Carol Emerson is the proud grandmother of the six grandchildren she has raised for the majority of their childhoods. Ranging in age from 8 to 26, one recently earned his Eagle Scout honor. The oldest two are raising her seven great-grandchildren. Emerson was a widowed single mother and spent 33 years in the restaurant business, 20 of those in management. She now is a sterile processing technician. In 1974, she became Wyoming's first woman freefalling skydiver. Ever adventurous, she has traveled most of the United States and Europe. She is one of the growing number of parenting grandparents. From coaching youth sports to helping with schoolwork, Emerson said raising the next generation has been hard work but also a joy.