grandparents rights to meet their grandkids

Here's the thing. It's not just about rights. There are a number of things to consider.

1. At what point can GPs seek "rights"? When the child is born? Are you prepared to require a mother to give over her newborn for a few hours every month?

2. If you go to court, that costs money - for you and the parents. That's money that isn't available for after school activities, family activities, etc. Worst case scenario, that's food coming out of your GC's mouth. Is that right?

3. What happens if the parents split up? And what happens as your GC gets older? Are you going to deny them Christmas with family, opportunities for camping, sports activities, birthday parties for friends, even part-time work because you want to insist on "your time"?

Really, what you are saying is that the parents do not have their children's best interests at heart, and that you know better than they do what is best for their children.

Yes, I too agree, heartbreaking though it would be to not see any of my grandchildren, I don’t consider it my right, I am not their parent, no matter how much I love them.

I’m also sure, that some children are kept away from their grandparents for very good reasons.

yes true.. the relationship btw Gkids n GP is a wonderful one, full of joy! surly kids cannot be denied that ...

yes I do agree! it is the gkids who should have the right to meet their gp.. my young granddaughters are emotionally upset after their mother doesn't allow them to meet me anymore, because of a property dispute!.. the 3 young girls were extremely close to me since the moment of their birth up until the dispute.. it hurts me enormously but I don't want to do anything that will upset them eg. court etc... im at a loss as what to do ?? any advice will be really appreciated ..(

I agree with the other posters who have said they don’t think it should be enshrined within law. I don’t think it’s fair on the children to be forced through court proceedings to have to navigate a relationship with their GPS knowing that their parents don’t want them to - that’s a lot of pressure for young children to deal with.

It’s the grandchildren who should have the rights.

I am another who thinks that grandparents should not have rights. There may well be very good reason why they do not see their grandchildren, and the courts are no place for parents and grandparents to be arguing over family history.

It would help if more grandparents realised that once our children grow up and form their own families, there should always be a decent distance between them and AC.

Their ACs have formed a separate home with someone else who is not their child and will be setting up their own family with patterns of living that are a combination of both partners back grounds etc etc. If they choose to exclude us, after reasonable attempts to bridge the gap, we just have to grin and bear it.

Agree with you Luckygirl. I'd be devastated if for some reason I ever lost contact with my GC but its really not my place to demand any legal rights. I've always argued that being a Grandparent is about forging a relationship with your children's children and supporting their family life. If you have been a half decent parent then there should be every chance that you can be an active GP. There are, of course, painful exceptions but I doubt any law could be sensitive enough to pick its way through such a potentially complex situation. Family law is complicated as it is and I think we all know that the powers that be are, at the moment very quick at saying one thing and meaning very little.

I am not sure that grandparents should have rights enshrined in law; it completely changes the footing upon which contact with grandchildren takes place. There will be some GPs who will make unreasonable demands. The law is a very blunt instrument and should stay out of the home unless serious harm needs preventing.

I don't like grandparents feeling they have rights. They are not our children.

One of my opposite numbers wont let dgd2 walk home on her own as she feels she has the right to pick her up from schoo1 dd's take is that her daughter is learning to be responsible by coming home on her own. It's a 3 minute walk and dgd is 11!

I would put it differently, I think children should have the right to see their grandparents and other close family members. They should have the opportunity to find out for themselves if what they have been told is true or not.

Sadly, the grandparents don't have any rights presently until the law is changed.

I think children should have the right to know their grandparents, if they're still with us, or at least know about them as it helps them to understand their place in the world.

As a grandparent then, yes, I'd like my rights enshrined in law, but it's a selfish wish even though it's full of love. The children are the important ones in this.