>Ok, spoke to our attorney, he brought up some questions he
>thought the other attorney would throw at my husband and I
>need information to help answer.
>
>1)
SD is soon to be 15 and should determine her own visit
>times--she has a life and friends to see over spring break and
>summer
SD is still a minor and might not know what's in her best interest. She needs to be able to spend as much time as possible with all of her family, including her father's. Since there is such a great distance weekend visitation is not an option. Therefore, she needs to spend as much time as possible during the summer and holidays with father and family there.
>
>2)Why should we allow SD to fly layover especially after 9/11?
> (attorney is trying to help us know how ex's attorney will
>act)
>
>3)Ex does not work, but will not drive to the closest airport
>to allow daughter to fly non-stop because it is TOO HARD to
>navigate the highway she has to drive to get there.
My argument to this would be that SD is responsible and capable (assuming she is) to change flights and can live through a layover. If EX wants SD to have non-stop flights she she can pay for it, but that you shouldn't have to on your half of the flights.
>4)Ex says SD is not high priority with her dad, becuase dad
>has to work and can not spend time with SD. Therefore
>visitation should be reduced.
>
How about that it doesn't sound like mom is trying to maintain/encourage a healthy relationship between SD and her father. It's important for SD to have a good relationship with both of her parents and if the roles were reversed you'd certainly do everything you could to foster SD's relationship with her mother! (kinda ties in w/ my response to question #1!)