So my ex just moved from Colorado to North Carolina with his new girlfriend and her kids. She’s still married but claims she’s separated. I’m really worried about my kids spending spring break and seven weeks of summer with them. It’s been super hard for me to deal with my ex’s choices, and I remember how tough it was when my dad had us spend time with his girlfriend. My son is autistic and has emotional volatility, so I’m really concerned about how this will affect him. Plus, there’s a chance the father of her kids could show up, and I’m just not comfortable with a stranger around my children. My ex has been inconsistent with visitation and hasn’t even called them much. I just want to know if there’s any legal way to protect my kids from this situation. Any thoughts on what I can do?
I totally get where you’re coming from. My ex got into a new relationship pretty quickly too, and I was worried about the kids. In some places, judges will put a clause that no overnight visits with the opposite sex happen during parenting time. Might be worth looking into that.
I know it’s stressful, but try not to worry too much about what hasn’t happened yet. It’s possible he might not even want to take the kids for spring break. Also, did he get court approval to move? That might affect his visitation rights.
You might want to consider filing for sole custody based on his abandonment. His moving away could definitely impact his ability to visit the kids regularly.
Have you thought about meeting his new girlfriend? It might help you feel more comfortable knowing who’s around your kids.
I totally understand your fears. Family courts often don’t prevent parents from dating, but you can express your concerns. Just be supportive of your kids and let them know they can talk to you about anything.