ChargersDad
New Member
My jurisdiction is: California
Lately when I go to pick up my three children from their mother's for visitation (court ordered), my oldest daughter -- 14 years -- refuses to come with me. It started several months ago with her calling and asking at the last minute if she could stay behind and hang out with friends. I almost have always okay'd these requests because I know she's a teenager and want to respect her desire to spend time with people her age. However, as of a couple weeks ago she has flat-out refused to come along with me, never really giving an explanation as to why. Last night when I tried to talk to her about it she wouldn't come out of the house, forcing me to have a conversation with her through a closed door. She told me that she doesn't have to come because, "the courts said so." Nowhere in the divorce paperwork or child visitation/custody agreement documents does it state that she or any of the children can choose when they want to come or not. Also, these documents do not give anyone else the right -- i.e., her mother -- to tell her that the courts have authorized her to stay behind whenever she feels like it. Is there anything that I can do about this? It's such a tough position to be in, because I can't physically make her do anything and I don't want to get into trouble. But I'm missing out on quality time with one of my children and her mother seems to be spearheading this effort, or at a minimum, perpetuating it. Please help! Thanks!
Lately when I go to pick up my three children from their mother's for visitation (court ordered), my oldest daughter -- 14 years -- refuses to come with me. It started several months ago with her calling and asking at the last minute if she could stay behind and hang out with friends. I almost have always okay'd these requests because I know she's a teenager and want to respect her desire to spend time with people her age. However, as of a couple weeks ago she has flat-out refused to come along with me, never really giving an explanation as to why. Last night when I tried to talk to her about it she wouldn't come out of the house, forcing me to have a conversation with her through a closed door. She told me that she doesn't have to come because, "the courts said so." Nowhere in the divorce paperwork or child visitation/custody agreement documents does it state that she or any of the children can choose when they want to come or not. Also, these documents do not give anyone else the right -- i.e., her mother -- to tell her that the courts have authorized her to stay behind whenever she feels like it. Is there anything that I can do about this? It's such a tough position to be in, because I can't physically make her do anything and I don't want to get into trouble. But I'm missing out on quality time with one of my children and her mother seems to be spearheading this effort, or at a minimum, perpetuating it. Please help! Thanks!
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