Does anyone have any experience with this type of situation? Here is the background info....
My husband's middle son (16) moved in with us back in January this year and we went to court and obtained custody in July. His mom has been playing emotional games with him all year. When he first moved in with us she wouldn't come get him or would return him way early on her custody days, then when just enough time had passed for us to start suing for custody she started "wanting to rebuild her relationship with him" and demanded that he go back to her full time. Now, for the last two months (since she lost the child support on him) she's been trying to off load him whenever and however she can. She's been telling him he owes her for the lost child support ever since.
Tonight she called my husband and said that from now on she was refusing her custody of him. She told my husband that the two of them had a long talk and that is was a mutual agreement. Both my husband and I think that neither of them has any right to make that decision at this point in time since my stepson is still a minor.
The current plan is for my husband to threaten to sue for custody of the youngest son (14) if she doesn't accept custody for two reasons:
1. Failure to want to interact with the 16 year old is proof of being a bad parent
2. It is in both boys' best interest to be together for a majority of the time. (together 4 days/week except 5th week of month currently)
However, it won't be an idle threat and I think we can make enough of a case for point number 1 based on past events.
So, how do you deal with this type of situation? Its important to my husband that his two non-favorites of their mother kids maintain at least a civil relationship with her.
Stefanie
My husband's middle son (16) moved in with us back in January this year and we went to court and obtained custody in July. His mom has been playing emotional games with him all year. When he first moved in with us she wouldn't come get him or would return him way early on her custody days, then when just enough time had passed for us to start suing for custody she started "wanting to rebuild her relationship with him" and demanded that he go back to her full time. Now, for the last two months (since she lost the child support on him) she's been trying to off load him whenever and however she can. She's been telling him he owes her for the lost child support ever since.
Tonight she called my husband and said that from now on she was refusing her custody of him. She told my husband that the two of them had a long talk and that is was a mutual agreement. Both my husband and I think that neither of them has any right to make that decision at this point in time since my stepson is still a minor.
The current plan is for my husband to threaten to sue for custody of the youngest son (14) if she doesn't accept custody for two reasons:
1. Failure to want to interact with the 16 year old is proof of being a bad parent
2. It is in both boys' best interest to be together for a majority of the time. (together 4 days/week except 5th week of month currently)
However, it won't be an idle threat and I think we can make enough of a case for point number 1 based on past events.
So, how do you deal with this type of situation? Its important to my husband that his two non-favorites of their mother kids maintain at least a civil relationship with her.
Stefanie