Hi, I recently had some strange dreams about my ex-partner and her being with someone else. It felt weird. I woke up early and couldn't fall back asleep because I was worrying about something regarding my kids. My ex's reluctance to agree to a custody schedule and to work on opposite days from me is affecting our children.

In the past, we always worked opposite shifts and had one day off together each week. Our children have never been to daycare; instead, we relied on family to watch them when we were at work. I'm concerned because if my ex takes the kids and is also working, her mother will end up caring for them.

During our separation, my ex's mother has left poop on my child during exchanges. She doesn’t have a car seat for the children, smokes cigarettes in the house, and has significant health issues, including a bad knee (she’s had a knee replacement), a bad back, and cardiac health problems. She usually just sits and watches TV all day with the kids and only occasionally interacts or does school activities with our oldest. She rarely changes the youngest child's diaper; in fact, during the most recent separation, she watched the youngest only once, and the next day, the child had a severe diaper rash.

The more I think about it, the more I believe that if my ex doesn’t agree to the custody agreement or private mediation, I should consider pursuing emergency custody.

I can't get over how frustrated I am my ex MIL will be watching the children this week.