Does take care of the children? Drive them around? Help them with homework and baths? Cook, shop, and clean for them? Play with them?

Does she do any of that? Or does she neglect them?

winx...in all fairness...those things can be done by a single mom that works too. you know that...you are a great mom that works

well as soon as we split up she met a new man and started to seriously neglect my kids this is a woman who circled her life around our kids and now just doesnt care, we split up very recently i call my children every morning and night when they arent with me to say goodmorning and goodnight so that they know im there the mom can go a full week without even talking to them one bit, but if you go back four months ago, she would probably be crying every one of those nights... she has changed for the worse

if it helps at all...just know that you are doing the right thing for your kids. you seem like a great dad

she does the bare minimum with them puts them to bed sooner then they should so she can be with this man, and he is there every single day morning and night but doesnt live there and she claims that its not her boyfriend, im a single father of two who has to run a buisness be a daddy son friend and so much more all i want is someone to appreciate that, i started very young and have accomplished so much while there mom sat back and coasted off of me .. i love the women and always will im the one who needs her help

Is it possible that she is suffering from depression?

That is quite a change. She was caring and then cries every night and now doesn't talk to them.

I would keep an eye of this situation.

How do you know this about her?

no she would be crying three months ago if she went even a day withou seeing our kids.. now she doesnt seem to mind if they are gone it seems like she cares about this new man more then our kids...my son is a sponge and hears and sees everything

kids see and hear more than people give them credit for

as well we talk sometimes. she is very negative and hates me i made her move out of my house and i stopped paying for all her bills. i gave her 2 months to find work and a home to support herself and she thought i was joking

after a year of paying, and knowing it was not used for child, I filed and got cust, BUT because she does not work, court said she did not have to pay!!! I was told if could not pay better get a second job or go to jail. what the H#@* ???? man gets screwed!!!!!!

yeah they do and thats why im upset my son saw her on top of a man naked.... its wrong and disgusting and its very disrespectful of the guy... i would love to approach him but dont know how to without getting into trouble... just the other day i caught my daughter straddling my son kissing with open mouths and my son says well " mommy loves the other guy and i love my sister thats how they kiss"

so what would happen if the man didn't work...would they tell the woman to get a 2nd job?

Father's rights??

What rights did I have when my ex took my daughter and bolted, leaving the state without my permission?

What rights did I have when I went to the FOC ( Friend of the Court ) and they told me that I had to find her before I could get them to do anything???

What rights have I had in the last ten years since the last time I saw my daughter???

Of course, it was perfectly alright for her to bolt like that since we were never married and had no court ordered custody agreement.

That's the #1 reason I am divorcing my ex-common law wife.

Marriage, it's just a piece of paper right?
WRONG

I just don't get the world today

Your exactly right, when there are kids involved. That is EXACTLY what I heard about marriage for 9 years. She probably never considered we were, but fortunately I can prove otherwise. So we will see how it goes. All of this just to get some legal custody of my son, she has a surprise being served next Monday

I wish you the best of luck

Well, before she passed away my wife and I went through a long custody battle and I "won".... there are no winners by the way.... but anyways it's been a long road and I wouldn't have done it any other way. My son is ten now and I've raised him alone since he was two.
One thing I am thankful for is not having to put up with the crap I hear all of you have gone through.
If there is one thing I can offer, its to keep it civil. You and the ex may not be able to stand each other anymore, but do your best not to be the bad apple and set a good example for your kid(s). Life isn't always fair, and you may not get what you want, but at least you can hold your head up and know you did your best. Be a responsible parent and always place the kids needs first, period.