- Jurisdiction
- Louisiana
I have a thirteen-year-old who is wanting to spend more time with his friends and school activities. He also does not always want to attend visitation with his dad, but I always make him wait before having him call his dad and ask for permission to swap out or change visitation. There have been occasions where he wanted to spend time with activities and I already had tickets purchased for my schedule weekend, and I've called his dad myself and explained that. Ie instead of just swapping out weekends he would actually skip a visitation because I already had plans. I have also ALWAYS given more time during the holidays than what was agreed upon in our custody agreement. I always thought that was important especially when the kids were younger (two are already over 18). Now I have had the younger one ask on occasion does he have to go for as long, and well in truth according to the custody agreement is no he doesn't. But I haven't had to enforce it because I've been able to convince him to go for the extra days. Again, I feel it's important for the kids to spend as much time with dad as possible. The problem I'm running into now is that dad is getting upset because his child is asking more and more to skip or change visitation. I've never "let" the child stay home if dad does not agree or give permission. I have also changed out weekends with him when he had issues with work or wanted to do something and I also call if I wish to change out weekends and ask him. When the child was younger he would cry not wanting to go, and I would put him in the car and drive him there, but I would make his dad talk to him about it. He has begun to threaten to take me to court, and I'm sorta like please do. I've never asked for an increase in child support. My daughter did temporarily live with him for about six months and at that time he tried to say she could decide if she wanted to come visit or not and I told him no, she had to call me and ask for permission which I gave, except for the holidays I insisted she come home for a while and visit the rest of my family. Long story short, I want to do what is best for the child (which I feel visiting dad is important), but at the same time I feel he should have some say in visitation and what he wants to do. He's never missed more than one visit, and has always seen dad at least once a month most times twice. At what age do the courts listen to the child and consider reducing visitation based upon the child's wishes? If you asked my son, he would prefer to go only once a month, with the longer holidays like I already grant.
Oh and just for clarification, Dad gets most of summer vacation, with me having two weeks during the summer for myself and the kids. I have also been very generous with that two weeks as well.
Oh and just for clarification, Dad gets most of summer vacation, with me having two weeks during the summer for myself and the kids. I have also been very generous with that two weeks as well.
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