[janeb]

I am currently in a custody battle with my x over my 13 year 3 mo. Old son. HIs father left him at my house almost 8 months ago. We have joint custody however I do not get child support nor have I ever. My son has only heard from his dad 4 or 5 times since he left him at my house in February. Well He got a call from a doctors office about a medical bill regarding my son and was asked to pay it by the dr's office - he told them he would have to call back less than 2 hours later he shows up at my house wanting to pick up my son. My son told him he did not want to go with him etc. Well his dad stands there and tells him I will make you come with me - no better yet I will make your mama give you to me. Then he smiles a sadistic smile and says get a lawyer. Then he calls the police and then an officer calls me and tells me if I am intereferring with custody that he would arrest me etc. I told him it was my sons choice not mine etc. Well he told me he was not old enough to make that decision etc. So I agreed for him to pick him up on his Friday ( we are supposed to go week to week rotating.) Well my son at this point tells me his stepmom is slapping and hitting him when he was there 8 months ago and he doesn't want to go there anymore. I got an attorney and had a temp custody hearing scheduled for today but on Monday it was cancelled and rescheduled a month later. My son is absolutely fearful that his father is going to go to the school and attempt to pick him up. My son stated he will not go with him, he will fight not to get in the car. I am just worried and stressed - I have told child protective services - the will do nothing it was 8 months ago and sheriffs office will not get involved because it's a custody issue and nothing states that he doesn't have to go. So I am at a loss of ideas and just waiting on court case Oct 25 and I have a mediation meeting scheduled through my attorney on Oct 2nd. My son doesn't want to go to his dads he advised he will go out to eat with him or something like that but that is all. Any ideas?

[s_cianci]

Unfortunately there's probably little you can do at this point until the court intervenes. The issue of his stepmother slapping him, etc. if it indeed happened, should have been addressed 8 months ago, when it first happened. Maybe your son could plead with his dad to just take him out to eat, etc. not to his house where the stepmother is.