Chris,
Joint legal custody doesn't mean that you each get to dictate the parenting decisions of the other parent. It means that you each get to make decisions for your child while the child is in your custody.
Just as you can't dictate whether the mother leaves your daughter alone (or prohibits your daughter from wearing hats, or forces peppermint ice cream on her for dessert every night, or drives her in a car that didn't get 5-star crash safety)... the mother can't dictate what parenting decisions you make while you're with your daughter.
If she's not breaking Colorado laws, then imagine how you appear to Colorado authorities who enforce the law.
Your impression of joint legal custody is wrong, hence your conclusions about it are wrong.
You're correct that the courts DON'T CARE about parental rights. The only person about whom they're supposed to CARE (and which they may not) is the CHILD.
So, as you've heard before on these boards, the best way to help raise your child is to move to Colorado. It's been quite a while since your daughter moved to CO with her mother. Make it happen.
Regardless of how unfair your situation is, no amount of complaining will help it. It's up to you to get to CO... that seems to be the only option to improve it.
Good luck.
Joint legal custody doesn't mean that you each get to dictate the parenting decisions of the other parent. It means that you each get to make decisions for your child while the child is in your custody.
Just as you can't dictate whether the mother leaves your daughter alone (or prohibits your daughter from wearing hats, or forces peppermint ice cream on her for dessert every night, or drives her in a car that didn't get 5-star crash safety)... the mother can't dictate what parenting decisions you make while you're with your daughter.
If she's not breaking Colorado laws, then imagine how you appear to Colorado authorities who enforce the law.
Your impression of joint legal custody is wrong, hence your conclusions about it are wrong.
You're correct that the courts DON'T CARE about parental rights. The only person about whom they're supposed to CARE (and which they may not) is the CHILD.
So, as you've heard before on these boards, the best way to help raise your child is to move to Colorado. It's been quite a while since your daughter moved to CO with her mother. Make it happen.
Regardless of how unfair your situation is, no amount of complaining will help it. It's up to you to get to CO... that seems to be the only option to improve it.
Good luck.