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irene95 · Mar 1, 2012, 07:03 PM

My brother and his girlfriend are not good parents and well they should have never had a kid . Well my nephew is 5 years old and I spend most my time with him . His mother is reading most the time or doing something and well my brother is on a game almost all day and night . I might be a kid myself but I know I can do so much better for him .

JudyKayTee · Mar 1, 2012, 07:31 PM

Go to Court and file for custody - be prepared to be denied unless you can prove the parents are a danger to the child, either emotionally or physically.

Are you able to provide financially for the child (which is pretty much a side issue)?

OR you can ask the parents to give you guardianship by signing the appropriate papers.

Reading all the time or being "on a game" all the time does not make them bad parents - unless I'm missing something. Perhaps they are somewhat neglectful but as 5 years old the child should be somewhat self sufficient and able to entertain himself when not in school.

How old are you?

irene95 · Mar 5, 2012, 06:33 PM

I'm almost 17

Synnen · Mar 5, 2012, 08:59 PM

You're not going to get custody--someone still has custody of YOU!

I'd like to point out that my husband plays video games half the week after work, and I read all the time. We have a child. Reading and playing video games doesn't make you a bad parent--it makes you a person with interests outside of your child.

Is the child clean, well-fed, and cared for? If so, you have the wrong idea on what parenting is. I do not have to, nor do I, entertain my son constantly. In fact, he is playing on the floor in the same room as me, but he's doing his thing and I'm doing mine. I make sure he can't hurt himself, and check on him consistently, but I'm not constantly playing with him at all.

Is there more to this than what you originally said?

ScottGem · Mar 6, 2012, 04:45 AM

You are not going to get custody, so forget that idea. You will have to wait until you are, at least 18, and can prove you can financially provide for the child to even think of applying for custody.

But lets look at the situation. You say you spend most of your time with him. Do you live with your brother and his girlfriend? Do they have custody over you? Or do they lives with your parents all together? How old are your brother and his girlfriend? Does your brother work?

As asked, is the child healthy, properly fed and clothed? Is the only issue that his parents don't pay enough attention to him?

You need to provide more details here for us to help you further.