Warring parents...

if you love the children you do what you have to

End the squabbling by saying the children can come on Wednesdays.
Then make sure SS at least stays around to help you, or pays for someone to do so.

You say you'll always put the children first, so do it.

If the children were on the CPR they would have had a social worker -if you had a good relationship with them they might be able to give advice or help - but only involve them If you cannot cope

Thank you for explaining further, Mamma66.

"He sustained life changing injuries two years ago and I think he is struggling to come to terms with the limitations. "

IMO, you are probably right. And this probably impacts his ability to care for and interest in spending time w/ the children. Perhaps this is why XDIL wants his visitation supervised? B/c she's not sure he can cope, physically or emotionally?

"My Stepson presents no threat to the children but he does need to up his game."

I believe you. But is he truly able to "step up his game?" Either physically or psychologically? Also, while he may not be a threat to the children in the sense of hurting them, etc., IF he's self-absorbed, inattentive, or tends to be a little irresponsible when he's w/ them, that may be why XDIL wants his visits supervised. (IDK that these things are true, I'm just saying IF). After all - and I hope this doesn't sound insensitive - I take it that SS' parenting is now considered "adequate" (and probably more) b/c he has good, caring, responsible people/you and DH taking care of the kids when they're w/ him, not b/c he, himself, does a good job.

Mamma66 There are so many grandparents these days in similar positions due to family break ups. I too am one of them and maybe as stella1949 points out we take the role of 'martyrs' to protect the children and give them a point of stability in their lives. Difficult though it is we try to do our best and I believe as DGC get older they will recognise this and appreciate our efforts. Having read so many sad posts about those who have not had contact with DGC through no fault of their own, at least we will have our happy memories. I am hoping that you can hang on in there and that eventually the great job you are doing will result in the rewards you deserve.

I dont understand why you think 2 days a fortnight is enough time with their dad...and think their mother is being unreasonable asking he sticks with the court order.They ARE his too so why should the mother look after them12 days to his 2?
I think she should be getting some back up from you ,no wonder she cant work 3 small children and a useless ex.

If there is a risk that you'd lost contact with the children completely because of this, can't you agree to have them on Wednesdays ? I have mine every day and have done that for 5 years - I'm not trying to sound like a martyr, but if you love the children you do what you have to . They only have one chance at being children - if you don't have them, things could get really bad.

Reading your second post it does seem as if you are Slightly more inclined to blame the mother more than your SS, for the current situation. However I can’t understand why he agreed to the existing level of contact (or indeed pushed for it if he took his ex to court!) when he had these life changing disabilities and has been struggling to cope?
I think you need to sit down with him and find out exactly what he wants regarding a relationship with his children and try to work out a level of contact that he can cope with and that will be in the best interests of the children. The children need above all consistency and stability so, better it be less frequent, but quality time together, than disinterested and uninvolved parenting. He needs to understand that he is at risk of loosing all contact if he doesn’t pull his socks up. Maybe suggest seeing if you can involve a mediator to find a compromise for both ex and SS which could then be taken back to court for a revised child arrangements order?

Mamma66 I have sent you a message

Yes. That’s if the parent does not return the child. If a mother refuses to hand over the child.

It does not enforce a NRP to take up time.

Bibbity& - a google search shows that it is true.

"The Court can impose a community service order, requiring the parent in breach of the child arrangement order to undertake up to 200 hours of community service. The Court can fine to the parent in breach. The Court can impose a short prison sentence on the parent in breach."

The same information is on every returned page I looked at.

It is really bad to breach a Court Order, so by not having them on Wednesdays, whatever the reason, your stepson is laying himself open to a fine, or at worst, a prison sentence.

Unfortunately this isn’t true. You can’t make a man be a decent human.
If he is failing his duties and his children there is nothing anyone can do.
The only enforceable part of parenting for the NRP is the child payments.....which I doubt she’s even getting.

Ex-DiL is trying to get SS to meet the requirements of the Court Order.
He and you need to figure out how that can be done, instead of moaning and arguing about it.

As some of you have commented it is quite complex and I appreciate that some of my remarks may appear contradictory. The Court Order doesn’t specify supervised contact, Social Services were involved and the children were on the Child Protection register in relation to both parents being inadequate. They have now stepped back and the children are no longer on the register. My Stepson presents no threat to the children but he does need to up his game. He sustained life changing injuries two years ago and I think he is struggling to come to terms with the limitations. I am not making excuses for him, we have said for a long time that we will put the children first on every occasion. It worries me now that his ex will do what she did before and prevent him and us having any contact for five months. I think I just needed to vent really and not feel so alone. Thank you

It is really bad to breach a Court Order, so by not having them on Wednesdays, whatever the reason, your stepson is laying himself open to a fine, or at worst, a prison sentence.

Is it your stepson's ex who is insisting on supervised contact, or was it part of the Court Order that he is supervised - and if so, does it specifically state that you and your husband are to supervise?

What was the reason for contact being supervised? Sorry to ask - but was it down to drugs or alcohol (mis)use?

Have you/stepson ever had the children after school on a Wednesday? If not, and it was part of the Court Order, why not? If it wasn't possible for you/stepson to have them, why agree to those terms?

Is it overnight contact on Wednesdays, or just for the evening? Obviously, you've not given all the details of your home life in the short posts so far, but why is it not possible for you/stepson to have them on afternoon after school each week?

I'm sorry your stepson is unwell, but there are many very disabled parents who just have to get on with bringing up their children full time. How bad is he that he can't even sit and watch a movie with them, or play a board game, or watch/help them do crafts, or just talk to them?

If all this is too much for him, then I'd suggest he goes back to Court and requests a review of the Child Arrangement Order to see if they can reach an agreement on what contact he does want. Because to be honest, is sounds like he doesn't want them at all at the moment, which must be confusing and upsetting for the children. And THEY are what's important right now.

Awful situation - the children must be so confused - and I would think upset by the situation. I agree with above post - if you can afford it - or get SS to pay - for an afterschool club for the children on Wednesday it would help. How about a letter to both your ex DIL and SS telling them of your concerns about the impact of their relationship on their children, and how this will escalate if they be civil to you and each other. You can stress how fond you are of the children and how worried you are about the impact of the situation on them. Unfortunately this is a fairly common situation and your SS needs to grow up and take responsibility for the children - make sure that you are not always available.

My son and his partner split years ago .They didn't go down the legal road and managed to sort out access between them but it amounts to him and us having her 7 out of every 14 days .On the days he works we look after her ,do the school run and clubs etc
.I have to say if your SS is reneging on times stipulated by a court I would be angry too ,his ex has all the responsibility of bringing up HIS children .
He needs sorted out ,if his accident was so bad that he couldn't look after them he should have spoken to social services about alternative arrangements until he was well.BUT you cant use "he's not well" as an excuse for dumping his kids on you all the time, however happy you are to have them.2 days a fortnight isn't good enough

I am wondering if there is any way you can involve someone else in looking after the three children on the weekends to relieve the work for you? A nanny sounds expensive, but what about a local babysitter? In my area teenagers at the college studying for child care qualifications are very keen to pick up pocket money and gain experience. They could come round to your house and play with the children and help out with their care with you or SS keeping an eye on them. I had a brilliant girl do this for me when mine were small and I had to work from home on Saturdays. The kids loved her, she didnt charge much and I was there to make sure nothing went wrong. I know it doesnt solve all the other issues, but it might be a good stop gap and allow you to continue to see GC without getting exhausted.

"Neither work, my Stepson had a very bad accident and can’t really work at the moment."

I'm so sorry about SS' accident. Is he in a lot of pain? Could that be why he can't seem to focus on his children very much?

" His ex partner is using the Wednesday afternoon contact to stop him from seeing the children."

Not sure I understand this^^ statement. How is asking him to fulfill the Wednesday requirement a way to stop him from seeing the children?

"Through Social Services involvement they are just about adaquate, but neither of them is the parents our lovely grandchildren deserve-"

I can see that SS is not the best dad. I know that must sadden and frustrate you, and I'm so sorry. Again, hopefully, he'll grow into the role over time.

I'm not sure why you feel XDIL is not the mum she should be, but I suppose that's not relevant to your concerns here (the Wednesday and supervision issues). If it's any comfort, perhaps you and she just have different ideas of parenting. Regardless, I'm glad Social Services has helped. And bless you and DH for being there for your GC as well!

Btw, I'd be very reluctant to leave 3 children of those ages in sole care of this man, from the way you've described him.
He may not be an active danger to them but sounds like he wouldn't be very competent.

Are you able to see ex-DiL to discuss the situation, rather than leave it to SS who seems to be a useless dad?
I think she is not being selfish. She is trying to get him to meet the responsibility he took on at court, which is understandable.

Who exactly did the Court Order give access to the children at the times you say, you or their Dad? If you are the official supervisor then you do need to be present but then so does their Dad. He needs to be made to realise the terms of the Order which he no doubt agreed to. Obviously the risk you are worried about is if he doesn't comply then you don't see the children and we all know GPs don't seem to have rights if access. Your DSS needs to accept his responsibilities and at least help look after the children as he is given access to them with you being present. Very hard situation and you will feel you could be the one to make or break the situation. You are not, it's the parents and you need to make them be parents!

Agree with everything GC65 has said.
I presume he isn't paying for the children either.
He doesn't see them, spend time with them. He doesn't seem to parent them. You do.
If he doesn't work how is he only spending 4 hours a month with his children, where does he go?

If she has a 2 year old she will be looking after him aswell as doing the school run twice a day.

I imagine she is at the end of her tether trying to get him to step up to be a Dad. I'd be fuming if I was her, he isn't sticking to the court order.

You say that your stepson’s ex wants him to take the children more, then you say she is trying to stop him from seeing the children. Which one is it?

You say they are both as bad as each other and inadequate parents, however, your stepson’s ex is the one raising the children, whilst your stepson isn’t even doing the bare minimum. How do you expect your stepson’s ex to work when she is solely responsible for 3 young children with no support from your stepson?

You are lucky that she hasn’t went back to court to have the court order revised given your stepson’s clear lack of interest in his own children. It may well end up that your stepson doesn’t see his children at all, and it will be his own fault, not his ex partner’s.

Sadly, both parents are immature and self-absorbed. Neither work, my Stepson had a very bad accident and can’t really work at the moment. His ex partner is using the Wednesday afternoon contact to stop him from seeing the children. Alas they are so busy trying to manipulate the situation and exercise control that neither of them can see past that and realise the impact on the children. We tried initially to support them and to help them to become better parents. Through Social Services involvement they are just about adaquate, but neither of them is the parents our lovely grandchildren deserve- it makes me so sad

If he only spends time with his children max 4 hours a month I can see why she would want supervised access.
The kids barely know him.
This speaks volumes for you though as it seems she trusts you.

She must be bloomin fuming though. She is the fulltime career for her children and their 'Dad' can't even manage 2 weekends a month.

She has every right to take this back to court as he isn't sticking to the court order at all.