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Routine Queens 🇬🇧

Doing the right thing…

Hi everyone, I currently have a daughter with my partner. We our currently living in our in-laws annex whilst we save for a mortgage. Our in laws look after our niece, who is nearly 18 months. She stays around every other weekend.

We don’t see her often, however, when we do we like to make a fuss of her and our daughter as they are only 11 months apart from one another.

I have noticed that when she stays over, her parents pack her dirty clothes. My in laws wash it for her, ensuring she is returned home with clean clothing. I’ve noticed her nails always toenails always seem long, and are never cut.

I held my partners niece today and she smelt. She smelt of a cheesy build up, like she hadn’t been cleaned properly in days. Behind her ears, in between her fingers and toes etc.

I’ve heard now that her parents put their child to bed every night at 11pm so she sleeps through until 9 the next morning. If she isn’t at our in laws every other weekend, she’s with a different grandparent or great grandparent.

I know every parent is different, but a part of my worries about this little girl. She doesn’t get taken to the park, she doesn’t interact, she doesn’t get taken to baby groups, soft play, or nursery. Shes hardly ever taken out unless it’s to a family member’s house.

My partner’s brother, who is the father asks for money from his family constantly. They appear to be able to go out drinking every weekend, but do not take this little darling out at all. She doesn’t work, however I noticed she manages to have her nails, lips filled, sun bed topped up every so often,

I really want to say something, but feel like it is not my place to say. I don’t know whether to say something to my partner, however, I doubt he will mention it to his brother.

I just don’t want this to be ongoing for when she ends up going to school and this being picked up by others in the future. I worry that her parents won’t change there ways.

Any advice on what to do would be appreciated.