Ms. Marianne Tucker
Hahn | Walz Attorneys at Law
509 W. Washington Ave.
South Bend, IN 46601
574-400-8702

Dear Ms. Tucker:

We have recently learned that you most likely have made the decision to most likely remove joint physical and legal custody of Olivia and Brody Collins and award sole physical and legal custody to Cam Collins.  He even is discussing now to withhold her the state minimum of Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines. It is beyond ridiculous, baseless and damaging to Olivia and Brody. It would not be in their best interests. As grandparents we have been on the sidelines and watched helplessly as this played out. The degree of miscommunication and misunderstandings between Cam and Melanie has been hurtful for all involved. The struggle between both parents trying to satisfy Olivia's discontent has escalated to another level. 
Olivia is a 12-year-old girl.  She is a child, who should be enjoying her childhood, not in the middle of an ugly "he said/she said and then there is Olivia said".  It is a known fact that most young girls and their mother's do clash from time to time. In Olivia's case she is able to take “problems” with her mom to her father and report how "bad" it is to live with mom and her parenting rules. The Collins family have the means that most folks do not have. They also have a very large family to satisfy Olivia and make dad's house more agreeable to her.  All of those advantages are positive to a point. The Collins family have had all boys in the family for 40 years.  It brings the question do they have a handle on what is really going on with Olivia, is Melanie a "bad mom", or is Olivia testing her boundaries? It is our fear that Olivia is treated more as an adult when she is with the Collins’ family.  She has heard or been told disparaging things about her mother. Olivia is very much aware of her father's hatred toward her mother.  Is it possible that Olivia is wanting very badly to please her father, so he won't leave her again, as he did when he left her mother several years ago?

Brody and Olivia will certainly suffer from this final outcome. Brody has a deep attachment to his mom. Melanie's care of both children could not be better, and Brody's developmental and physical disabilities are proof. Both of which it was Melanie who sought services for those diagnoses to save him. She doesn't favor him over Olivia and would never have a relationship with him that would be inappropriate, as their father so grossly accused. Her attention to his handicaps of type 1 diabetes and autism is exceptional. As his mother she is especially conscious of his ongoing needs.  At times it can be life threatening. Her care on a daily basis is critical to Brody.

Having said all this, we do understand Olivia prefers to be with her father at this point in time.  However, we are asking that you continue to work with Cam and encourage him to foster and mend Olivia's relationship with her mom. Time can heal all wounds if nurtured. We are asking for your consideration regarding Olivia and Brody.  We feel leaving the current parenting schedule for both of them of joint physical and joint legal custody to Melanie will be most beneficial to them. 

Very Truly Yours,

Kenneth S. Solnoky, Sr., Cindy J. Solnoky and Barbara M. Brockhoff

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