Situation: Grandparents have primary custody for the past 11 months after sharing
joint custody for 3 years. It has been very difficult with joint legal as parties do not agree on anything. Mother does not respond to important matters, but argues once a decision is made. Public pre-k, mother argued but did not respond when it was brought up. Mother had planned on sending child to public pre-k at age 3.
Now: Child has had trouble adjusting and behavior issues. We don't know how child would have reacted had mother not told her two days before school began that she and boyfriend were fixing up place for all of them to live in. Mother filed for
sole custody days later. Child had to visit with GAL, whom she remembers from last year.
Child study referral was made by speech therapist and I took the opportunity to file a referral for concerns with handwriting and behavior as well. Mother attended child study and used the time to down us and try to reference everything as in some way our fault. She fought any suggestions we made. She threatened to leave the room more than once, but never budged.
Child's behavior worsened. We emailed mother about possible assessment for ADHD and therapy. Mother did not respond. The next week, when assessment was done, her only input was asking if teacher asked or if we asked for it. I had been plain that I had requested and reminded her of email. She claims she responded but will not forward response. She is in agreement that therapy is necessary, but wants it closer to her. I am okay as long as it is not someone she sees. I want unbiased, local, and available soon, and someone that has been referred. The place she has mentioned she says she knows nothing about. The one referral I have had that can see child soon is over an hour away from mother. Mother says we have to agree.
Okay....went to pediatric appointment and mother instantly went on attack, threatening to end meeting until her lawyer could attend....asking if I knew what HIPPA was.....she was stepping out if I did not stop. Honestly, the doctor asked about family history and I said dad and mother have ADHD/ADD. When mother spoke up that she would answer for herself, not me.. I did ask that we focus on child, but said I would let her answer for herself and I would stop. I repeated this a few times as she continued to threaten the lawyer and HIPPA....
I feel she does these threats to take over the meeting. Professionals do not want to be involved in legal matters. They baby her after that to calm her. She disagreed with everything I said; and made it about discipline style again. She was rude and so was her mother.
They are not going to pay anything toward counseling. There is no order for them to pay or to say they do not have to pay. We have joint legal - if she is not going to pay, would I be within my rights to take child where is local for us and we have heard good things about?
Topic: Legal authority (Read 1805 times)