"Grandparent Rights"

Grandparents and grandchildren have very different relationships depending upon the family bond the parents have uplifted. I luckily have both sets of grandparents still alive and I am very thankful for that. According to divoresource, "Within the past decade or two, there have been dramatic changes to what was once a very traditional relationship between grandparents and their grandchild(ren). It's a shame that some children can't get along with their grandparents. After going through such a hard time with their parents going through the divorce, you'd think they would want someone to lean on.

A large percentage of grandparents have petitioned the court in the hopes of obtaining a regular visitation schedule with their grandchild(ren). Who knew the grandparents had to go through all of the pain and agony as well. There are two basic rights with repsect to grandparents and their grandchild(ren): custody and visitation. "Custody would be the legal rights and obligations consistent with that of the taking on the full-time parenting and rearing of the child(ren). This decision requires a major commitment on behalf of the grandparents and, if the parents are not willing to voluntarily surrender custody, the blessing of the court." I knew it would be a process for the parents, but not for the older generation.

"Visitation would be where the court sets a specific schedule of time that grandchild(ren) are to spend with their grandparents. Again, the actual applicable laws vary from state to state, so it is very important to understand exactly which of these laws do and do not apply to your own particular situation. It is wise to seek the advice of a lawyer, or, perhaps more cost effectively, conduct a little independent legal research." Not only does the child have to go through doing the "every-other-weekend" with their parents, but also make time for their grandparents. According to Marie Purnell and Beatrice H. Bagby, "Before 1965, a common law, granparents had no rights to visit their grandchildren over the objections of the childrens's parents. Since that time, every state in the nation has enacted statutes that endable grandparents to petition the courts for visitation rights." I'm glad things are changing. Maybe this will allow for children and their grandparents to connect on a more personal level. Having someone else to rely on may be nice during a time like this. Don't ever shut anyone out, you need the people you the love the most there for you!

Images are from flikr.