Just wondering if any of you have any experience or opinion on this one:
We have 50/50 placement and currently have a GAL appointed to come up with a workable placement schedule since BM and her fiance work every other day 24 hour shifts as EMTs. DH is a pilot who can be gone for up to 4 days at a time. I am home right now with my 10 month old. So GAL sent out a letter essentially stating that BM/SD should be entitled to have the kids always on their days off due to their job. GAL also said that DH's work schedule was of no concern due to the fact that "it wasn't consistent" and "his wife was available to care for the children on any day that DH was not available." (GAL's exact words by the way). This conclusion was reached without GAL bothering to speak with me at all. Under these standards, I could be left with the skids for days on end 24hours because both bioparents are working. Basically, I'm expected to be available for the skids because BM/DH/SD are all working nontraditional jobs. WHAT>>>???? I, of course, sent of a letter off to our lawyer expressing concern that a person (ME) who has no legal rights to be involved in Mediation or litigation would be suddenly considered for the purpose of child care. I also stated that this set up entitled BM/SD to a dual income home with no day care costs, while DH and I were forced to choose between a single income home or incurring enormous day care costs. So here's my thoughts. I'm going to be charging both DH and BM for daycare (like $5 and hour) for the times that both of them are working and unavailable to care for skids. At the end of the month, I will submit an invoice and have DH actually pay me (creating a paper trail of cancelled checks etc). Legally, I believe that BM would be responsible for paying half of daycare costs, (not sure if I have any legal ground as a stepmom though to charge her though). I'm checking with my lawyer on the logistics of this in my state. Just curious on what you all think about this??