Petition: Give legal right of contact between grandchildren and grandparents

Germanshepherdsmum

I have said a number of times on this forum that my husband was abusive and eventually left me and our then seven year old child. At first my son saw his father and paternal grandparents regularly but then he started to become the target of his father’s abuse. He refused to see his father, or any of his father’s family, again. He would not be persuaded. His father then commenced proceedings to obtain a court order for my son to be forced to see him. This meant that my son had to be interviewed by a court social worker, a very kindly man who reported back to the court that communication should be by letter and birthday/Xmas cards only. The experience was traumatic despite the SW’s kind and gentle manner. I cannot imagine such an application being made by the paternal grandparents, who would I know have had only their and their son’s interests in mind. A child should not be subjected to this process. My son continued to be resolute and never saw his father or any paternal family members again, nor would he open any cards or gifts they sent. I am vehemently opposed to any move to give grandparents rights to see grandchildren, based on my own experience. My son flourished once all that was behind him - even his teachers commented on the change in him.

And GSM

You ask why these threads become about abuse but you yourself shared your awful situation on page 2

Some comments aren't justified here

That's not what I said

Callistemon The OP did get rather upset on the other thread she started with a link to the petition.

She did. It was an unprovoked and abusive outburst at the logically-argued opposition she had seen here - a huge red flag suggesting to me that whoever has estranged her might have done so with good reason. I wonder if she has been banned?

She hadn’t made any attempt to participate in the discussion which is odd considering she said she wants Parliament to debate the topic (again - see my post upthread). She runs a regional support group but what better way to discover a broader perspective that a discussion board for grandparents (albeit not exclusively so) who have a broad range of experience?

If her focus has been narrow, dealing only with estranged grandparents who all feel they should have automatic legal rights, maybe seeing that the vast majority here do not think so, even those who have direct experience of estrangement, will make her look at things differently.

Whose disagreed with you by saying GP's should have automatic rights to see their GC VS?

I have been talking to people who directly disagree with views I express by answering their comments put to me

That's how discussion works

It's not as easy as waiting patiently for all of the reasons you've mentioned fancythat.

I didn’t see the other thread. 🤷‍♀️

DiamondLily

Callistemon21

DiamondLily

VioletSky

DiamondLily

I don’t think any regular poster has asked for the right to see their grandchildren.

It's literally the OP

Who is not a regular poster. 🙂

And has left the building!

Don’t blame her….shes probably run off screaming lol 😉

The OP did get rather upset on the other thread she started with a link to the petition.
When posters said they wouldn't not be signing, she started calling them by rather rude names.

I think it was deleted as a duplicate thread.

^ GP can wait patiently, contacting GC when of adult age^

Troubles are
They may have been moved. Even out of a country.
Had people whispering things in their ears against the grandparents.
Feel their grandparents are strangers when they finally meet, which they would be.

Callistemon21

^Just seems rather bizarre DL how often GP's are hauled over the coals and made to feel uncomfortable on GN, a site predominantly but not exclusively for GP's^

Strange, isn't it!

You’d almost think there was an agenda. 🙄

Yes it is strange Callistemon but sadly not uncommon.

I don't know why you seem intent on trying to argue with people who agree that GP's shouldn't have an automatic right to see their GC VS .

I don't know about you, but I can assure you that I don't live in lala land.

Just seems rather bizarre DL how often GP's are hauled over the coals and made to feel uncomfortable on GN, a site predominantly but not exclusively for GP's

Strange, isn't it!

Or wait to see if their GC contact them Norah which does happen.

Because of we live in lala land where we refuse to discuss the bad things in life, petitions like this get signed

A couple of years ago, the last petition went through... Many signed it then

Almost none now

So discussing the reality of why the law is as it is has made a difference and people did listen

Good point fancythat. I'm sure anyone on GN whose going too or has already signed this petition will be keeping it quiet, not that they should have too if they believe it to be right.

Just seems rather bizarre DL how often GP's are hauled over the coals and made to feel uncomfortable on GN, a site predominantly but not exclusively for GP's.

No, I'd not sign or share.

I doubt this to be huge. Merely a sadness impacting a few in the whole of the country. GP can wait patiently, contacting GC when of adult age.

Callistemon21

DiamondLily

VioletSky

DiamondLily

I don’t think any regular poster has asked for the right to see their grandchildren.

It's literally the OP

Who is not a regular poster. 🙂

And has left the building!

Don’t blame her….shes probably run off screaming lol 😉

DiamondLily

VioletSky

DiamondLily

I don’t think any regular poster has asked for the right to see their grandchildren.

It's literally the OP

Who is not a regular poster. 🙂

And has left the building!

Smileless2012

You're right GSM only one poster has said they'd sign this petition which of course they're entitled to do so, so I don't understand why there are so many posts about how awful some GP's can be, when 99% of those responding here are GP's, and don't agree with GP's having an automatic right to see their GC.

The tendency for threads like this to end up as GP bashing is tiresome.

No, I don’t understand why so much about GPs tends to be dragged over and end up about abuse.

The vast majority of GPs aren’t, and never have been, abusive. The vast amount of parents aren’t abusive.

Some families are just not abusive.

Callistemon21

DiamondLily

I don’t think any regular poster has asked for the right to see their grandchildren.

They haven't, DiamondLily and consequently I don't think anyone has signed the petition.

Why posters keep arguing a point which hasn't been made is bemusing.

Well, I can’t see any regular posters have asked. New people often rock up on forums but they are not regulars.🙄

I may. Probably not. But I am not ruling it out.
And certainly wouldnt be swayed by 99 people saying they wouldnt, if I still wanted to. After reading some more about it all.

VioletSky

DiamondLily

I don’t think any regular poster has asked for the right to see their grandchildren.

It's literally the OP

Who is not a regular poster. 🙂

It is the sort of thing that some would not say they would do, but still do it.

Especially not say after the negative posts on this thread!

When some posters get onto some threads they always end up with posts about abuse.