Ex-MIL called DH again today to discuss an action plan. DH told her that she needs to start calling CPS on BM when she knows something is going on and filing a police report and ex-MIL agreed to comply. At least in this manner, BM will be somewhat kept in check and there will be documented proof of her neglect.

Ex-MIL also told DH that there is never any food in BM's house and that SD11 goes around picking up all the wine bottles herself because there are so many. She also told DH that BM has been calling SD9 fat to her face, telling her she can't have cake, etc. because she is too fat. Now SD9 is a little overweight, but in my opinion that is BM's fault. She doesn't have her in any activities and only feeds them junk food when she does decide to feed them.

This breaks my heart. How can someone be so cruel to their own children? What kind of person is this? I couldn't imagine treating my children this way. Between ex-MIL and the SD's all covering for BM, DH and I only knew what they were telling us since we only have them every other weekend. Now that everything is coming to light, DH and I can't justify not pursuing custody at this point. I suppose we should have suspected she had gotten worse considering that lately even SD5, who used to always cry for her mother, doesn't want to go back home at the end of the weekend.

The plan right now is to take custody of SD9 after this school year (she is staying with ex-MIL at the moment and don't want her to change schools again). After that we will need a strategy to get SD5 and SD11 out of there, but we are taking it one step at a time.