This question comes at me more and more ever since the terrible Supreme Court decision of Troxell over a decade ago, and every time a battle for grandparents rights is lost or delayed in the courts or legislatures around the country.
Grandparents rights are not something that are given to us. It is incumbent upon us to be proactive. I don’t mean that we take something from someone as much as we give something to the most important people in our lives.
In today’s legal climate the best way to insure your grandparents visitation rights is to be so much a part of your grandchildren’s lives that you are virtually indispensable. If you take every opportunity to create those magic moments that bond us to our grandkids your commitment to them will be undeniable. It is an excellent idea for many reasons to journal or document these times as they happen.
Another way to win your way into their lives is to be available to offer their parents respite time. If you are in the habit of being there for both parents if something goes wrong in the marriage you are not the enemy. You can still be part of the grandkids lives.
If there is ever a dispute and you have to seek a legal remedy all of this counts in your favor. Let us hope that time never comes, but if it happens you have paid your dues and you deserve to be heard.
The single thing to keep in mind during all of this is that it is ALL about the children. If you are willing to follow this advice you will stand a real good chance of always being a part of the grandchildren’s lives.
For a more in-depth discussion of these issues see my grandparents rights book No Greater Loss.
