Ok,ok...perhaps this issue was a bad place to start with venting about the mom in question.

It's a long story,I suppose. No,she's not illiterate. She's a professional career woman and well educated.

My guess is that Mom sees reading to him as a hassle.

The mom in question spends zero time with the kid. He's with me or the grandparents most of the time. I've tried "reaching her" as far as saying,"Hey,lady...you gave birth to him,not me. YOU be the parent." She is not receptive to listening.

Anyway...forgive my senseless ranting. I suppose you'd have to know the whole story to really be sympathetic to where I'm coming from. It's just that yesterday was my breaking point.

My husband says I need to "let go" of what happens when he's not here and just concentrate on making the most of when he's here.
Maybe taking some deep breaths might help *breathes deep*

Now,here's a nice clincher though...
I found out (from the mom) that when they leave my house in the evening(on the days she does pick him up),he falls asleep in the car and she just takes him in and puts him to bed. No dinner or anything. Now THAT is bordering on neglectful. It also means she's spending less time with him than I originally thought. Hmmm.....

I think my biggest problem with the whole thing:
Why do people have children if they don't take care of them