Such a touchy subject, but I'm compelled to respond...Like there are good and bad parents (both birth AND adoptive), there are good and bad grandparents. I had my adoptive parents sue ME for visitation rights of my oldest son (I have 3 kids) in 2000. Even though they were crappy parents, they were ok grandparents and my kids adored them. My folks visited with my kids regularly until I started finding out how they were neglecting my 2 younger kids. I started hearing stories about how the 2 younger ones were locked outside all day long and weren't allowed to come into grandma's house to play with big brother. And, on a sleepover at grandma's, the younger ones were made to sleep on a pallet in the laundry room, while big brother slept in the bed (he was 10 at the time) with grandma and grandpa. And grandma made my then 6 year old daughter wear a bib and sit in a high chair at meals while big brother got to eat in front of the tv. All three kids told similar stories. When I confronted my parents, they said that they just weren't attached to my two younger kids. So, I told them they could treat my kids all the same or not at all. They chose the not at all for 6 months. I then recieved the legal papers....The day in court didn't amount to anything. The case was dismissed, and I haven't heard from them since.
My advice? Check out your state laws regarding Grandparent Visitation to start with. I live in Arkansas and law here says gparents can sue for visitation if one or both birthparents are deceased or if the parents of said child are separated by divorce. This is where my aparents had grounds. My oldest son is from my first marriage.
I know I may've opened a big ol can of worms with this one, but please realize I'm not disrespecting grandparents in any way. Grandparents are like anyone else. There are the good ones, and then there are the not so good ones...I mean NO disrespect to the good ones.
I can put my soapbox away now. Ya'all have a good day!
Sheila
