in brief, CAO in place since May 2023. Lots of issues but mainly to do with allocation of 50:50 holidays. Holidays should have been agreed for this academic year by the start of the new academic year but so far no luck.
Mum has several times told me the children are not available has changed her mind on dates that were agreed and just generally been really difficult often taking weeks to respond.
the latest instalment from her is that the children are no longer available when her step sons (who love three hours away) are visiting and she will tell
me when I can see the children. There are a number of paragraphs about how this is the the wishes of feelings of my 9 year old twins, how she had sat them down and asked them and that I’m selfish and put my needs first if I don’t agree. This is however at odds with what they children have told me (she’s insisting on a 3 week block in the summer kids have said too long to not see me for) so not sure if they are telling us both what we want to hear or being sold a dream…
I have actually tried really hard to accommodate their step brothers visits and have tried to work with her as I really didn’t want to go back to court. I can’t agree to her latest requests as I cannot take annual leave on one of the weeks she has given me and need to book our own summer holiday based on my step children’s availability too.
well done if you’ve made it this far. I am interested in any advice, words of wisdom etc. Is it worth going back to court or should I just accept my lot. So as not to drip feed, I have an 18 month old and all was fine prior to her being born. If I accept the mothers proposed dates we cannot take a family holiday this year and they will have to spend one week with my sister due to my work. I don’t really think this is fair on my older kids.