Visitation with Child

Butt in.
Some men seem to avoid confrontation and therefore avoid situations. Now it's been a year and soon it will be two years and the longer he goes without seeing his daughter, the harder it will be to reconnect.

I understand when people are telling you to stay out of it but I'm thinking about the young girl. This will impact her the rest of her life. The rejection and confusion a child must feel when betrayed by a man who should love her most is traumatic. The relationships she will have as an adult woman may be impacted by the lack of her father's presence.

You are a wonderful aunt. Just try to get through to him. If he won't listen to you, try to find a good book specifically written for fathers about the impact of divorce on a child. Go on Amazon.com, look up the topic and read reviews. Maybe he will listen to an "expert".

I am divorced. My daughter's father is the best Dad in the world to her. Thank God b/c we made the best of a bad situation.
I say butt in for your nieces sake. If your brother refuses to listen, then follow the other's advice and be as much a part of this girls life as you can. Filling the void of an absent father will be near impossible but having your love, attention and devotion to this young girl will be something she needs.

Above all...make sure this little girl knows that SHE did nothing wrong. She is NOT the reason her father is not a part of her life. Children blame themselves and wonder what they did wrong to be rejected. Find the words to reassure her that this was his problem, not of her doing.

Keep trying, don't lose sight of her. Good luck.

I have an uncle similar to ur brother. My uncle has three children all by different women and is not married to any of them. It's sad that the children are the ones who suffer from the neglect. Of course his daughter feels the neglect form her dad, children can sense alot whether we know it or not. My mother who is the aunt to the kids ALWAYS has them and i mean always...lol...she feels that if her brother isnt going to make sure that they are familiar with their family and know that this side of the family does love them.. Since she has bn doing this my uncle has bn doing a tad bit better. Maybe if u get her sometimes that will open up his eyes. Hope this helps.

Let it go. This is between him and his daughter. If he doesn't see the importance of having a relationship with his daughter then that IS the relationship.

I'd stay out of his relationship but make extra effort to develop your own relationship with your niece. She realizes, believe me, and having contact with you might open a bridge.

I have a 10yr old daughter. She does see her dad every 1st, 3rd, & 5th weekends. She realizes when he doesn't come and misses him. I also have a neighbor with a 6yr old daughter whose dad does not see her. She also realizes he doesn't come. If you are worried about your neice and her mother is cool with it, I would invite her to spend time with her cousins. If your brother wants to have the attitude that his relationship with his daughter is none of your business....well, YOUR relationship with YOUR neice is none of your brother's business either. There shouldn't be anything wrong with talking to your ex-sis-in-law and seeing your neice.

Once the kids get older, your neice and her siblings, they may want to spend time together. And when they are in high school and able to drive, etc. they can make that happen if they'd like. Whether at home or your house or somewhere else. But I wouldn't butt in to your brother and his daughter's relationship. You never know what's going on there.

Be the best aunt you can be...you can't make him do anything and why would you? His efforts with his daughter should be genuine from the heart not because his sister forced him to...Time Heals...If you are really concerned spend time with your niece ( the things that you would like to see him do, you can do with her- birthdays, school programs, etc. Help her get connected with her other siblings(especially if they're blood related)...it's important that they know each other if not but for the little time that you have to offer(pic them all up and go to the park or take them to your house to relax and interact with each other). Any kid wants to feel connected and the more and stronger the connections the better. Think about this, it could get to the point(depending on age) where those other two kids might start asking their dad, hey can my sister come over or I want my sister to come to my birthday party? and there you go...