Out of State Parent

I live in Texas and my daughter resides in N.Y.C. Her mother did not want her to come visit me at all. We went to court and the judge ruled that i be granted visitation every summer provided that i pay round trip airfare and have her home in time to go to school. I have sent round trip plan tickets several times over the past three years and guess what , I have not seen my daughter in three years . First it was just her mom being cruel to me ,then it was my daughters becoming a teenager ,getting a boyfrind at the age of thirteen, and finding texas very boring compared to New York that has not let me see her . My point is you can go to court over and over and in the end it is going to be up to you parents to be civil and come to an agreement. Getting a out of state parent into court may be impossible usually these cases will be handeled via telephone confrence provide that the parent has been petitioned. Try doing that from another state and see what happens . Ask him to pay the airfare round trip and work out a visitation plan. If not agree on joint custody as long as he takes care of the travel plans. Save your attorney fees, and mediation headaches ,and if it doesnt work out then make him take you to court. It will be his responsibility if he wants to see his kid to do that. You will have not broken any laws and wont get in trouble. Just do not let your kids see you arguing ,and do not get your personal feelings involved keep your childs best interest at heart ,and all will work out.