Dealing with split visitation of my 12 year old son. How does shared parenting actually affect the child. Co-parenting with a nincompoop!

Monday, July 21, 2008

Finding the courage to do what is right for the child

I know that it is actually the child that suffers when his/her parents are fighting. It is just hard to always be the one to have to back off because I am tired of my son suffering. When is enough going to be enough. I will admit that I have let my emotions get the best of me more than once and have said things about my son's dad right to him, yes I know that is wrong and I do not do it intentionally. It is hard having to stand back and watch the way my son's dad chooses to raise him on his weeks, and who he has my son being taking around. My son's dad has always bought his affection, I cannot afford to give my son the things that his dad can afford to give him. His dad fought to not have to pay me child support, and kept it in court and would not give up with all of his slander and parent alienation about me to my son. So of course I went ahead and agreed to him not paying me child support because of my son and I just wanted it out of the court. My son was really tired of all of the court fights/battles. I wished I would have kept on fighting him because his income quadruples mine. I know it is not about the money, obviously because I chose not to get anything for my sons sanity. When child custody becomes a battle, everyone loses. It is just hard always being to one to have to give up, or give in or not do anything back to him because he does not care enough to spare my sons feelings. All I know is children need the love of both parents and should never be asked to choose between the two most important people in their lives. I love my son with all of my heart and I am afraid of what all this is going to do to him in his adult years. His dad is the true definition of a smug ass. He can definitly turn it on when he needs to, and it always seems like everyone buys his lies and his stories I think I am the only one who knows him for what he really is.

He needs to be knocked off his high horse

Well it is Monday, I am supposed to have my son by 4:00 p.m. today. Well I get a call from my son (not the dad, my son) about 8:45 p.m. and he tells me that he will be home in about 45 minutes, I told him okay I would see him when he gets here. Well then my son calls me about 9:15 p.m. and tells me that his dad's navigation is saying 10:30 now. I said okay, I would see him when he gets here (what else can I do). Well then my son calls me about 10:30 and asks me will I come and pick him up at his dads house, I said no, have your dad bring you here! My son tells me that his dad said he is not bringing him to my house that I would have to come and pick him up, and then I say, Your dad is the one that chose not to follow the schedule (plan his weekend trip accordingly) it is late, it is dark out and he can bring you here, so my son of course calls me back and tells me that his dad said that he would bring him over in the morning. Well, it always seems to go back to the norm with this asshole; he thinks he is in charge and is untouchable. I hate the fact that he does not respect me enough to even call me and let me know that he was not going to have my son available for me to even pick him up on my day and the regular time. I hate the fact that he could not even call me and tell me that he was taking my son out of the state.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

He might be home and might not

I get a phone call from my son's father around 8:00 pm telling me that he might be back in town tomorrow (because it is my day to p/up my son for the week) and he might not be home tomorrow. What kind of shit is that? He is just such an ass! Keep in mind that this is the first I even heard from him since my son text me on Wednesday telling me that he was leaving the state. I really think he wanted me to get all mad at him and start yelling and arguing with him, even though I was mad I knew there was nothing I could do at this point so I was not going to argue with him because he enjoys that way to much. He loves it when he knows he is getting under my skin.

Friday, July 18, 2008

Where O Where have my parenting rights gone?

My son is with his dad this week, because it is his parenting time so to speak. Well I get a call (actually a text) from my son today telling me he was in Kentucky and was on his way to Tennessee. I was thinking to myself that's nice, he is in KY and I had no clue that he had even left the state of Ohio; and that the adult of the house (meaning his father) could of called just to be nice and say Hey, I am taking our son out of state for the next couple of days. I never take my son out of town/state without calling his dad and letting him know. I know it is his parenting week and all but I have enough respect for him being the father of my son to do that for him even on my parenting weeks. I don't know why I bother. It is just hard for me to tolerate the fact that I have nothing to do with my son or know what he is doing or where he is going for two weeks out of the month. My son's dad just let's him do way to much, my son is only 11 years old and he does things that my 16 and 17 year old nephews have not even done. So if any of you out there are reading this and you are going through the same type of split, please let the other parent know where the child is and where they are going at all times. It is called being able to have a peace of mind.

Saturday, July 5, 2008

It was my holiday

It is supposed to be my holiday (July 4) but my son has been with his dad all week because it has been his week. I was debating on whether or not to even utilize the fact that it was my holiday. I just did not want any trouble, but I thought no, you know what... It is Independence day I am tired of him making me feel inferior to him. I made the call, to let him know that I would be picking up Chase and spending the day with him. He responds exactly how I envisioned he would. He starts telling me that it was not my holiday, and that he did not care if it was or not that I was not getting my son and that I would have to bring the cops to his house; he knows the cops of course are going to do nothing but say it is a civil dispute and I need to call my attorney....Hello! I don't have an attorney in my back pocket to keep on the payroll. I got frustrated and after crying for 15 minutes and getting mad and yelling at my husband because he just happened to be there. I got ready and drove on over to his house and called my son and told him to come on outside, it took a good 20 minutes to get him out side but I was not going to be leaving without him. We did get to watch the fireworks together last night so it was very nice.

My son was very upset from all of the arguing and when he got in my car, he had looked as if he had been crying for a while. I told him that I am so sorry that he has to go through all of this and that If I could make it better for him I would. He says the same thing that he always says that he just wishes we could get along. I wish the same thing, and have always wanted that for him.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Goodbye Baseball Hello Football Season

For all of us busy moms that move from one sport right into the next, Kudos to us! We concluded our baseball season with winning our final game against a local rival Yeah! I had my son this past week and boy were we busy. My youngest son turned 5, so we had his big 5 y-o birthday bash at Chuck E Cheese and we had our last baseball game and then a end of the season cookout/pool party for the team. So needless to say I am exhausted....

Some of the boys from the team are moving onto fall ball and some are moving onto football. My son wanted to do both, I said HECK no! make a choice; so he chose football. We are moving onto touchdowns vs home runs! Summer has not even got started, it just seems to early to be thinking football but hey whatta you gonna do....