I live in Ohio
My daughter was born two years ago. Her father and I were never married or lived together. He never asked to see her and he never provided for her since her birth - I fought for 18 months to obtain child support. I offered visitation and he never wanted it, but once the wage garnishments started, he filed a court order for visitation. Once I received the notice of the court date to establish a temporary visitation order, I provided him with a visitation plan and he signed it and it was admitted in court - Because of her age, and his work schedule - he works second shift - he visits at the sitter's (whom our daughter has been with since birth) two times a week for two hours. We meet every other Saturday for a two hour visitation. He saw her for the first time on 3/11/2008, and has difficulty showing up and actually getting to know her during his visitation. (For example, he goes off and talks on his cellphone, or leaves after an hour).
He recently filed a shared parenting plan in which he proposes to switch to the night shift and watch her all day Mon - Friday (if he can actually be approved for the shift change) and two weekends a month from Friday to Monday. I would have no problem with this except he is still a stranger to our daughter - I feel she needs more time to form a bond with him. I would propose that his parenting time with him be increased more slowly with overnights being introduced closer to her third birthday.
My last concern is that he has married and his spouse calls my daughter a bastard anytime I call their home and I reach her. I am really afraid that she may harm my daughter.
1. Do you think I am being unreasonable with my concerns?
2. Is it likely that the court would permit such an aggressive change in parenting time for a toddler who is a stranger to her dad?
If I'm wrong, please be gentle with me - LOL. But I do want honest feedback!
My daughter was born two years ago. Her father and I were never married or lived together. He never asked to see her and he never provided for her since her birth - I fought for 18 months to obtain child support. I offered visitation and he never wanted it, but once the wage garnishments started, he filed a court order for visitation. Once I received the notice of the court date to establish a temporary visitation order, I provided him with a visitation plan and he signed it and it was admitted in court - Because of her age, and his work schedule - he works second shift - he visits at the sitter's (whom our daughter has been with since birth) two times a week for two hours. We meet every other Saturday for a two hour visitation. He saw her for the first time on 3/11/2008, and has difficulty showing up and actually getting to know her during his visitation. (For example, he goes off and talks on his cellphone, or leaves after an hour).
He recently filed a shared parenting plan in which he proposes to switch to the night shift and watch her all day Mon - Friday (if he can actually be approved for the shift change) and two weekends a month from Friday to Monday. I would have no problem with this except he is still a stranger to our daughter - I feel she needs more time to form a bond with him. I would propose that his parenting time with him be increased more slowly with overnights being introduced closer to her third birthday.
My last concern is that he has married and his spouse calls my daughter a bastard anytime I call their home and I reach her. I am really afraid that she may harm my daughter.
1. Do you think I am being unreasonable with my concerns?
2. Is it likely that the court would permit such an aggressive change in parenting time for a toddler who is a stranger to her dad?
If I'm wrong, please be gentle with me - LOL. But I do want honest feedback!
