Question: My children restrict family visits because of their demand that every place they go must be "child-proofed" for their 21-month-old son. They have no furniture except two sofas and have gated the entire area containing their entertainment centre. I have no idea what to say or do. I am heartbroken.

Answer: I can appreciate the difficulty of your situation. On the one hand, you have to applaud your children for being so conscientious, as truly the most important job parents have to do is keep their child safe. But many parents safety-proof in different ways. Some limit the surroundings of what the child can get into; others do that to a degree but also believe children have to learn what is appropriate for them and what they have to avoid. In the latter situation, the parents are saying "no" more frequently. It may be easiest for you to visit your grandchild in his home whenever possible.

Or, if your family will visit your home, just repeatedly display how you can supervise your grandchild in different situations and keep him safe. For example, if he goes near something dangerous, you would distract him or remove him from that area. You may not always agree with your children, but they are the parents now, and it's important to respect their wishes. Good luck.