Hello thank you for taking the time to read my question.
Parents with joint custody and an alternating week, equal shared physical custody arrangement have come to loggerheads concerning after school care for their twelve year old daughter.
Historically, mother handles before and after school care and provides transportation to and from school. Historically, father drops child off at mother's home in the morning before school and picks child up from mother's home after work (approx. 6 pm). Mother and father live in close proximity.
Father is agreeable to mother continuing transportation to and from school, but requests that child be delivered to his home and left in the care of the child's step mother by four pm each day. This will ensure that the child participates in the same schedule and routine as her step brother and half sister each day after school, and keep her involved in family activities.
Mother adheres to the notion that when father is not personally available to care for the child, that the option to do so should naturally fall to her as the biological parent. Additionally, the child has expressed anxiety concerning step mother's behavior toward her in her father's absence, indicating that step mother engages her in a confrontational manner .... that step mother becomes aggressive and 'bullies' her in a way which she (step mother) does not display in front of the father.
Any thoughts on how this may be handled?
Thank you for your polite attention despite your busy schedule.
Sincerely,
-imtrying
Parents with joint custody and an alternating week, equal shared physical custody arrangement have come to loggerheads concerning after school care for their twelve year old daughter.
Historically, mother handles before and after school care and provides transportation to and from school. Historically, father drops child off at mother's home in the morning before school and picks child up from mother's home after work (approx. 6 pm). Mother and father live in close proximity.
Father is agreeable to mother continuing transportation to and from school, but requests that child be delivered to his home and left in the care of the child's step mother by four pm each day. This will ensure that the child participates in the same schedule and routine as her step brother and half sister each day after school, and keep her involved in family activities.
Mother adheres to the notion that when father is not personally available to care for the child, that the option to do so should naturally fall to her as the biological parent. Additionally, the child has expressed anxiety concerning step mother's behavior toward her in her father's absence, indicating that step mother engages her in a confrontational manner .... that step mother becomes aggressive and 'bullies' her in a way which she (step mother) does not display in front of the father.
Any thoughts on how this may be handled?
Thank you for your polite attention despite your busy schedule.
Sincerely,
-imtrying