Hi All,
Let me start by saying that refusing my children the right to visit or spend time with their father is NOT what I want to do. I would just like to know what MY rights are as a parent.
Brief overview.....separated in 2010, divorced in 2012. 2 children now 5& 8. Through mediation Ex and I jointly agreed that we would have joint custody with primary residency with me. Every other weekend would be spent with "dad". Drop off points and support amount needed to be decided via courts as we could not agree due to his "inconsistency". When it comes to the boys, we don't have much to ever argue about. I don't approve of the time that is spent travelling while visiting "dad", but that's not my problem, and really none of my business.
On a Wednesday I get an email saying "I am moving to Buffalo on Friday. I will not be able to return to Canada for 3 months. I have explained to the boys and they understand" Not sure how it was explained, nor how they understood...but again, not MY business or problem.
Ex takes 4 and a half months to come back for a visit. Boys are constantly asking for dad. Dad doesn't respond to phone calls or emails requesting that he call the boys. Only calls twice while away. Sends word that he would like to pick them up for a weekend. I agree as it would be his scheduled weekend. He wants to meet on Friday and drop off on Sunday as usual. Great!! I tell the boys, they are excited, happy, and my 5 year old wakes up the Friday morning singing "I Love my Dad, Cant wait to see Dad". Put a smile on my face, that even though I have issues with my ex, the boys can still get excited about visits and love their father. I get an email at 2:30 on that Friday advising..."stuck at work, will pick up tomorrow at 8am". Now it's my issue to deal with by having to disappoint my boys and tell them that daddy isn't coming. Since then ex has missed a few visit weekends and I have to chase him via email to see if he is in fact picking up. Long weekend plans were trying to be made and it wasn't until the Thursday before that I found out that he was in fact NOT coming. Had I known earlier I would have made better plans with the boys to send out the summer with a bang.
Here is my question: SInce the last 6 months have been inconsistent in pick ups, do I have the right to ask for notice of wanting to see the boys? IE asking to have notice no later than Sunday before his Friday. If I have not heard then I can continue to plan things such as responding to birthday party invitations, play dates, arranging care if needed over the weekend?
One last question.....would the fact that ex no longer lives in the country and is very slow in responding to all forms of communication, be justifiable reason for requesting Soul Custody? At this point I am unable to travel with my children without his consent. How am I to get his consent if he doesn't communicate?
Let me start by saying that refusing my children the right to visit or spend time with their father is NOT what I want to do. I would just like to know what MY rights are as a parent.
Brief overview.....separated in 2010, divorced in 2012. 2 children now 5& 8. Through mediation Ex and I jointly agreed that we would have joint custody with primary residency with me. Every other weekend would be spent with "dad". Drop off points and support amount needed to be decided via courts as we could not agree due to his "inconsistency". When it comes to the boys, we don't have much to ever argue about. I don't approve of the time that is spent travelling while visiting "dad", but that's not my problem, and really none of my business.
On a Wednesday I get an email saying "I am moving to Buffalo on Friday. I will not be able to return to Canada for 3 months. I have explained to the boys and they understand" Not sure how it was explained, nor how they understood...but again, not MY business or problem.
Ex takes 4 and a half months to come back for a visit. Boys are constantly asking for dad. Dad doesn't respond to phone calls or emails requesting that he call the boys. Only calls twice while away. Sends word that he would like to pick them up for a weekend. I agree as it would be his scheduled weekend. He wants to meet on Friday and drop off on Sunday as usual. Great!! I tell the boys, they are excited, happy, and my 5 year old wakes up the Friday morning singing "I Love my Dad, Cant wait to see Dad". Put a smile on my face, that even though I have issues with my ex, the boys can still get excited about visits and love their father. I get an email at 2:30 on that Friday advising..."stuck at work, will pick up tomorrow at 8am". Now it's my issue to deal with by having to disappoint my boys and tell them that daddy isn't coming. Since then ex has missed a few visit weekends and I have to chase him via email to see if he is in fact picking up. Long weekend plans were trying to be made and it wasn't until the Thursday before that I found out that he was in fact NOT coming. Had I known earlier I would have made better plans with the boys to send out the summer with a bang.
Here is my question: SInce the last 6 months have been inconsistent in pick ups, do I have the right to ask for notice of wanting to see the boys? IE asking to have notice no later than Sunday before his Friday. If I have not heard then I can continue to plan things such as responding to birthday party invitations, play dates, arranging care if needed over the weekend?
One last question.....would the fact that ex no longer lives in the country and is very slow in responding to all forms of communication, be justifiable reason for requesting Soul Custody? At this point I am unable to travel with my children without his consent. How am I to get his consent if he doesn't communicate?
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