Forced Visitation Rights for Grandparents in order to attain healthy psychological well-being

Question:
It has been acknowledged that there is an importance of grandparenthood on healthy psychological well-being. Do you think forced visitation rights for grandparents are in the child’s best interest? Is it feasible in the society of Hong Kong?

Answer:
Under enormous financial burden, Hong Kong parents have no other choice than leave their children to grandparent. On one hand, people of same bloodline are dependable. On the other hand, grandparent usually retires and rests at home. They have more time to look after children. Owing to the above reasons, I don’t think that forced visitation right is necessary. Parents in Hong Kong welcome grand-parenting.


Answer 2:
As we have learned there are three prominent meanings attached to being a grandparent. It can be a) a source of biological reward and continuity b) a source of emotional self-fullfillment, generating feelings of companionship and satisfaction that may have been missing in earlier adult-child relationships c) a remote role.

I think it is true, "the grandparent role may have different functions in different families, in different ethnic groups and cultures, and in different situations."

The grandparent relationships that I have observed in Hong Kong have been through my friends, so I am really an outsider looking in. However, the relationships I observed seem to fit into category c, a remote role. Although the grandparents may live with the family, due to finances, in terms of their role in the home it seems that they are observers and occupants of the flat. It seems more of a dutiful, expected relationship and less of an involved engaged relationship. Again these are my friends, I am not making a statement regarding all of Hong Kong.

I do know of some grand-parenting relationships that could fit into b category, satisfaction which may have been missing in earlier adult-child relationships. In those cases they may have worked and not cared for a small child and grand-parenting allows them to do this.

Answer 3:
I also do not have statistic that shows us which type of grandparenting is most common in Hong Kong. Nonetheless, it is indisputable that grandparenting is a role that can bring not only biological continuity (which was extremely important in ancient China, but losing much of its importance in modern society), but also emotional self-fulfillment when older adults are gradually retiring from their other roles and duties such as bread winners.


Answer 4:
I absolutely believe that grand-parenting plays a significant role in helping grandparents feel connected and fulfilled, but also strengthening the relationship between generations. There could be a great sense of self-worth and opportunity to help extend the next generation, but also great reward for the grandchildren. I see grandparents doing so many things with their grandchildren. For example picking the children up from school, meeting the school bus, taking the children to the park, taking the children to school. I know even for us, my mom has spent significant amount of time in Hong Kong with us and it has been wonderful having the children spend time with her doing many of the things listed above.

My grandparents were involved in my life growing up, not to the same extend as we see today in Hong Kong but we saw them regularly.


Answer 5:
Thanks for the above sharing...It is wonderful that your grandparents were quite involved with you in your childhood. My grandparents held a more remote role in this sense. I do not even remember any conversation I have had with my grandpa, who passed away when I was 15. But we actually lived together for the last couple years before he's gone. One reason was probably he got many grandchildren, especially a tons of grand-daughters, but only two grand-sons, I know he was a little closer to my two male cousins. It is interesting how people have different relationships with their grandparents. We can't assume that those we see on the street will recall relationships with their grandparents either.