That will be so important for him, just knowing he has some folks who care and are willing to spend time with him. It's great he has a friend in your son; they are 'cousins' after all. I hope your brother-in-law can get custody. It sounds like the boy's mom is a real FLAKE!
Most definitely. Earlier this year my sister-and-law and her husband went to Israel. His mom refused to let him go (which actually we thought was rather sane of her). But this summer she's tried to talk him into going with her and her new guy to Lebanon...
Most recently she showed up at an Orthodox funeral in full Muslim regalia...