Contempt of Court?

[Grunt]

I am a father of a 2 and a half year old son. Recently when we were downstairs watching a movie i went to the bathroom and a second later he started crying. He ended up putting both hands on the carosine heater. After this happened i told his mother and i took him to the doctors where his mother met me. He ended up getting first degree and a little second degree burns on his hands. This weekend was suppose to be my weekend to have my son. I pay her child support every week and also help her out whenever she needs it, although we don't go through domestics. But we do have a custody order that states i get him every other weekend and every Tuesday night into Wednesday. Well she will not let me see him this weekend. She said he is under doctors care (we both live in the same town) and shes keeping him. She will not give him up. Then i find out her dad watched him all day today when she worked and after she got off work he took him to Walmart to get him a toy and then she went to Walmart for over a hour. I mean if he is to sick to see me but her father can watch him? Is there something i can do? This greatly upsets me i do not see my son that much now she is keeping him from me. Would this be grounds for contempt of court?

 

[WhirledPeas]

Sorry your little guy got hurt. Yes, this would be grounds for contempt of court, but likely not worth the trouble. You may try asking her for a replacement weekend first, while firmly letting her know that you expect to be caring for him in the future when it's your time, no matter what.

You also might look into a first aid course, and casually mention to her that you're doing so. She may have some doubts about your ability to care for the boy when he's hurt for some reason, and a first aid course is a simple way to reassure her in addition to reassuring yourself that you have up-to-date information about how to care for any future injuries that may occur. If you have a decent relationship with her, invite her to attend a first aid with you, heck - offer to pay for her class too.

You've got a long road of co-parenting ahead of you. Kindness is contagious.

 

[ohiogranny]

It's not contempt unless you actually went to pick him up, and she denied you (preferrably with a witness or a police report) and it may take several denials before you could file.

The first aid course is an excellent idea, for any parent. And I guess you learned the hard way that heaters and toddlers don't mix. You're lucky she didn't try to charge you with neglect (I know, accidents happen, but she could have made a huge issue out of it).

 

[jackson101]

First of all you should never leave any 2 year old alone for any length of time because they can move quick and get into a great deal of stuff in seconds it seems. I would also take a first aid course and you have to understand a mother is very protective of her children. I would ask could you at least come see him at her home for supervised visits and let her know you are taking a first aid course and reading something on parenting toddlers and let her know what you have learned. This may put her mind at ease and she will probaly let him come back over. Good luck. Never leave any child alone for any period of time at that age. Next time take him with you because they are not capable of telling hot from cold really at that age. Teach him that is hot and do not touch.