What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? AZ
It's been a long while since I have been on here...but I find myself needing sound thrid party "been through it myself" advice.
My kids came home this weekend and let me know that their step mom has been throwing things at them like shoes, food, anything she can get her hands on. She has been calling them names like "damn brats", saying their mom (me) would go to jail if the kids expressed their want to not go to their dad's house. Mind you, things like this have been going on for 5 years and my kids are finally old enough to articulate what is going on and finally this time their dad has also expressed his concern about his wife's behavior and treatment of our kids.
The thing that bugs me the most is that he is there when this behavior is going on and the kids have told me that he doesn't care and doesn't do anything to stop her. I don't know if this is true, but this is their perception and that is an awful feeling to think that my kids don't have the support and protection they feel they should have from their dad.
I have sat down with dad and expressed my concern. He is willing to let the kids only go to their home when he is around (Sun and Mon morning) but then feels that after 2 weeks and a trip to disney land, that his wife will be all better and we should go back to everyother weekend plus every his Sun Mon schedule.
I am not comfortable with this agreement and do not want to take custody away from him since we currently have joint, but on the flip side, I want to ensure that my children are safe and feel safe while at their dad's.
Any suggestions on what course of action to take from here? As of now I am just trying to muddle through with dad and come to a common ground.
(I know many other parents and children have it way worse off, but they are still my children and if you are familiar with any of my older posts you could see the progression of the step mom's behavior)
Any advice welcome.
It's been a long while since I have been on here...but I find myself needing sound thrid party "been through it myself" advice.
My kids came home this weekend and let me know that their step mom has been throwing things at them like shoes, food, anything she can get her hands on. She has been calling them names like "damn brats", saying their mom (me) would go to jail if the kids expressed their want to not go to their dad's house. Mind you, things like this have been going on for 5 years and my kids are finally old enough to articulate what is going on and finally this time their dad has also expressed his concern about his wife's behavior and treatment of our kids.
The thing that bugs me the most is that he is there when this behavior is going on and the kids have told me that he doesn't care and doesn't do anything to stop her. I don't know if this is true, but this is their perception and that is an awful feeling to think that my kids don't have the support and protection they feel they should have from their dad.
I have sat down with dad and expressed my concern. He is willing to let the kids only go to their home when he is around (Sun and Mon morning) but then feels that after 2 weeks and a trip to disney land, that his wife will be all better and we should go back to everyother weekend plus every his Sun Mon schedule.
I am not comfortable with this agreement and do not want to take custody away from him since we currently have joint, but on the flip side, I want to ensure that my children are safe and feel safe while at their dad's.
Any suggestions on what course of action to take from here? As of now I am just trying to muddle through with dad and come to a common ground.
(I know many other parents and children have it way worse off, but they are still my children and if you are familiar with any of my older posts you could see the progression of the step mom's behavior)
Any advice welcome.