“My second mum and dad” - Grandparents Plus
“My second mum and dad” - Grandparents Plus
“My second mum and dad” - Grandparents Plus
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Chapter 3<br />
The critical relationship<br />
with parents<br />
Existing evidence<br />
Research in the United States has shown that parents act as gatekeepers 3.1 .<br />
Some suggest that they are the ‘bridge generation’ 3.2 , a mediator for social<br />
<strong>and</strong> emotional exchange between gr<strong>and</strong>parents <strong>and</strong> gr<strong>and</strong>children.<br />
Traditionally there is a norm, widely accepted within the white Anglo-American<br />
societies, of ‘non-interference’ by gr<strong>and</strong>parents in the up-bringing of their<br />
gr<strong>and</strong>children 3.3 . Parents, by demonstrating that they care for gr<strong>and</strong>parents set<br />
an example for gr<strong>and</strong>parent-gr<strong>and</strong>child interaction 3.4 . In addition, parents tend<br />
to ‘socialise’ gr<strong>and</strong>parents <strong>and</strong> gr<strong>and</strong>children into appropriate roles <strong>and</strong> desirable<br />
behaviour related to their respective roles 3.5 . Thus, a parent’s close relationship<br />
with a gr<strong>and</strong>parent <strong>and</strong> a parent’s encouragement for interaction across generations<br />
shapes <strong>and</strong> strengthens relationships between gr<strong>and</strong>parents <strong>and</strong> gr<strong>and</strong>children 3.6 .<br />
Although in many states in the US <strong>and</strong> in other parts of the world gr<strong>and</strong>parents<br />
have the right of visitation following parental separation or divorce, in the UK<br />
gr<strong>and</strong>parents have no such rights 3.7 .<br />
My <strong>second</strong> <strong>mum</strong> <strong>and</strong> dad / 10
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