Part two:

Monday, NBC25 took a look at grandparents taking over guardianship for their grandkids.

In one MidMichigan county, these cases make up more than 80% of the total guardianship cases.

"We thought we were done raising our kids, and now we're finding ourselves back in that little loop again," says John Torres of Genesee Township.

John and his wife Christine have taken guardianship of their 17-year-old grandson and 13-year-old granddaughter.

Christine says, "We just love them to death."

The Torres' say they've been watching over them since birth and that it made sense to make it official.

"They have to set aside the grandparents role," says Genesee County Chief Probate Judge Jennie Barkey. She tells guardian grandparents they can't simply spoil their grandkids any more, but that they have to be authoritative.

While John and Christine are putting their lives on hold, they don't look at parenting their grandkids as a hassle.

"I just thank God for the life he has given me," says Christine.

The tight-knit family says many grandparents don't get to see their grandkids often, but they get to see them everyday.

John says, "We'll do what we got to do to take care of the kids and make sure they have a productive life and give them everything we can."

"I'm glad we're healthy enough to take care of the kids," says Christine.

John's 17-year-old grandson gave him a money clip which reads, "You're my hero, Grandpa."

The couple attend all of their grandkids' sporting events and activities.

Barkey says, "This is the way the world is supposed to be."

The Torres' are just one of many families that are stepping up to take care of their grandkids.

However, Judge Barkey says several parents do not take their role seriously. "The mean part of me says there should be some criminal penalty for not taking care of your own, but I don't think that's the solution to the problem."

Are you caring for someone that is not your own children? Leave us on comment.

Part One:

There's an interesting family dynamic playing out in courtrooms across MidMichigan.

Grandparents taking over the parenting roles for their grandkids.

Every Thursday, Genesee County Chief Probate Judge Jennie Barkey sees several, sometimes dozens, of guardianship cases.

Mostly, it's parents who aren't take care of their kids.

"The parents are unfit for some reason and a way to resolve the neglect process is to have grandparents step in and take guardianship," says Barkey.

In 2009, Genesee County recorded 299 new guardianships, with 1,676 open cases.

NBC25 cameras were rolling when a great-grandmother was taking guardianship of her grand-daughter's infant son.

Judge Barkey told the mother, "Do you have any idea how grandma is coming to bat for you? This is wonderful because she is doing this. You're going to be able to keep this child in your life."

Once guardianship is granted to the grandparent, the parent is suspended.

If the parent wants the child back, they must go in front of the judge and tell her why it would be in the best interest of the child.

The grandparent's role changes too.

"I make them look me in the eye and promise me that they will stop being grandparents and start being parents," says Barkey.

That means they have to put their lives and retirement on hold and start parenting all over again.

Barkey told a grandmother in court, "You are the boss. You have to surrender the grandparent role, okay? You're done being grandma."

That means telling their own children "no" in the best interest of the grandchildren.

The advantages are that grandparents have been parents before, some have more time, a pension, and health coverage.

However, there are disadvantages as well.

They're not getting any younger and they're first parenting experience could be questionable.

"If the parent that turned out so "rotten" came from the same home we're going to put a child in, is the result going to be different?" asks Barkey.

It can also be difficult to relate when the child gets older.

"When they get to the teenage years, which we all know are just the worst, they a lot of times come back and ask me to terminate the guardianship," says Barkey.

In those cases, the child often goes back into their parent's home or in foster care.

Coming up Tuesday on NBC25 and ConnectMidMichigan.com, you'll see a success story where grandparents have taken guardianship of their grandkids and why they say they wouldn't have it any other way.