Grandparents Opposition.

Grandparents have much opposition to having any rights to their own grandchildren.

How this problem has arisen?

We have to blame social services here. They are the people who highlight and say “you are irrelevant persons”. “We don’t need to speak to you” The concern shown is assumed as anti social services and against their omnipotent way of thinking and used to ignore grandparents altogether.

This very strong message of irrelevance transmits to the general public and the courts and the professionals, encouraging them into alienating grandparents from their own families.

This can be reversed by making the ‘Charter for Grandchildren’ mandatory for professionals only and will send out a new message, that will not step on the toes of anyone, that grandparents are important in children’s lives and encourage people to resolve their own problems rather than turning so easily to the courts.

This problem does not usually arise in families who put the 'Best Interests of the Children' first and act like sensible caring adults. But when the authorities lead as they do, people are quick to take the easier way out rather than at the first sign of problems not bothering to seek assistance by contacting groups like ours or mediation to prevent a molehill becoming a mountain. Most family problems can be resolved in the early stages by getting round a table and being honest.

There is not much point in hammering away at a fantasy for years like some other groups
It is the welfare of our children that encourages us to think again at the problem and to look at the situation practically taking into account the opposition that are against grandparents having rights. There must be compromise.

http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/families/article6582689.ece

We need to get parents social services and the governments thinking differently about us. Present ourselves to them that we are not a threat but could be the savour of children’s sanity. We can give you tried and tested guidelines that have worked for hundreds of grandparents on how to be a grandparent. “We know you have brought up a family already but being a grandparent is a new experience. The children are not yours and you need to work with the parents, not your way, but their way”.

Our first and main concern is that our grandchildren are safe and well and not in danger as millions are with drug and alcohol abuse etc (The Forgotten Children) and in a multitude of cases children need someone who is close to them to keep them safe and capable of early detection of abuse and to care for them If their parents are unable to.

Who is better than their own grandparents to care for them with security love and comfort? rather than strangers where children lose their identity, self worth, become resentful and aggressive and low achievers and seek that family security in gangs becoming the thugs of the future..

Jimmy Deuchars
Grandparents Apart UK
22 Alness crescent
Glasgow G52 1PJ
0141 882 5658