As an emerging country, first came our 1776 Declaration of Independence, and over ten years later, in an attempt to hammer out a Constitution that could be ratified, our founders came up with the first ten amendments to the Constitution that we call the Bill of Rights. But, of course, you already knew that.

The reason I start here is that some, if not most, Grandparents think that there are laws to back up the idea that if you Love and Nurture your Grandkids, you should have the right to continue to be a part of their lives. This is where I ask you not to shoot the messenger. There are four mentions of Parent’s Rights in the Constitution but not of Grandparents’ Rights. During the past ten years that I have been zeroing in on what Grandparents can do to stay a part of their Grandchildren’s lives, the thing that breaks my heart every time are the stories of Grandparents that have Loved, Nurtured, and practically raised their Grands and then are shut out of their lives because of a divorce or a family dispute of some kind. This is where the Logic and Law part is applied or not applied.

So we know that as Grandparents, we don’t get any help from the Constitution, so how about the Bill of Rights? The closest thing to help is the ninth amendment.