Long-Distance Divorce, Primary Custody, Frequency of phone calls and visits?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If his life isn’t together, why does he need to be on the opposite coast? Why can’t he fail locally?

Full summer with dad makes sense if dad has a place to live.

I’m worried that you are going to have primary custody and yet does seem to feel entitled to child support. I’m worried you don’t have a lawyer. I’m worried you’re letting emotions get in the way of getting a fair deal here.

I would not commit to you flying out there twice a year. That’s a lot.

How old is kid? I’ve sat next to unaccompanied minors as young as six and they were fine.

Same question. Why can’t he be local?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't dad read him a story each night via FaceTime? If you're East Coast, at 8pm it's 5pm in CA and dad can get off work, read DS a story and chat about his day for a half hour. That can be your time to shower, clean up the kitchen, whatever.

This is a nice idea. It could work based on the particulars of what OP means by dad doesn’t have his life together. If dad isn’t able to solidly come through for a daily phone call, it is better to not establish it as a precedent for a 6 year old. Obviously an emergency is understandable, but if if one week it’s 6 days and the next two weeks, it’s only 2 or 3 because dad is high or couch surfing....

We do this. Stories every night.

[Anonymous]

NP - I read all the responses and most are 100% accurate. Dad at any time in the next 6 months can drag Mom's butt ot court and compel her to return the child to our area. It's not a joke. Reasonable visitation is all school holidays. That is the trade for taking a child away from their parent.

[Anonymous]

Are you moving or him? If you are, you need to make sure your kid gets back to him every other week. And understand that you are being horribly selfish. I say this as a mom who splits her life between places to ensure my kid has consistency. It is not okay to move your kid away from the other parent!!!!

[Anonymous]

If you are moving, you are responsible for getting the kid to his dad. But before you move, realize how horrible and destructive it is. Of course you don’t want lawyers, no court would ever let you be this abusive.