Attorney
Set up email just for kids
Tell other parent to use only that email
Don’t mix emails; you should use only this email for kids
Make sure your email account keeps a record of emails you send. If not, BCC yourself on emails
Send lots of emails to third parties: teachers, doctors, day care providers “thank you for meeting with me yesterday. I enjoyed our talk” and now you have a record of the meeting.
Sign up for email newsletters for this account: school, doctors office, camp, day care, etc. But also plans for summer/winter vacations: museum camp, Disney, Smithsonian, ski resorts, all have monthly email newsletters: do not delete them. Let them pile up in your email account.
Set up a family calendar; most are free. Use it. If the other parent doesn’t use it, it’s proof of failure to cooperate in parenting.
Join child-centered organizations: sports (Little League, Peewie soccer), hobbies (model trains), cub scouts, brownies. All museums, zoos and art galleries have groups and activities just for kids (Picasso finger painting, camping at the zoo, Lego robots, etc.)
Whatever you join or do, keep all the stuff: flyers, admission ticket, your kid’s project, and bring it to court.
PICTURES,
PICTURES,
PICTURES,
PICTURES,
PICTURES,
PICTURES,
PICTURES.
Did I mention pictures? Pictures are worth a thousand words. Use the pictures to “testify” in court for you.
Should you secretly record the other parent? Be very careful. Know your law. Parents in jail don’t get custody.
Should you hire a private investigator? It’s very expensive.
The goal is to gather the evidence you can use in court.