Beloved Grand Families

Jacqueline Enriquez joins Craig Nash for this update from Colorado in the latest edition of the IAGL Podcast.

Watch the video version here.

https://youtu.be/9iN6xcp7T1w

https://www.grandfamiliesrising.org/

#grandfamily 
#grandfamilypodcast 
#jacquelineenriquez
#grandparentsraisinggrandchildren

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:08

Welcome to It's a Grand Life, where our mission is to be a voice for grandfamilies and kinship caregivers everywhere. Did you know that in the United States alone there are 2.3 million grandparents raising their grandchildren? 2.3 million. It's a Grand Life is committed to making a difference for those kids. That's why we have the podcast, a Facebook group, and the Grand Fund. The Grand Fund, which is a 501c3 which was launched in June of 2024, provides financial assistance to grand families, including shelter, food, clothing, and household needs. Grand families are in every neighborhood, in every city, every tribe and territory nationwide. If this is you or someone you love, we're here for you. And we welcome you to join us on this mission. Our goal is to offer hope and resources to help you. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us wherever you get your podcast and leave a review. You can also join our Facebook group, just search for it under It's a Grand Life. And your reviews, comments, and sharing of our podcasts help us reach others that need assistance. Welcome to another episode of It's a Grand Life. Hello, my name is Craig Nash. I would like to invite you to another It's a Grand Life. And today we're going to Denver, Colorado, and I promise you you are going to be blessed today. Our guest is Jacqueline Enriquez from Beloved Grand Families. And just the name of that organization warms your heart. And all the pictures I've seen from the grandparents and the grandkids that are involved with this organization, there's a lot of love that goes around. And uh Jackie, just thank you so much for joining us here on It's a Grand Life. We've been looking forward to having you on and to hear what's going on in this exciting organization that you've got going in Denver. Thanks so much for joining us.

SPEAKER_01 2:09

Oh, thank you for welcoming. Yeah, welcome welcoming me. So blessed, so nervous, but we're gonna get through this. Yes, Mr. Nash.

SPEAKER_00 2:18

Well, um uh you've got so many positive things to share, and I love how you think, and and uh your heart for your grand families is just just overwhelming, and that's why you became, I'm sure that's why you were selected to become a grand voice through Generations United. And uh, what has that journey been like? You just you're just coming on now, aren't you?

SPEAKER_01 2:39

I am just coming on now. I'm very excited. I have um attended a few conventions for Generations United and through some referrals, and so I just felt that I just needed to be a really big part of it. So I am now proud to say that I get to attend my first meeting this month and just um be a voice and be an advocate for all of these grand families and these kinship families. So yay!

SPEAKER_00 3:07

Well, you're gonna be in the right spot, and I can't wait to uh sit across the table on the Zoom meeting with you. But um but you tell us a little bit about beloved grandfamilies. Um, how long have you had this organization? When did you start it? And uh what led you to do that?

SPEAKER_01 3:23

So I started Beloved Grandfamilies in 2020. Um, I started planning it in about 2019. Uh, this is just because a walk in my shoes. Um, I had been working for the Federal Reserve Bank for 20 near 20 years in management, and then one day out of nowhere, uh Child Protective Services contacted me and let me know that my two-month-old grandson was in intensive care, and his two-year-old brother had been like taken from the only home home he had ever known and thrown into foster care. So I kind of had to make an immediate decision whether to take them on or not. And of course, I didn't even think about that.

unknown 4:02

Right.

SPEAKER_01 4:03

Well, unfortunately, you know, when I got him home, we had like to get him home, we had no car seats available for him. Um when I got home, there were no cribs, no bottles. Um, it was just a little bit overwhelming. And then maybe six months after I had to quit my job due to the cost of child care. And then within that five years, I became like really depressed. Um, I became unhealthy. I um used everything from my 401k and my savings, and um I had to recover from myself to be able to be okay going through navigating services and going through support groups and things like that. Um, I healed myself and so I decided to start beloved grandfamilies. Um, I wanted to be that voice that those grandparents could call. So now um I co-parent with my grandson's mom. They're now eight, nineteen, and seventeen, and they have a four-year-old sister with autism. And just through faith and work and healing ourselves and loving, um, we've been a success. And I just hope to share that with others and just hope that anyone who reaches out, we can help walk along their side as well.

SPEAKER_00 5:23

That is a phenomenal story. So this is uh you've been on the grand family journey for two decades. I mean, you're in your second decade doing this.

SPEAKER_01 5:31

This is absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 5:33

I mean, this is you're you're not a newbie to the to the to the class. You know, you you absolutely could uh uh help you know all the folks in in Denver, Colorado that are just raising the grand families. And and uh what I liked when uh before we started the taping the the program today, you you were very aware of some of the challenges that grand families are facing, especially legal challenges. And and um, you know, the the uh uh it's this whole idea of do I need to adopt? Do I need to have guardianship? And and uh aren't you wrestling with a couple families right now that that's just an acute issue for them? And uh, how are you handling that?

SPEAKER_01 6:14

That is a very huge issue. In Colorado, parents, grandparents really don't have any grandparental rights. Um, you can have temporary custody and you can make decisions for them if you can get that uh when the child's abandoned, but you don't really have a lot of rights when the parent chooses to come in and take your grandchild away from you. Of course, we want all these families to be reunified and we want to work a living family. Well, but when that's not um option, you know, it's it's really sad that you're concerned about your grandchildren and you have no rights to be able to um make choices in their life for their well-being.

SPEAKER_00 7:01

And isn't there an option to become a guardian of the the children in Colorado, or is that off the table?

SPEAKER_01 7:09

Oh no, you can go to court and you can get that. Um, you know, sometimes you can get the um temporary custody or the permanent custody of them.

SPEAKER_00 7:18

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 7:19

Um, it's hard to get adoption when you have a parent that is incarcerated and really wants nothing to do with the child, but yet they don't want to um be able to give you the availability to adopt the child. And the sad thing is is that when these situations are going on, then I'm finding out it has nothing to do with the child. It's the relationship between the parent and the adult child, and that they don't have that, they're not there within themselves because they have so much going on with each other that they're not able to make good choices for the child. It's more in the need at that moment, like would you say flight for life, maybe? I don't, you know.

SPEAKER_00 8:07

And that's very true. So that if if there was a better relationship between the grandparent and the child, I mean, not the grandchild, but the the incarcerated um individual, maybe they would look at this more objectively that gosh, I I I'm not in a position to raise these uh my kids. And but um my mom's doing a heck of a job, and you know, and she'll still let me go see them once I'm out of prison and what have you. And and it's uh the most grandparents that I know, and I'm sure you feel the same way, are really all about what's best for the whole family. You know, they they want they want the the child in a in a grandchild in a loving environment, but they want their kids to get their act together too. And that, but that's that's part of the uh the challenge that uh, you know, you grandma and the grandchild can be doing absolutely great, but that that son or daughter in the middle, you know, that where there's some behavior health issues or some substance abuse issues, and and that that's quite a challenge. I know that's the our situation. We've got our our daughter's got some behavior health and some substance abuse issues, and and uh I deep down I know she's a really good kid, but we've we've got to get our priorities straight and and get healthy. And and uh um of course we grandparents are mainly concerned about the grandkids, you know, are are they gonna be okay? What can we do to put them on a safe and healthy path? And that's what you've done just uh for five years now. I guess you're in your sixth year at the beloved grandfamilies, just looking at how can we help these grand these these grandfamilies get on a safe pathway. And and that's one of the reasons why I think you had Christmas for kids uh this past uh Christmas.

SPEAKER_01 9:48

And so yeah, for the last five years, we've been aiming, we've been financially successful to be able to have Christmas parties for our families. Um, it's been probably over about 75 um people coming, and we were able to provide gifts and things for like that. Um, last year we got a one-time donation from the next 50. Um, they just loved it, and one of the representatives from there came to our party. Unfortunately, this year we weren't able to um have um a party. Well, it the story is I just have to say, God works miracles. Um, my mom belongs to a sorority. Some of these ladies have been in there since 1963, and they had a little service fund of $50. And so they said, we're not going to give to the Ronald McDonald house, we're gonna give to beloved grandfamilies. And so they said, pick one of your families that we can buy them a gift. So I chose a grandmother that is 75 years old who just adopted her seven-year-old granddaughter. Wow, great granddaughter actually, and um, we went to go get a gift. Well, one of the sorority sisters there, her son said, Well, I want to buy them something. And then what happened is um, I'll be real quick, but it's an amazing story, is um the son works at Walmart. So then there were six people that said, Oh, we want to buy for this family. So I got to bring them like a wagon full of gifts. Well, that didn't stop there because the the son, his sister, you know, usually picks up a family tree ticket and they said, Oh, well, we're gonna do beloved grandfamilies. So they decided that they wanted to take on one of our families. And God led me to send this email to Mr. Nash and say, Mr. Nash, let's collaborate and let's um, you know, just meet and see if we might be able to uh talk about these grandfamilies. And right on the timing, right when it was supposed to be, his fund was able to support beloved grandfamilies, and we were able to provide gifts and food boxes for 10 additional families. Oh my smiles on their faces, the wonders. I mean, it was just amazing. And you know what? I wasn't looking. This just God opened the doors for this just to happen for these families. It was just like when you follow this journey the way you want you want it, He wants it done for you and these families. Hey, and that's the same with everybody's families. If they would just put, you know, faith in there and try not to be so much in control and know that you just share love with your family and you're gonna get the answers of what's gonna be right for your whole family.

SPEAKER_00 12:33

I couldn't agree more. And uh, you know, I I believe we're that we're all connected and and we we all want the same things for our, especially our grandkids. You know, we want them to be healthy and to prosper, and and it um on behalf of all of us that it's a grand life. It was an absolute joy of ours to help your Christmas program and to to help 10 families have a wonderful Christmas. I mean, that's just what our board is all about. And uh, and we're just we're very thankful to be in Colorado. You know, we've been helping folks in Nevada and Alabama and Atlanta and Michigan and other places, but um, you know, we have not been in the Rocky Mountain state helping some grandfamilies, but I think we're gonna be there forever now. So that's that's what it's all about. And meeting you has been such a blessing and uh your heart of faith and your love for these kids and the and not only just the kids and the grandfamily, you're you're you're telling me sharing uh me with me your heart for these intergenerational relationships, how you want to really help families grasp how this can work, you know, the the living situation, this, you know, how do we have a healthy relationship where we've got grandma and then the the the mom and the kids under the same roof? And you know, I just salute you in that, Jackie. I think that's a great idea. And and where do you think that will take you?

SPEAKER_01 13:59

I think it's gonna take very do very well for reunifying um families. Um, when my daughter started to come back into the lives um of the boys, one thing that I had, I was a very big micromanager, and I had to realize that you know what? I'm never going, my daughter's never gonna raise these boys the ways that I raise them, with um my ethics and my beliefs and the way that I was raised. That's the biggest thing. And I had to come to realization that you know what, she's taking care of her boys and she's being a great mom. She's just not doing the way that I want her to do it. Right. And so it took a lot to learn that. And once I let that go and showed her that, you know, how proud and supportive I was of her, I mean, things just really started to turn around. It's really important for us to let our children know that their parents love them so much, and it's just that at this time in life, they're just making bad choices in their lives.

SPEAKER_00 15:07

That's a good thing.

SPEAKER_01 15:08

You know, they're just they're just making bad choices, but we our children don't want us to talk bad about our parents, and a lot of us sometimes, I mean, let's I'm gonna be honest here. We have those feelings. I mean, we're humans and we're angry and we're mad, and we're, you know, and it's we think we know what's best, but we really always don't think what is best. My daughter and I are right now trying to work on something because we're coming in with families where you have to have boundaries. Um, absolutely, you have to have boundaries. And how do you do that? And how do you deal with that? And how do you have a healthy relationship? And it's really important to understand the shoes that she's walked in through her journey, being away from our children. I mean, one of the biggest things she said is she's like, you know what? I just gave up. I just thought nobody was there, and so my children were better off with their grandparents, and I just I'm I'm just gonna go into a hole, into a really dark place, and they think they're doing the best for the children because they're in such a bad way. So we have to have those boundaries, but we have to support them. And so we're gonna really try to think of a workshop to be able to work with these families to have that communication and that connection to help each other walk in each other's shoes to kind of understand where each other is at.

SPEAKER_00 16:24

I absolutely love that. And when you get that workshop together, you need to come back and tell us about it. Because I think that's something that would apply all over the country, and that's just just really a great way to look at that. And uh, so in in the just the few minutes we have left, uh Jackie Enrique, what would you want our listeners to know about uh your journey with beloved grandfamilies? How could you encourage us today?

SPEAKER_01 16:51

I think the most important thing for any grandparent that's out there who is raising their grandchildren is to get into a support group wherever they can and start to socialize and get involved as much as you possibly can. Because there's so many people like walking through those same those same experiences. I mean, it's don't isolate you in your home and don't seclude yourself. There's so much out there, and there's so much fun that you can have. We've had so many families um be invited, and a lot of times grandparents say, No, my kids are in school, we're not taking them out of school, we're gonna go and enjoy our day together. So socializing and sharing your story is really, really important. If you meet grandparents out there, talk to them, ask them about their grandchildren, get ideas, you know. But I there's so many different situations out there, you know what I mean? But just don't think that you're alone, and and I mean, support groups are probably one of the best things that I could say out there in socialization too for you and for your grandchildren.

SPEAKER_00 18:05

I I couldn't agree more, and you know, I remember reading a Wall Street Journal article a couple of years ago about this loneliness epidemic in our country. And you know, with that's why, you know, you don't be a lone ranger. You know, just you you've got to be part of a support group, don't isolate. And um, you know, it's socializing is so important. You're not alone, you're never alone. And uh, so we that's that's one of the reasons why we wanted to have you on It's a Grand Life, because that's you know, you you're such a warm and caring person that that folks in Denver, Colorado should be aware of beloved grandfamies and they should attend your meetings because uh I know you just you know you take folks out to lunch when it's their birthday. I mean you you just you you want them to be seen and heard and know that they are loved, and uh that just comes through so strongly. So, Jackie Enriquez, thank you so much for being our guest on Instagram Life. We really appreciate all that you're doing, and we we you have an open invitation. So when next time you're working on your your next project, this probably this intergenerational workshop sounds great. We want to hear all about it and want to see if that is something that might catch on across the whole country. And I look forward to our first meeting together with the Grand Voices. I think it's next week, if we didn't we say that before we went on the air, and and uh, but thanks for all you're doing. And uh at the bottom of the screen, when our producers got this all set, you'll the uh the name of your organization as well as your website and everything will be listed there for folks that watch this and want to find out more about how to get in touch with you. So thanks so much for being our guest today. We really appreciate it.

SPEAKER_01 19:41

Right, and don't forget we're gonna meet for um I have found great five grandparents writing their own memoirs now. So I can't wait, wait to talk to that in the near future. Thank you so much for um having me and and many prosperous blessings and for all of you grand families out there that are just taking care of your grand berries. Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 20:02

Thank you, Jackie. And we're gonna see you another time on It's a Grand Life. And thank you, folks at home, for listening and watching us wherever you get your podcast. You just uh give us the uh uh the fire to keep going, and we just really appreciate you so much. But thanks for tuning in for It's a Grand Life, and we will see you next time, right here. Thank you for joining us today for It's a Grand Life. It's a Grand Life provides vital content, regulatory updates, and subject matter experts that are committed to supporting the 2.4 million kids and their caregivers from every neighborhood, every city, every tribe and territory nationwide. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel or wherever you get your podcast and leave a review. Every new subscriber and review helps us reach others that need assistance. As caregivers, we are united in purpose. We are driven by hope while providing strength for today and hope for tomorrow. We are truly making a difference in while living the grand life. If you have a suggestion for a future episode, please reach out to us. But we'll see you next time for another It's a Grand Life. Thank you for joining us.