Why aren’t grandparents afforded more legal rights and control in decision-making and care of children? Because they’ve had their chance.
Children don’t exist for grandparents to feel needed. That might sound harsh, but when I look at successful families with supportive grandparents, I usually see parents consulting with grandma and grandpa for parenting advice when appropriate, with no legal onus to do so.
“Meddling” grandparents aren’t just trying to sneak Junior an extra cookie. They’re fighting for custody against good parents and shredding close-knit homes. They’re showing up at schools unannounced and pulling kids out, leaving parents terrified wondering where their children are.
And for parents dealing with these situations, the lack of legally-enforceable grand-parental rights is a critical protection.