[fooled once]

Originally Posted by Tinman034

I hope someone or a bunch will give me honest opinions on this topic!!

Ok- I am a divorced dad, now in a blended family. My son is 11 years old. I have 50/50 shared custody with my ex. I work nights, 7pm-3am. If it is my weekend with my son, we normally are together all day, have dinner and I go to work. He is then with my fiance until i get home and then we start all over again. Is my fiance bound to watch my son, if his mother is available. For example, once my fiance was sick in bed and I advised my ex of her illness. My ex's response was, "everyone is sick, Billy is 11 years old, he can take care of himself, I have soooooo much to do tonight." So his mom didnt want to watch him because she had plans, but is she ultimatley RESPONSIBLE to watch him since I had to work, or is her weekend "HER TIME" like she believes.....I am looking for right and wrong here....please help.....discussion??

If it is YOUR nite, you are responsible for your son on your time.

BUT - visitation is a right - there is no rule that says you MUST take your visitation/parenting time.

But if you have your son at your home, your ex is right, it is your responsibility to find someone to watch him.

She would get 'first right of refusal'... meaning you can ask her if she wants him and if she doesn't (and she doesn't have to take him) then it is up to you to find someone.

But at 11, as long as your fiance is home, how much does he really need to be 'watched'?

[silverfish]

If you have 50/50 custody then it's your responsibility to cover childcare when he's with you.

Don't assume that your wife isn't doing anything, as I'm sure she has to work etc as well. If you can't get any childcare do what the rest of us have to and call in sick to take care of him yourself