The Sun Shone today.......

Thank you to everyone who wrapped up warm to come to the meeting this afternoon, good to see you all.
It may well be near freezing outside but the sun was shining inside as usual with your support for one another.
Jane.
www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

April 23rd deadline for written submissions.

You have until April 23rd to get your written submission in to the scrutiny committee with regard to the Children's and Families Bill.
Make sure it contains no personal details and keep it child focussed otherwise it won't be accepted.
http://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2013/february/have-your-say-on-the-children-and-families-bill/
Jane
www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

Messages via contact form on BGSG website.

If you have submitted an email via Bristol Grandparents Support Group website on the contact form, due to maintenance on the site I am unable to receive the messages.
So apologies if you have written and had no reply, I will let you know when it is active again.
Jane
www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

Denying Contact is Abuse.

I make no excuses for this post.
So much has been in the press over the last few months regarding  abuse of children, abuse of any sort against anyone is totally unacceptable and the perpetrators must be named and shamed and punished.
Children must be protected.
I consider that to stop a child having a relationship with both parents is also, abuse.
Why is it that these cases come to the public eye when a celebrity is involved or a person in power is involved.
It is time for us to accept that abuse is happening to over million children in the UK, by a parent who thinks it is ok to prevent their child from seeing the non resident parent.
IT IS NOT OK.
My parents split when I was just 16 years old, and I know how it feels to be 'piggy in the middle.' As a child you desperately want things to go back to how they were, you at home with Mum and Dad.
Of course that is not always possible, but the damage that is inflicted can be enormous and irretrievable.
A child who has to perhaps spend time with Mum one week and Dad the next is literally torn in two, they love them both just the same, they are Mum and Dad.
They will have to tow the parent 'party line' with whoever they are with, they behave differently with each parent, trying to make them both happy.
Children should not have to be thinking this way, they are after all children, they should not have to be burdened with adult conflict.
If they are denied contact with one of their parents they feel the bereavement of 'losing' one parent, although it is not anything to do with them, they are changed forever. They have to listen to horrible things being said about one of their parent, who they love, what would you do if this abuse was happening to you?
This is not to say that when couples separate it is always like this, many, many couples do whats right by their children.
This abuse has to stop, say it like it is, don't flower it up, this is abuse of children.
Jane
www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

Easter a time to reflect.

As we enter Easter week it is a time of the year that always brings very mixed emotions for me.
Whether you have a 'faith' or not you can not fail to notice that there is an awakening happening.
It is a time of new beginnings, of new life the miracle of nature is in full swing.
The garden is full of beautiful bird song, and daffodils are nodding their heads in our gardens, parks and verges, bright little rays of hope for what is to come.
It also a time to reflect for me.
It is now 6 years  that I last cuddled my beautiful granddaughter, heard her giggle and watched her hunting for Easter eggs that the Easter bunny had hidden for her.
If only I had known it would be the last time I would have any contact with her, I would have hugged her a little more tightly, listened more closely and watched her more intently.
As I reflect I also hang on to hope, a hope that she knows she is so loved by us all, and that we are still here whenever she needs us, we have never stopped loving her.
If you are a grandparent who is not able to have contact with your grandchild/grandchildren never give up that hope for a new start a new beginning.
Happy Easter.
Jane
www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

Rod Stewarts latest single,'It's Over' telling it like it is.

Rod Stewart was on Chris Evans Radio 2 programme this morning and his single from his new album was played, it is about the heartbreak of divorce and the effect on the children.
These lyrics say it all really, children are conceived from a loving relationship between two people so how does it go so wrong:

“The congregation sang, we knelt and prayed, as we stood before God on that beautiful day…but here we are barely five years on and our whole world’s falling apart”.

“I don’t want our kids to suffer, can’t we talk to one another, you were once my wife my lover, it’s over.”

Maybe the message will reach the ears of thousands.

Jane

www.bristolgrandparentssupportgroup.co.uk

Family breakdown costing taxpayers 50billion.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2295040/Family-break-ups-cost-taxpayers-50bn-year-foot-subsidised-housing-crime-health-social-care-disrupted-education--cost-rising.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

Yet another reason why government must take legislative action.
Jane