Thread: Poll: Would you let your small child be taken out of the Country by their Father?

Ok, here is the scenario:

A good friend of mine has a 14 month old son. The Father of the child is a legal immigrant from Mexico. She and the Father had a brief affair that only lasted a few weeks and created the child. He faithfully pays child support and seems responsible, but has never kept the child overnight or had him alone for more than a few hours at a time.

The Father is planning to soon visit his family in Mexico for a three week stay. He is asking if he can take the child with him to see his family and to meet the grandparents. The grandfather is sick and is not expected to live much longer. The Mother has full custody and the Father sees the child usually one day a week (on Saturday.)

Considering all of the diseases that the child is too young to be inoculated for that he could be exposed to while there, plus the fact that his medical insurance is not valid out of the country, plus him being so young and in the care of someone that has not even taken care of him for more than a few hours at a time, would you even consider this?

Personally there is no way I would even consider it, especially at his age and I have advised her not to. I also asked her to make an appointment with the child's doctor and ask his opinion as well before even thinking about allowing it to happen. I also think she should contact the police just to make sure of where she stands and what recourse she has if by some chance he decided not to come back.

I just am curious as to what you guys think.

Andrea

No way!

I picked the last choice. There is no way it would ever happen.

Hang on now justme, no one ever said he was a deadbeat Father. I actually said just the opposite. He does pay his child support faithfully, he did immigrate here legally and overall, he has definitely been a responsible person. That is not the issue though, the issue is the safety and health of the child who is that young.

As far as other people making it their business, she asked for my opinion and I told her that I personally would not do it if it were my child. Like I said in my post, I suggested that she talk to the baby's Dr. and ask him what he thought. There are diseases over there that we do not have here. There are some immunizations he would have to get before he could go that he cannot legally get until he is at least 2 years old. He is immunized and protected from the commonly known diseases we have here.

I respect your opinion and I know that the grandfather seeing the child before he passes is important, but does the want of the grandfather to see the child outweigh the risk involved to the child?

Like I said, the baby's medical coverage will not cover him if he gets sick over there, so how does the Mom know that he can or will be treated if he does get sick?

All I was asking was opinions about whether or not you would personally allow your own child that young to go knowing the risks involved and the history.

Andrea

You are correct turbob, the Mother has only had contact with the Father. They dated for a few weeks and broke up. She found out she was pregnant after the split.

Also, the Mother just recently started a new job and has no vacation time built up yet. If she were to take the time and go, she would lose out on almost a month of pay, which she cannot afford to do and she would most likely lose the job as well.