.

But as deep as her love goes, it doesn’t help her carry around a toddler, or cook the meals, or foot the extra bill (no help from the state either – kinship caregivers aren't eligible 💸).

“Overwhelmed” barely cuts it.

Her Love Box jumped in with open hearts.

Meals began to arrive before the group even met Grandma and her kids.

Soon they uncovered an easy way to reduce stress for everyone – by bringing the older kid to swimming lessons 🏊‍♀️

This has meant:

🥳 youth feels cared for by more adults (and arrives on time ⏰)

😇 Grandma can stay home to make dinner

😴 toddler can nap in her own bed


This kind of support can feel like a miracle. It pushes the needle from “barely surviving” toward “maybe we can thrive.”

But the truth is that so much needs to happen before that first meal is delivered. People must be activated, connected, matched. A caregiver needs to know they can reach out for support.