Once upon a time, Little Red Riding Hood wouldn't have walked through the woods to Grandmother's house if the girl's divorced parent hated the mother-in-law.

Unlikely? Not really. It happens every day.

The United States Supreme Court soon will consider a case of visitation rights for grandparents denied access to their grandchild by a parent.

There are no accusations of abuse, unfitness or misconduct in that case--just another divorced parent with custody no longer wanting contact with the estranged spouse's family.

Sins of blameable parent are routinely visited upon the blameless grandparents. And their grandchildren become double victims--first denied regular access to a parent, then no access at all to the parent's parents.

Custody proceedings in all divorce cases should routinely allow grandparents to seek enforceable visitation rights. (30 JANUARY 2000).