Can I get custody of my boyfriend's niece?
Hi. My bf's niece doesn't have a happy home life, and I believe she would be better off living with us. We have been together for 9 years and lived together for 6 or 7.
Of course we'd have to get a bigger apt as the one we live in now is fairly small for just the 2 of us and my pets. The mother is out all the time and screams at her daughter a lot and allegedly locks her daughter in a closet I think as a time out.
My bf's niece absolutely loves me and even called me "Mommy" recently and I joked saying "I'm not your mommy" lol and she said "I want you to be my mommy". It's kind of sad that someone so young (She's incredibly smart, and only almost 5!) notices/realizes that her mom is not home a lot (her parents take care of her most of the time as she still lives at home) and she does get to see her dad but he gets into a lot of trouble for various things.
I don't want to cause any problems or risk having her put in foster care and possibly not seeing her again. I also don't want the parents to retaliate against me as they have anger problems and they can be very violent people.
My boyfriend and I have had several major blowouts throughout our relationship and they have been scary-his niece actually witnessed him kind of hit me in the face (because I was trying to pop a pimple or something) and she said "Uncle hit Auntie" I left his mom's apt and walked home. She was bawling when I left.. she's probably used to seeing people who are supposed to love her, leave her so often because ever since she was born she's been handed over to either my boyfriend and myself, my bf's mom, and/or his niece's grandparents.
She's not a stable child and has some separation anxiety and gets extremely jealous.. one time when his niece came with us to a playground, his best friends, his girlfriend and their daughter were at his bff's parents' house and I was putting on his bff's daughter coat on and she said "THAT'S MY AUNTIE!" which is kind of cute but also kind of a little alarming/disturbing.
I love that she feels safe with me and I give her a lot of hugs and kisses and I constantly tell her I love her and "Even if Auntie gets mad at you, remember I will always love you" I asked her one time (when she was jealous at a little girl for being closer to me) "Do you think that girl will take me away from you?" She said "Yes" I said baby, no one will take me away from you, and I can't go with her anyway she has her own parents etc.
I would absolutely LOVE to adopt her even though she can be very tough to deal with but I feel she'd have a better life with us. Sorry for rambling but this is a touchy subject.