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He is suing an unwed mother for custody of a child that he abandoned.

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wireknot

Junior Member
Located in tulsa, Oklahoma.
He did not want a baby when she told him about the pregnancy and forced her to listen to him about an abortion, then had an attorney write her to ask about her intentions.
He called shortly after my granddaughter was born and wanted to see his daughter, but didn’t want to assume any of a father’s responsibilities. He refused to sign an affidavit to establish paternity, called often, but only asked to see his daughter once. He was more interested in my daughter’s activities. When she started telling him that he would not be allowed to a play dad, his family began calling to try and influence her just as they did before the birth. He visited his daughter only 3 times totaling 5 hours in 11 weeks following her birth. At that time my daughter applied for a protective order because of nuisance telephone calls, a vehicle parked at our home to observe her activities, and fear for her safety. She ended the order after 90 days to avoid additional conflict. His attorney had served her with a subpoena to appear is his office to answer questions related to the PO in spite of the judge’s instructions to leave her alone.
He and his family ceased calling and showed no further interest for 3 years, other than an occasional drive by to see where we lived.
His petition asked for joint custody, surname change, and visitation. The current court order is temporary resulting from 3 appearances in 7 months. He has unsupervised visits one night each week for 3-1/2 hours and two 7-hour visits, one on each weekend day, every other week. He started paying $250 per month for child support after the first court date.
He has stated that he thinks his daughter is ready for overnight visits. It is unclear where he will have her sleep. She is 42 months old, naps for 3 hours daily, and sleeps 11 hours each night. He does not recognize her need to nap during his visits. Many times she returns in her words, “tired and hungry”.
He is 27 years old, has a college degree, has not been steadily employed, and lives with another unmarried male. (One might think that he has been under-employed or unemployed in effort to reduce his amount of support).
My daughter is also 27, holds a bachelors degree, owns a home, has worked for the same corporation since college, and provides medical coverage for her daughter.

She goes back to court next week.
Can he be granted all of what has been requested in his petition?
 


karma1

Senior Member
No one can tell you what a judge may or may not order...

while you state child is "42 months"--this is 3 1/2 yrs old and old enough for overnights....

this child sleeps 14 hours a day??? that is wayyyy too much and missing a nap here and there is not going to be a bad thing--unless there is a medical condition not mentioned?

Like it or not, he is the father and the choice made by your daughter to father this child----let them work it out. Seeing BOTH parents equally is in the best interest of the child.
 
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nextwife

Senior Member
Ditto what Karma said. She chose to have a baby with him- he's the father.

When we brought my daughter home at age 2, she wouldn't sleep in a crib, she slept in a little toddler bed I bought at Target. A three year old can sleep on an air mattress, in a toddler bed. I'm sure they can work out a sleeping spot. Heck, my kiddo preferred to camp out alongside OUR bed on a pile of comforters until a few months ago, rather than sleep in hers (and her's is a nice bed, with a down feather bed topper, 300 ct bedsheets and so on). It's a GOOD thing that he wants so much time with his daughter.
 

Rushia

Senior Member
karma1 said:
while you state child is "42 months"--this is 3 1/2 yrs old and old enough for overnights....

this child sleeps 14 hours a day??? that is wayyyy too much and missing a nap here and there is not going to be a bad thing--unless there is a medical condition not mentioned?

Ahhh, yeah. My daughter is the same exact age. That's way tooo much, I can barely get her to go to sleep. She also sleeps over at her fathers house and has been doing so for 2.5 years now without a problem!!!!
 

Phnx02

Member
wireknot said:
Located in tulsa, Oklahoma.
He did not want a baby when she told him about the pregnancy and forced her to listen to him about an abortion, then had an attorney write her to ask about her intentions.
He called shortly after my granddaughter was born and wanted to see his daughter, but didn’t want to assume any of a father’s responsibilities. He refused to sign an affidavit to establish paternity, called often, but only asked to see his daughter once. He was more interested in my daughter’s activities. When she started telling him that he would not be allowed to a play dad, his family began calling to try and influence her just as they did before the birth. He visited his daughter only 3 times totaling 5 hours in 11 weeks following her birth. At that time my daughter applied for a protective order because of nuisance telephone calls, a vehicle parked at our home to observe her activities, and fear for her safety. She ended the order after 90 days to avoid additional conflict. His attorney had served her with a subpoena to appear is his office to answer questions related to the PO in spite of the judge’s instructions to leave her alone.
He and his family ceased calling and showed no further interest for 3 years, other than an occasional drive by to see where we lived.
His petition asked for joint custody, surname change, and visitation. The current court order is temporary resulting from 3 appearances in 7 months. He has unsupervised visits one night each week for 3-1/2 hours and two 7-hour visits, one on each weekend day, every other week. He started paying $250 per month for child support after the first court date.
He has stated that he thinks his daughter is ready for overnight visits. It is unclear where he will have her sleep. She is 42 months old, naps for 3 hours daily, and sleeps 11 hours each night. He does not recognize her need to nap during his visits. Many times she returns in her words, “tired and hungry”.
He is 27 years old, has a college degree, has not been steadily employed, and lives with another unmarried male. (One might think that he has been under-employed or unemployed in effort to reduce his amount of support).
My daughter is also 27, holds a bachelors degree, owns a home, has worked for the same corporation since college, and provides medical coverage for her daughter.

She goes back to court next week.
Can he be granted all of what has been requested in his petition?

It sounds like you're trying to keep this child from her father for your own selfish reasons. While 27/28 should be mature enough age to accept parental responsibilities, it's not uncommon for an unwed father of any age to shy away from this life-time change at first.......especially if the child was the result of a short-term romance. You say he inquired about the child shortly after birth, but your daughter told him "he wasn't allowed to play dad" and considered his attempts of responsible fatherhood "a nuisance". Apparently, you and your daughter decided you wanted the child all to yourselves regardless of his intentions.

Be thankful that the father has reconsidered his parental duties and is making an effort to be involved in his child's life. Many children are abandoned on the contrary. You say they are both college educated, but put your daughter on a pedastool as being better..... she chose him as a bed partner and this was evidently an intellecutal decision on your daughter's part.....a decision that resulted in the birth of a child. You cannot change the fact that this man is your grandchild's father and it's not right you try to deny him access to his child.
 

stealth2

Under the Radar Member
He will almost certainly be granted visitation, including overnights. Apparently he already has weekend days, so adding the overnight is a no-brainer. At 4, my little one was spending an entire week with her father.

And I agree with the others - 3 1/2 is well old enough to forgo 3 hour naps. I could see an hour, but not 3. 3 1/2 is also well old enough to stop counting her age in months.
 

wireknot

Junior Member
karma1 said:
while you state child is "42 months"--this is 3 1/2 yrs old and old enough for overnights....

this child sleeps 14 hours a day??? that is wayyyy too much and missing a nap here and there is not going to be a bad thing--unless there is a medical condition not mentioned?

Like it or not, he is the father and the choice made by your daughter to father this child----let them work it out. Seeing BOTH parents equally is in the best interest of the child.

No medical condition, just VERY active. Naps are voluntary, but encouraged by giving her a little quiet time. She does not sleep as sound as she has in the past (may be having a little trouble adjusting to the visitation).
 

stealth2

Under the Radar Member
wireknot said:
She does not sleep as sound as she has in the past (may be having a little trouble adjusting to the visitation).

Or maybe outgrowing the need for three hours in the middle of the day. I have to be honest - I would be somewhat concerned if my 3yo was sleeping 14 hours a day.
 

Ron1347

Member
[His attorney had served her with a subpoena to appear is his office to answer questions related to the PO in spite of the judge’s instructions to leave her alone.]

An attorney can do that? Not that of course it isn't so but, I would never have guessed that the other person's attorney could in any way force you to appear in 'his' office to answer questions. And certainly not without your own attorney being present. I have never heard of such a thing. 'IF' in fact that is true, boy I learn something new every day!
 

wireknot

Junior Member
Phnx02 said:
It sounds like you're trying to keep this child from her father for your own selfish reasons. While 27/28 should be mature enough age to accept parental responsibilities, it's not uncommon for an unwed father of any age to shy away from this life-time change at first.......especially if the child was the result of a short-term romance. You say he inquired about the child shortly after birth, but your daughter told him "he wasn't allowed to play dad" and considered his attempts of responsible fatherhood "a nuisance". Apparently, you and your daughter decided you wanted the child all to yourselves regardless of his intentions.

Be thankful that the father has reconsidered his parental duties and is making an effort to be involved in his child's life. Many children are abandoned on the contrary. You say they are both college educated, but put your daughter on a pedastool as being better..... she chose him as a bed partner and this was evidently an intellecutal decision on your daughter's part.....a decision that resulted in the birth of a child. You cannot change the fact that this man is your grandchild's father and it's not right you try to deny him access to his child.
Your reply seems to condemn my concerns for the child’s emotional development
I did not imply that the father should not have visitation.
Your slant on “his attempts of responsible fatherhood” is not correct. He refused the opportunity to sign an affidavit of paternity and called only to maintain a relation with my daughter; not establish one with his.
Please re-read my post “nuisance” referred to telephone calls, as in those that wake you in the night where the caller does not respond after you answer.
 

wireknot

Junior Member
Ron1347 said:
[His attorney had served her with a subpoena to appear is his office to answer questions related to the PO in spite of the judge’s instructions to leave her alone.]

An attorney can do that? Not that of course it isn't so but, I would never have guessed that the other person's attorney could in any way force you to appear in 'his' office to answer questions. And certainly not without your own attorney being present. I have never heard of such a thing. 'IF' in fact that is true, boy I learn something new every day!
,,,,,,it was just an attempt to harass her. Her own attorney told her to disregard the subpoena. The judge was concerned with the situation, but my daughter had already decided to drop the action in hopes that the dad would settle down.
 

Silverplum

Senior Member
Shall I go ahead and tell you the secret of how we know you want to prevent visitation? Sure I should.

YOU are doing the legwork FOR your daughter. I might take her seriously if SHE took the time to write and ask about HER legal situation. And I don't want to hear that she doesn't have time. Sure she does. You have time for what's important.

You are involving yourself in a legal situation that does not, legally, include you. Your daughter is the mother, the guy is the father, the kid is their kid. Your daughter picked this guy to father the child, and he can be a parent: she's accepting and spending his child support, isn't she? :rolleyes:
 

imwhchu

Junior Member
Silverplum said:
Shall I go ahead and tell you the secret of how we know you want to prevent visitation? Sure I should.

YOU are doing the legwork FOR your daughter. I might take her seriously if SHE took the time to write and ask about HER legal situation. And I don't want to hear that she doesn't have time. Sure she does. You have time for what's important.

You are involving yourself in a legal situation that does not, legally, include you. Your daughter is the mother, the guy is the father, the kid is their kid. Your daughter picked this guy to father the child, and he can be a parent: she's accepting and spending his child support, isn't she? :rolleyes:


Spoken by someone paying child support?

Where is the constructive advice here? It reads like judgment and condemnment.

Unfortunately, only time will tell what type of father this man will be, you certainly can't prevent him from making an effort to be one. As for your concerns about your grandchild's emotional development, you may have to put faith in professionals if your concerns are that great. And then there would be documentation. Take your cues from your grandchild but be careful not to read into anything. As hard as it is to deal with this situation, it is all too easy to read signs the way we want them to read. Continue to develop a strong relationship with your granddaughter, she needs love and support which in turn, develops into trust. She is young but as she grows older she will know who she can trust, based on the foundation you set now. It is hard to let go on those weekends, advise your daughter to stay strong and most importantly, stay consistent when her daughter returns home. Routine will become so important. Good luck.
 

Silverplum

Senior Member
imwhchu said:
Spoken by someone paying child support?

***Huh? How does payment or receipt of CS color my advice? Since you know nothing of me, I suggest you sit back, son.

Where is the constructive advice here? It reads like judgment and condemnment. (snip)

Aaaand what about you, Speller? Where is your constructive legal advice? Just hugs and flowers and pop-psych? :rolleyes:

Next!
 

stealth2

Under the Radar Member
imwhchu said:
Spoken by someone paying child support?

Where is the constructive advice here? It reads like judgment and condemnment.

Unfortunately, only time will tell what type of father this man will be, you certainly can't prevent him from making an effort to be one. As for your concerns about your grandchild's emotional development, you may have to put faith in professionals if your concerns are that great. And then there would be documentation. Take your cues from your grandchild but be careful not to read into anything. As hard as it is to deal with this situation, it is all too easy to read signs the way we want them to read. Continue to develop a strong relationship with your granddaughter, she needs love and support which in turn, develops into trust. She is young but as she grows older she will know who she can trust, based on the foundation you set now. It is hard to let go on those weekends, advise your daughter to stay strong and most importantly, stay consistent when her daughter returns home. Routine will become so important. Good luck.

Yeah, this had a lot of legal advice in it. :rolleyes:
 

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