DP has 4 kids that stay with us EO weekend and 1 school holidays a year.
DSSs 10,6,4 and DSD 8.
DSD has told us on many occasions that she is unhappy at home. No high risk neglect or anything like that, but children seems unstimulated and bored as they are babysat by TV/video games a lot of the time, and fend for themselves when she is online gaming or in bed with toyboy!!!
The boys don't seem to mind as they like TV/video games but DSD is a really outdoorsy girl, loves school and homework, and loves being at ours because she can go horse riding, walk the dogs play on her bike.
She says her mum picks on her at home and believes the boys over her, and she gets left out as I presume it is easier to please the majority so it's usually the boys' TV choices etc... they don't get involved in any extracurricular activites with school. DSD is bored stiff, and keeps asking if she can live with us.
We cannot afford a big legal battle, and DP's ex wife does seems to see the kids as a meal ticket i.e. would care more about losing benefits/CSA money than losing daughter...
At what stage can DSD choose? Have we got a leg to stand on in court if there is no high risk neglect? There are silly things the children report to us like eating a lot of pot noodles, no fruit/veg, no exercise etc... but I don't think that would wash in a court of law...