Immature parents fighting over/raising my nephew

by concerned aunt

I have a nephew, who, unfortunately, has sucky parents. my sister and his father are separated (thank god). his father never keeps a job. the longest he ever stayed at a job was just under a year, which he ended up screwing up by getting a dwi. he lives with his mother and is 28 years old. he always makes sure he gets my nephew on his weekends, although he never sees him. he just drops him off with my nephews grandmother, and goes off partying with his druggy friends and new girlfriend.

I do feel sorry for my sister because he never helps her out. complains when she asks him or his mother for help. when she went she went to court for child support, her lawyer, which she didnt know at the time, knew his father so didnt help her out much. and at the end of the hearing the lawyer told him that he could still see my nephew even if he didnt pay child support. and that if my sister refused to let him see him she could get thrown in jail. nice huh?

I'm not trying to make my sister look like the victim here. my nephew is. i mean, my sister isnt the best mother either. when she is single she does a decent job at raising him. she goes out with her friends on the weekends my nphew is with his dad (grandmother). its the when she has a boyfriend that she sucks at being a mother.

I dont know how she does it, but she always manages to pick these guys who hate kids. its like she ignores my nephew and usually sends him to my moms house, or i end up taking care of him. on several occasions he has called me "Mom" ( did i mention im only 22 years old and am more of a mother to him than my sister is). it makes me feel so sorry for him. its like he doesnt know his parents. his father is more like a big brother to him. and his mother, my sister, is a %&*^@$$. my nephew is an awesome kid. he is funny,smart,loves to sing and dance, and loves wrestling. he is only 5 years old, but is more mature than his parents.

All i know is that when he turns 12 years old i hope he doesnt choose to live with either of his parents. i hope he chooses my mother or my husband and i. if i had the money to take them to court to fight for custody i sure as hell will. so for now i'll be here for him when he needs me.


If anyone knows if there is anything that i could do as far as custody wise, info would be greatly appreciated.