Raise children with guardians in a retrograde way (9)

'guardians in a retrograde way' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are plural nouns, I cannot understand how one could define the other.

'raise children' is the wordplay.
'raise' becomes 'rear' (as in rearing children).
'children' becomes 'wards' (ward can mean a child under someone's care).
'rear'+'wards'='REARWARDS'

'with' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?