Thank you for your input. I do understand the importance of sibs learning how to care for one another. But I do not agree with the 9y/o bathing him with NO ADULT SUPERVISION. Even CPS told her this was wrong. When CPS made the follow up at her house and took pics of where the bathroom was and where mom was sitting, she said "under no circumstances should one CHILD be bathing another". So I guess even they feel something was not right about that situation.

My point is.... Why would she tell sd to LIE to her dad? Why did she not think it was important that THEIR daughter had to have a face/face with a cps worker? I thought judges frowned on folks that do not communicate well. This was a very traumatic event in sd's life, her dad should have been notified. Since this incident has occured, sd has become easily irriated and cries for no reason. She is a very immature 9y/o (just turned) last month. From what the family friend told us, (that was at hosp after the accident happened), sd showed NO emotion, not a tear, not a "I'm Sorry", not anything. It was like she didn't even grasp the idea that he was hurt pretty bad. Hubby thinks sd needs counseling. Mom said "if my kids need to talk to anyone, it will be me". So don't even know if he should even try to push that one.

I would never ever try to take the bound away from her and her sibs. I agree with you on that. Either 1/2, step, real or whatever, they are all just kids. My kids and sd's have been a part of each other's lives for like 6-7 yrs now. So yeah, they do fight like real sibs sometimes.

As far as the school district. We only live 10mins from mom. Since we currently have Thurs night on his weekend and Wed night the other week, we bring them to school already on those next mornings. We would continue to do this if she extended visitation. I told my hubby that maybe she would be more inclinded to think about it if we could divide it up where they weren't gone a whole week. Like do alternating days. But we already to whole week / whole week during summer and I am afraid that would confuse things with the kids.

Any advice is welcomed and again, Thanks.

Forgot to add....15y/o has asked mom before (back in Dec) if we could do wk/wk all year like in summer. Mom got MAD. Said "Hell NO, and don't you go asking your daddy either". So we know the girls want to spend more time with dad just as much as he wants to see them more. Why is it so bad that Dad's want to spend more time with thier children? I would think this would be a GOOD thing?