Please take a look at the following print screen.
- i created the following hierarchy/structure.
- i selected the text object
- i pressed the ALT key to display the distances between objects
Problem: when i hold ALT key and i go with mouse cursor over the small rectangle the distances shown are relative to the bigger one. Unfortunately when i made the print screen the mouse cursor it disappeared, so you must trust my words. 
Thank you,
George
PS: could you consider using CTRL key to display distances, rather than ALT.
