Frosts take in granddaughter, return to work in Georgia

Michael and Connie Frost had just settled into retirement in Georgia when Kinsley, their 8-year-old granddaughter, came to live with them. The Fosts had planned quiet years after years of work, but Kinsley’s mother—a single parent struggling with housing instability—could no longer care for her. Overnight, the Fosts went from empty nesters to full-time guardians, and with Kinsley now 11, they’ve had to rethink everything.

About 2.7 million grandparents in the U.S. are raising grandchildren, according to the latest Census data. Many step in after a crisis: incarceration, addiction, or economic collapse. The Fosts fit a growing pattern. Kinsley’s mother, now in a stable program for recovery housing, visits when she can, but the legal and financial burden has fallen on her parents. Connie, a retired teacher, handles Kinsley’s school schedule and after-school activities. Michael, a former mechanic, works part-time to cover rising costs of food, clothes, and extracurriculars. “We thought we were done paying tuition,” Connie says. “Now we’re paying for tutors and school supplies again.”

The Fosts are among thousands of older Americans navigating a system that wasn’t built for this kind of caregiving. Georgia offers limited subsidies for grandparents raising grandchildren, and Kinsley doesn’t qualify for foster care payments because she isn’t in the formal system. The Fosts rely on food banks, community donations, and Michael’s side gigs to make ends meet. Kinsley’s needs are stretching their budget and energy, but they say they wouldn’t have it any other way. “She’s our girl,” Michael says. “We’d do it again tomorrow.”

Next year, Kinsley starts middle school, and the Fosts are bracing for new expenses: uniforms, activity fees, and the emotional toll of adolescence. They’re also exploring legal options to secure Kinsley’s stability—maybe guardianship or adoption—so she doesn’t face uncertainty if something happens to them. It’s a reminder: retirement isn’t just about winding down. For millions of families, it’s about stepping up when no one else can.