GRAND Magazine - September/October 2010 - (Page 42)

grandparent rights Temper, temper A grandchild needs to know you’ll fight for them By sUsAN hoffmAN Susan Hoffman is director of Advocates for Grandparent Grandchild Connection. Dear Susan, It all started when I flipped the boyfriend off. My daughter and her son came to live with me shortly after his birth.... We were one big happy family for seven years, until I did a very bad thing and gave my daughter’s new boyfriend ‘the finger.’ Tiffany began dating Donato, a hairdresser with an ego the size of Texas and a strong desire to control. Upon meeting him and seeing the changes in my daughter’s attitude, I voiced my concern and brutally honest opinion including a strong dislike toward him, to my daughter. She told him what I had said, and the next thing I know, he’s on my doorstep yelling at me. He never gave me a chance to speak, and then as he was driving away, that is when I gave him the finger. I know — stupid and immature....” The next day Tiffany packed her bags and those of Trevor and moved out of my house and into Donato’s. My fault — now my home, my life, felt empty. It has been three years since they moved out and three years that I have gone from seeing Trevor every day and helping raise him, to seeing him less than one hour a year if I’m lucky.... ...I finally consulted with a family law attorney specializing in grandparent visitation rights, and she informed me that I did have standing in court to file a petition for visitation.... I wrote Share this article with your friends. 42 GRAND SEPT OCT 2010 photo: ©iStockphoto.com/lisafx http://www.grandparentchildconnect.org/ http://www.grandparentchildconnect.org/ http://www.grandparentchildconnect.org/ http://www.grandparentchildconnect.org/

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GRAND Magazine - September/October 2010

Grand - Sept/Oct 2010
Table of Contents
Grand Treasure Hunt
Grand View
Grand Central
Grandparents Survival Guide
Grand Products
Cover Story
10 Sexy Celeb Grands
Your Grandkids’ Health
Look and Laugh
Dr. Marion
10 Tips For New Grandmoms
GRAND’s 1st Annual GRANDparent Web Awards 2010
Grandparent Rights
Kinship Care
Cyber-Savvy Grand
Grand Value Marketplace
Grand Finale

GRAND Magazine - September/October 2010