I apologize as this is probably inappropriate of me, but I'm having a visceral reaction to the kid's mom. She's letting someone who isn't even related to her child, let alone someone who has issues of his own to cope with, raise her kid?! I am having a failure of empathy here.

It's not inappropriate. It's totally INSANE! This woman is not raising her own child! I feel so badly for R. His father lives near my parents (less than 5 miles away) and has only seen him ONCE in two years. The kid is a throw away. If it weren't for my family, I don't know where he would be. I hate her.

Why can't she pay to have her own child come visit her? I assume she's in financial straits?

Financial straits = refuses to work

My brother can't work because of his illness. He collects less than $1000 a month SSDI and he gets no support for R. R gets Medicaid, free lunches and his school fees are paid by the state but my family feeds and clothes him.

He's a bright, well-behaved kid and I love him. I just resent being guilted into providing something for his pathetic excuse for a mother.

And $300? that's the price of a ticket.

I think that's the idea.

Does anyone have more info on the airplane escort thing? My bf's son is coming for Xmas, and even though his ex got married and moved to Penn. in the last month, she's asking for him to help pay for an extra ticket, so she can fly with him to KC and back. Even though she agreed, when she brought up moving, which was not in their divorce agreement, that they would take care of travel.

And she's putting him in a private school that's $1100 a month. And asking for extra money for tuition. Above the $700 a month child support. And private prep school was not in the divorce agreement, either.

Er. So. Escort info?

Erin, here's SW's policy: [link]

Each airline might be a bit different. If his son is very young, it might be reasonable to buy the extra ticket. Airline attendants can't be with the child every minute, you don't know who he'll be sitting next to, and there are sometimes problems.

And she's putting him in a private school that's $1100 a month. And asking for extra money for tuition. Above the $700 a month child support. And private prep school was not in the divorce agreement, either.

If she wants more money, then she can go to court and have the agreement modified. I presume that the custody agreement spells out when he is entitled to visits? If so, then it is her reponsibility to get the kid there if she agreed. How old is the kid?

oh noes, msbelle. You're right, it's way better than physically lashing out, but still... not looking forward to that one.

On Monday, Isaac tried to bite my face. I know he's just been wound up and overtired lately, but I found it pretty disturbing. I was holding him and he got mad and tried to bite me, so I put him down and DH picked him up. Then Isaac started crying and wanting me to hug him.

Erin, would it be worth it to him to revist the custody agreement through the courts? Because those details may need to be worked out and put in writing. If he verbally agrees and pays these costs, it may be harder to argue against paying them later.

Each airline's policy is different regarding minors flying. The age (and maturity) of the child greatly weigh in on that.

If she wants more money, then she can go to court and have the agreement modified. I presume that the custody agreement spells out when he is entitled to visits? If so, then it is her reponsibility to get the kid there if she agreed.

word. stick to the details laid out in the agreement.

man parents being assholes at the expense of the child and the child's relationship with the other parent - pisses me off!

Cash said it nicer than me. I'm tired of people trying to take advantage of my friends.

Cash, I agree with what everyone else is saying about not paying for an escort. But I also want to say, you're taking the right route by focusing on the mother. In particular, remember that it isn't R's fault that his parents are so screwed up.

Cash always takes the right route, from what I've seen.