We will probably never know the true figure of how many children are apart from one of their parents, as thousands of parents make the hardest decision in their lives to back off. Therefore these are hidden statistics because these families do not get recorded through court etc.
That is not because a father or mum doesn't love their children or that they don't care about them anymore, quite the reverse, but for them and their own unique circumstances, they are acting in their 'children's best interest.' It is the hardest decision any parent can make, there are no words to explain the utter grief this causes the parents.
They are not feckless, as the media will sometimes report, but parents who know that their children need to be able to get on with their life, they need to grow and develop as young people, they do not want them to be involved in continuing conflict between mum and dad, to be involved in court proceedings etc.
The same applies to grandparents, a member of the judiciary said to me recently, that this was a small problem as not many grandparents apply for contact orders. It does not mean that it is a small issue, it means that the majority of grandparents make the decision not to go to court, for the same reasons as parents not going to court.
As a society, what on earth are we doing, parents having to go to court to see our own children?
Jane
www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk
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