GRAND Magazine - September/October 2011 - (Page 40)
grandparent rights
Just be there
Our g’kids are running amuck!
BY SUSAN HOFFMAN
Dear Susan,
My daughter has gone off the deep end with her
bohemian lifestyle. The kids are allowed to run amuck,
don’t have bedtimes or mealtimes, and they are completely
vegan. She now home-schools them; therefore
they don’t have many friends or participate in outside
activities. They live in a beat-up motorhome and are
always moving from place to place. There is absolutely no discipline,
and she and the kids’ father have never married. They live
like gypsies.
I am becoming so frustrated. Whenever I bring them normal
food, they won’t eat it; and if I say something, I notice that the
time between visits gets longer. If only I could get them to understand
how much damage they are doing to the children and get
them to change. I have even thought of filing for court-ordered
visitation.
Susan Hoffman
is the
author of
Grand Wishes:
Advocating to
Preserve the
GrandparentGrandchild
Bond and
director of
Advocates for
Grandparent
Grandchild
Connection.
— Signed, Traditional-Minded Grandma Louise
Susan responds: I understand that you are concerned for the
children’s best interests and, yes, it can be frustrating when we see
glaring mistakes from our adult children that we can’t fix.
Expecting the parents to change their behavior, however, is
unrealistic. And as long as the kids are fed, clothed and have a roof
over their head, there is nothing in violation legally with their current
situation.
If the reason that you would consider bringing about legal action
is their alternative lifestyle choices, I don’t believe that you will
get very far. They are not keeping you from seeing the children,
only perhaps reducing the frequency as a result of your comments.
40 GRAND SEPT OCT 2011
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photo: ©iStockphoto.com/ borbathistvan
http://www.grandparentchildconnect.org/
http://www.grandparentchildconnect.org/
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http://www.grandparentchildconnect.org/
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GRAND Magazine - September/October 2011
GRAND - Sept/Oct 2011
Grand View
Grand Treasure Hunt
Table of Contents
Grand Central
GRANDparent of the Year
Cover Story: Love Is As Love Does
On Becoming GRAND
Is Retirement Getting Better or Worse?
Prepare for CARE
Facebook Faux Pas
Grandparents Month
Just Be There: Our G’kids Are Running Amuck!
Kinship Care Resources
Sex Talk
No-Sweat Tech
Education Is Child’s Play
Grand Finale
Elder Law 101
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