The Power of Grandparents And Their Legal Rights
If you read the news at all, you’ve probably seen several stories over the years that focus on the struggle by grandparents to have visitation with their grandchildren after the death or divorce of a parent. This type of “human interest“story tends to overwhelmingly portray the grandparents involved as struggling with the law of grandparents‘rights. You’re likely to see newspapers with photos of a loving grandparent gazing at an empty swingset, or see interviews with grandparents cherishing a framed picture of their grandchild. These stories get attention not only because they’re important, but because they sell newspapers.
Even more than that, however, it’s important to recognize the true potential power that lies with this kind of publicity. When a story like this hits the media, the struggle over the law of grandparents‘rights tends to get some serious attention. If you or someone you know is struggling with grandparent visitation and having a tough go of it, you need to see the true power that publicity can bring.
Take, for example, the case of Patricia Slorah in Florida. Patricia found herself in the same situation that many grandparents find themselves in: because of the way that the law treats grandparents‘rights, she was unable to have visitation with her grandchildren. While she was seeking out support from others in her situation in the form of a support group, she discovered something profound: that media attention can literally change the law.
Patricia placed an invitation for a new support group in the newspaper in December 1989, and she had several responses. The most significant response, however, wasn’t from other grandparents. She received an invitation to appear on a television news program in the Tampa Bay area. The story spread across the state (and across the country, as well) like wildfire. Just six months later – in May of 1990, the Florida legislature passed a new law of grandparents‘rights – one that was much more favorable to grandparents than previous statutes.
So, how do you take advantage of the power of publicity? You need to recognize, first of all, that the media landscape is changing. Newspapers today don’t have the same kind of power that they had in 1990, for example. That’s both good and bad, depending on your approach. Simply writing a letter to the editor or putting in a classified ad isn’t likely to garner too much attention.
An effective media strategy will be multi-pronged. Hitting local news outlets – both print and televised – is a good start. Consider sending in some of those pictures of you staring longingly at an empty swingset and such. But you should also focus some energy and effort on new media, such as the Internet. Join local and state grandparents‘rights forums. Hold rallies and events that will naturally generate some buzz.
It’s more challenging, today, to get the kind of attention Patricia Slorah received in 1990. Still, the fact of the matter is that our cause – the cause of the law of grandparents‘rights – is a cause that touches people. If we can get the word out and generate the publicity, the story itself will generate a tremendous amount of support and awareness.
This article seems to assume that grandparent visitation litigation is always, usually, or frequently a good idea. I would assert, on the contrary, that it is, most often, tragically counterproductive, putting an end to any possibility of an amicable relationship between parent and grandparent or a beneficial relationship between grandparent and grandchild. It is likely to financially cripple the custodial family, with the child bearing the consequences. Expanded grandparent visitation standing is often pushed as a solution to problems that have much more to do with the operations of child protective services.
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