Ask Me Help Desk - Parental rights

I guess I didn't give enough information.my children are in Missouri.I am 38 and by now I should have ny life figured out but I don't. The reason my mother wants me to give up my rights is the fact that she has had them for the past 10 years. I gave her guardianship of them when they were 3&4 they know I am there mother but they have grown up with her and they don't know me that well. She can provide for them better then I can. I can't give them the life that they are used to and that would not be fair to them. I LOVE THEM WITH ALL MY HEART! That's why I am willing to do this for them someday I hope they will understand why but if they don't that is my loss. So what do I need to do?

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Originally Posted by jennmari

i guess i didnt give enough information.my children are in missouri.i am 38 and by now i should have ny life figured out but i dont. the reason my mother wants me to give up my rights is the fact that she has had them for the past 10 years. i gave her guardianship of them when they were 3&4 they know i am there mother but they have grown up with her and they dont know me that well. she can provide for them better then i can. i can't give them the life that they are used to and that would not be fair to them. I LOVE THEM WITH ALL MY HEART! thats why i am willing to do this for them someday i hope they will understand why but if they dont that is my loss. so what do i need to do?

I give you a lot of credit- thinking of the children first. You'll probably need to get a lawyer or if you don't have the money go to legal aid, then a court date, and it will be final. Not very hard to do. But you may be able to get legal forms online, the library or the courthouse and file them yourself. Just really think about it, and make sure this is what you absolutely want to do.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jennmari

i guess i didnt give enough information.my children are in missouri.i am 38 and by now i should have ny life figured out but i dont. the reason my mother wants me to give up my rights is the fact that she has had them for the past 10 years. i gave her guardianship of them when they were 3&4 they know i am there mother but they have grown up with her and they dont know me that well. she can provide for them better then i can. i can't give them the life that they are used to and that would not be fair to them. I LOVE THEM WITH ALL MY HEART! thats why i am willing to do this for them someday i hope they will understand why but if they dont that is my loss. so what do i need to do?

Difficult question to try to help you with!! Very difficult but let me think and tell you what I am thinking. First your life will never be perfect, no one's is, remember that, don't try to be perfect, no one is ! The kids have grown to know and love your mother and she apparently has given them the basic things kids need like food, shelter, love, attention. If you can do the same for them (and only you and your mother and hopefully some disinterested third party such as a minister that knows all of you can decide that) then I cannot see why you should give her your parental rights. Why not become more involved with them first, take it slow, move close to them, see them very very regularly, see how it goes for you, them and your mother, take a day, a week, a year at a time. But the only way it might work is that you are more often involved in their lives, regularly, often with little or no breaks away from them, know what they are doing every day and vice versa. Hope this helps and let us know how it's going if you go this way. Others do care.