Are grandparent rights a good or bad idea?
455627
Personally, as a parent, I think they are a bad idea. \n\nI do not know your situation, but if there was a reason I was estranged from my parents, its probably enough of a reason that I would not want my children around them either.  My child is mine to care for and raise, and I should not be forced to let him visit with people I do not want him visiting with.  Not to mention the complications it would bring for all the partied involved because of the feeling between you and your children.\n\nAlso, my son has a deadbeat father who is not a part if his life. He does not know his biological father and never will.  Should the court be able to force me to allow tha parents of his deadbeat father to visit him?  Then I have to explain who those people are and why his father is not around...\n\nBUT, I don't have grandchildren, so I can't give you an opinion from that perspective.
1178068
I have been blessed with having my parents still with me. My little cousins, however, are a different story. My paternal cousin's husband had killed her, and then he committed suicide. They left three young children all under the age of 10 at that time. Fortunately, they have an uncle (another cousin) and a grandma (my uncle's former wife) that are raising them. Of course, they will never know how much a biological parent can give to a child. Then again, I have heard horror stories of what biological parents do to their kids. Really, it's all about how the situation is. It could have been much worse, and the kids might have been split up and put out for adoption. The key is trying to make the best out of any situation. At least the kids were not involved.
802805
Yes, here's some material on that: \nhttp://library.findlaw.com/2000/Jul/1/131781.html (summary of rights)\nhttp://www.dads.state.tx.us/services/agingtexaswell/legal/grandparent_visitation.html (Tex. Dept. of Aging)\n\nThere are also common-law rights (or more correctly perhaps, priority for guardianship), but these are mostly applicable in cases where parental incompetence (or incarceration, death or abandonment) is shown.
888668
Ayup.\n\nGrandparent Rights to Visitation: As a part of a decree dissolving the marriage or a decree that neither party is entitled to a divorce, the court may grant visitation to the grandparent if the grandparent has intervened in the suit for dissolution of the marriage. The court must find that the visitation is in the best interest of the child, after considering the statutory best interest factors. Title 20, Section 20-124.1 (C.V. § 20-124.1).\n\nSo if it's you your asking about, hurry up and file the necessary papers to intervene.
141035
Be very careful. I've been there, done that. It does not pay. Tell friend to go to an aunt or grandparent, you would get in so much trouble for harboring her.  Take care
670928
It's too late for me to be a father again, but I can be a grandpa.  I'm looking forward to that.  Besides, it's not my life long committment, I can always hand baby back to mommy. (and snicker cause I know the baby needs changing)
931096
DO NOT TRUST THEM. I don't want to see your story in the paper! I don't want to get an Amber Alert on your baby. Keep him with you. If he wants to see his grandparents, go with him, meet them in a neutral place, and DO NOT leave him alone with them. You're being very smart to wonder about it. Be careful. And, of all times to need him close, it's at a family holiday like Thanksgiving. You need his company way worse than they do.
144440
no problem whatsoever, just so long as you are not trying to start a new family, it would be real unfair to the kids you could have, if this is part of your master plan.
754795
No it's a dangerous idea.\nBesides I have two oldies in my family and I wouldn't want to live with them!!!!!
1001534
All you can really do is be truthful...you are only doing what you feel is in the best interest of your grandchildren  (and that they got mad because of you help)~~~pretty common scenario
358459
Hmmm, that's rough.  In cooperation, do you mean they won't drive you or pay for it?  Maybe if you could help arrange your own transporation and financing, they will see how much it means to you.  Is your grandma a soft touch? Maybe ask a grandparent to help if possible, or an older sibling if you have one.  good luck, always go for your dreams!
126349
I don't think it's a good or bad idea, it depends on the circumstances of each family.\nI believe that it would be great that kids had their mother at home, so they can have their support, help, listenning, and love all the time. \nBut i believe nowadays women have profesional goals, and needs the activity and recognition gotten by your work.\nBesides, the economical needs, or better, the economical expectations on the family life style have changed, and we need to get more incomes in order to reach those.\nSo it's ok, we are only trying to fit into this days standars, but we have to be very careful to not let the important things aside; you know, like findind the time to spend with your partner, having the time to play with your kids, and to talk to them about important stuff for them, and to work out, and to read, and to love each other in the family.
547717
I don't think anything much, really. Your love is the best thing you can give them. Just make sure that you make them feel accepted; sometimes, older people are afraid that younger people consider them as inferior and therefore tend to take everything more personally. So treat them like the normal people they are. Remember that they were once babies, once kids, once teenagers, once young adults... So don't try being all "what can I do for you? Don't do that, you'll hurt yourself" and stuff like many people tend to do. I know that comes from a good intention, but the truth is, a lot of times, grandparents don't want that from their grandchildren. Sometimes, they just want to be treated as friends, to feel young again... And yes there is a grandparent day. It's september 11, I think.
565693
Used to,they are gone now.I lived near them by choice.As they got older,they  started needing my help.It was only fair to help my parents as they aged and hope that someone will help me if I live to be old.Not all parents are good to their children,but mine were good to me and I paid them back as they aged and was with both of them when they died. I have no regrets.Just didn't want to live next door to them,sometimes one of them would get into my personal business.Had to move 20 miles away.Close,but not too close.I would tell you that living close ,especially how dangerous things are getting in this world.As they age, they will need your help in more ways than one.Live as close as you can,but try to keep your life to yourself.My parents always cared for my well being,sometimes too much.Had to have that little bit of distance so I could live my life my way.
1056446
Hi Evy, I'm not a grandma but I speak for my two grandmas and what they've told me.\n\nThey say that since they're not your children you don't feel so stressed out about them. You can spoil them all you want without having to see the end results the parents have to deal with after the facts.
46640
I don't think that it's an old-fashioned idea, it just seems that way because we are part of a generation where it is acceptable and our parents/grandparents' generations didn't accept it. As for whether or not I think it's a good idea, no I don't. There are way too many risks involved (pregnancy, STD's) and I don't think a lot of people are even capable of knowing what they would do if they got pregnant outside of marriage or contracted a disease that had no cure- not that they're stupid, just that you usually can't plan for those situations, and most people don't even think about those consequences when they are getting ready to have sex. It's true the divorce rate is high and so, you just have to really know the person you are going to marry before you marry them. That way you can be sure that when you have sex with him, if you get pregnant, he will be around for good.
248279
I don't think so...\nIn my opinion no one should actually "lead" the family.\nDecisions should be made together, and every one, from the youngest to the oldest should have the right to say what they think!\n(Not including stuff kids don't understand, and aren't interested. For example: finantual problems. In such cases the elder part of the family should lead (mom, dad, Grandparents?)But of course, if the youngsters are interested, why not try and stand for their opinion?)