Author Topic: What would you think about this comment?  (Read 75803 times)

onlyrenting1

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« Reply #75 on: January 21, 2005, 04:12:51 PM »
Mum, thank you for the heads up.

I will need to look for a therapist with the legal background on child custody?

Can you elaborate on the idea of once you believe your free, you have hell to pay for later.
What would be something to consider. I have a 12 yr old girl.
I think you said you have an older son and your H has been able to take him because of his age and gender? Im not sure if I have this correct.

When Im looking for a theapist it should be a woman?
Do I ask specificly for someone that deals with an N/co-dependant/child custody?

Does it help to have proff  my H is a self-absorb N,  with total Neuroticism. Do you know what Neuroticism is?
I have a medical evaluation on him and found this other word I need to look into.

I want to play it smart and have some basis covered. Im working on getting moved now. Just getting all my ducks in a row before I leave.

Thanks for you valued insite.....Onlyrenting.

bludie

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« Reply #76 on: January 21, 2005, 04:40:43 PM »
Onlyrenting1,
I don't have advice on the child/custody/legal stuff but just wanted to encourage your documenting as much as possible. This may help legal professionals in addition to keeping your own recollection accurate in case it would come up in court or legal negotiations. In the month-long aftermath of my ex-N's departure, he went to great lengths to undermine me emotionally, financially, legally and otherwise. I wrote everything down: every conversation I had with movers, storage units, utility companies, banks, lawyers, etc. I also kept a log of how often he called and saved all the e-mails. It just pays to CYA as much as possible, not only for your sake but for your daughter's.

By the way, was REALLY sorry to hear about her school situation this week. What else could be going on to make life crazier?!? I'll be thinking of and praying for you while you walk through all of this. Thanks for keeping us posted and take care of YOU during this challenging time.

Best,

bludie
Best,

bludie

bunny

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« Reply #77 on: January 21, 2005, 05:39:54 PM »
Onlyrenting,

Your therapist will be involved with you solely regarding therapy. They will not have legal expertise (unless they are also a family law attorney which is unlikely) but in any case they won't give legal advice. They won't evaluate you or your child for a custody case. That would be done by a third-party whose only task is the evaluation (i.e., you aren't their therapy patient).  A therapist tries to stay completely out of the court system due to confidentiality. If they stand up in court under oath, they would have to reveal anything you've said in confidence. They don't want to do that. Any therapist who says they will testify for you in court is making a huge error and you should not see that person.

Bottom line: see a therapist for your own support and see an attorney for the family law stuff.

bunny

mum

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« Reply #78 on: January 21, 2005, 05:57:56 PM »
Hi, only renting. I still can't figure out the quote in reply thing here, so I will attempt it this way.
     If you are in the states, I don't think it will be difficult to find a therapist who deals with child custody, divorce, etc, as many times they are issues together.  The question may be to ask if they have experience with the court system and if they know how things work where you are or will be.  If they don't know, they should be able to find out or refer you.  This may also be better handled by your attorney.
     I'm not quite sure what I said that inspired you to ask me to elaborate on "once you believe you're free you have hell to pay for later".
I think I may know where that came from, so let me be more specific.      When I finally seperated from my ex, I was so happy to have finally come that far, that I didn't go the rest of the way toward healing myself.  I was just so relieved to end it.  Because I was still afraid of him and didn't want to fight with him, I  agreed to things in my custody decree just to get it over with.  He still bullied me and I was such an open wound, so I agreed to say that neither one of us could move from our present county....and I gave him the majority of every single weekend with the kids.  Both of those things I am now fighting to change in court.  
     I guess my point was, that had I continued with therapy at that point and continued to strengthen myself, I may not have agreed to those very punitive (for me) items.  And the "party" stuff: well after so many years of put downs and criticism, I did the very typical "date every cute guy I could" thing.  It seemed like fun, (no the kids didn't meet them!) but it was just one more way of not dealing with my pain.  I thought things were great because men were giving me attention, but like anything else one does to ignore/stuff/escape it didn't help and kept me from seeing what I should have seen about my old fear based patterns with the ex.
     To clarify about the kids: I have two children and they are both with me, the ex agreeing even recently that I should indeed stay the custodial parent (he is not that much of a fool, the kids would never go for anything else, anyway).
As far as needing to find a therapist with experience in the other disorders your (soon to be?) ex has: talk to one...I would be willing to bet most have seen it all.
I think it's probably an advantage to you to have medical evaluations of your H and everyone who has said this is correct: document EVERYTHING!!
     Another legal point: Please look into the statutes in your state regarding relocation with minor children. Most states have very specific rules on how to do this with timing and notification being a huge part of it....even if you have full custody, there are laws regarding this.  California is currently the only state where the custodial parent has a presumptive right to move away with the children and even that is being challenged again.  
Get a good lawyer....don't be scared and get just anyone in a hurry,  take the time to research leads.  Don't be afraid of the depressin news that is out there regarding move aways, it can really get you down, and the only way you will create what you want in this life is to focus on what you want, not what you don't.   A helpful website (although you will need to practice letting go of the negativity you may pick up there) is thelizlibrary.org
     I wish you the best.  Stay confident and happy, keep focusing on the good stuff and wash the rest away (all the time).  It will work out for you.[/quote]

mum

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« Reply #79 on: January 21, 2005, 06:12:43 PM »
Bunny is absolutely right.  An attorney needs to handle the legal stuff.  Absolutely.  I do have a therapist who was a former mediator for the family courts, and because of this, was very helpful for me in dealing with the emotional impact of preparing for and appearing in court.  That was lucky for me, but probably not a usual situation, now that I think of it.
Talk to a good attorney, and get a therapist who empowers you...and don't let other's well intended ideas and experience (like mine) make you do anything at all....trust yourself.  Thanks, Bunny for the clarification!

onlyrenting1

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« Reply #80 on: January 21, 2005, 09:08:42 PM »
Mum, Bludie, Bunny.
 
What I ment on my elaborate discription was
you think you're free from them, all is done, but later time goes on and they can still give you trouble.

Maybe there are loop holes with the kids you didn't see coming.
Can he come back and try and change things or say your not a good parent. Try to take your children or tell lies to cause people to question you. (cuse you a hellish revenge only an N can dish out)

Quote
Had I done that, instead of the giant "YAHOO! the weight is off my neck...party time!" that I did, I would NEVER have written some things into my parenting agreement that I did


I understand you to say,

stay with a therapist while you encounter the legal battles, so you stay focused.
maybe you thought it was ok without the support and now you are stronger and wished you would not, have agreed with the H demands so easily.
Good advise.

When you make a parenting agreement, is it what ever you want?
can you explain.
should I go to the library and find something on this?

this is why I get a lawyer to write this up for me?
I'm poor and won't be able to afford a lawyer, My husband has been on SSI for over 5 years we are down to nothing material.  

My H has never been physical but how do you prove the mental abuse.
having this medical report has only a brief statement "self-absorbed Narsisstic, thats it.  I will keep writing things maybe I should keep copies of the the emails his brother has sent regarding his behavior too.  

(to use the quote function)
1. highlight from your data source
2. right clk,copy
3. rt/clk paste onto the reply box .
4. highlight, move up to the top and press the quote btn)  

Bludie,

Quote
financially, legally and otherwise. I wrote everything down: every conversation I had with movers, storage units, utility companies


Why the movers and rental units.
He has a rental unit to keep his stuff out of the garage. (tools and machines).

Quote
By the way, was REALLY sorry to hear about her school situation this week. What else could be going on to make life crazier
 



Thanks for your concern, I'm glad its friday.
I decided not to share this with my husband. I felt like a single mom, dealing with the kid problems on my own.
I could not believe it when I got the phone call from the nurse at school. First I thought it was the hospital for my H, then realized it was about my daughter. (never in a fight before)

Now Im spooked I went out to my car and my tire was flat, a big hole no nail just a hole. I locked my car behind our fence instead of leaving it parked outside the gate. I didn't tell my daughter, I wondered if it was done in retaliation to the police filing.

I dont follow the boxing circut, but Sugar Shane Mosley (a famous boxer) and his wife Jen come in for us to fix their computers.
He wrote my daughter a note about her fight
("keep your head down and watch the uppper cut")
I gave it to her to show her friends. It made her feel important with the kids.
she was feeling uneasy because the kids said she didn't fight back (this girl 3 times bigger).
I think I may have hit her back. I grew up with 3 sisters and a twin brother, we fought all the time.
she is an only child and has little reason to be fighting.
I told her she didn't need to explain, not hitting back.
I guess I will need to show her some blocking moves or work on defending herself before this happens again.


Most of them expected to see a fight that day, I'm glad she walked away or she would have been expelled with a host of other problems.

My husband still does not know.
The N's will turn things around. I could picture him saying something mean like she deserved it. She has a smart mouth and I can just picture she may have said something to this girls friend about the way she played the vollyball. She may have thought nothing, but it may have  sounded like she had an attitude. Just the same if this girl had a problem with it she should have dealt with it,  not get someone else involved.

At 12, even looking a certain way could cause problems.
Somtimes she gets angry at her dad and will say it with an attitude, it would open a door for him everytime.

I am working on dealing with her dad getting better, he said the surgery was a complete failure. I don't know how he figures this. He has feelings in his legs and they fixed 3 herniated disk. He said his hip hurts and he wants an x-ray and write up on what they did.

I had to go the the doctors today to get paper work on the blood test he needs for the blood clot. I told the nurses that he is difficult and will not follow directions. The nurse said the doctor wants us both to come in to talk about the results. I came home to get him to go but he said not today. No surprize.

I know I have written enough for now my daughter wants on the computer
 thanks so much for responding......onlyrenting

Anonymous

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« Reply #81 on: January 21, 2005, 10:02:10 PM »
Quote
Why the movers and rental units.
He has a rental unit to keep his stuff out of the garage. (tools and machines).
This was just the case in my situation not necessarily with yours, onlyrenting1.

Is there a legal aid clinic you could contact? Perhaps with your husband's disability you would qualify for assistance. Otherwise, the State Bar of California has a Lawyer Referral Service http://www.calbar.ca.gov/state/calbar/calbar_generic.jsp?cid=10182&id=1403 If it's like most states, they can probably refer you to a family law lawyer who would do an initial consult for a nominal fee. I think it's between $25-$50. The lawyer can give you recommendations and advice about how to proceed. At least you'd have some idea of what to expect.

As for the car - bummer. Too much stuff on your plate, right now. Deep breaths. Try to do something nice for yourself this weekend. This whole situation with your husband didn't evolve overnight and it can't be unravelled in a day either. Take care and know you can come here for support.

Best,

bludie

onlyrenting1

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« Reply #82 on: January 22, 2005, 10:31:13 PM »
Bludie,

Thank you for the web site, I'm sure I will qualify for some assistance.
I found about 10 Women lawyer phone numbers in my local area,
this is a good start on having some of my questions answered.

I kept busy around the house trying to  get rid of some old junk.
still keeping my focus to move.

My husband was being his nice self today.
Its like you can see it in his eyes when he is his nice self, as well as his mean self.

One time he asked me what I thought of his eyes, I said they looked like shark eyes.  (blue, cold,sometimes deep blue, far away) I didn't think much of it then, I was just saying my thoughts.  I used to think why would I say that. Now Im looking closer and saying I can see it in his eyes. It's very odd.

Bludie, thank you again, I appreciate your time and all your efforts to help me think through my very clouding thoughts.

onlyrenting

Anonymous

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« Reply #83 on: January 24, 2005, 04:57:59 AM »
Onlyrenting1,
Here are other links that may give you more legal information:
http://www.eddylaw.com/vol2_no1_art4.htm
http://www.bpdcentral.com/bks/spy.shtml You sound as though you're really sorting through things, onlyrenting1. Looking at your situation but also examining why/how you got there. The truth will set us free and the only ones we can change are ourselves. Keep us updated and hope you and your daughter have a better week.

Best,

bludie

onlyrenting1

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« Reply #84 on: February 03, 2005, 02:14:11 AM »
HI, I just wanted to let you all know where my plans are going here.
My H, is up and walking, driving and He wants to move out of the state and leave us ( we are OK and look forward if he leaves)

He said he didnt want us to move to Dallas and told me he was going to go get a gun and shoot me then himself .
(I doubt he would shoot himself of course, I would be dead so why would he bother)
I told him I would call the police if he ever said that to me again.
He said he was mad and doesnt want us to move with him. His brother told him he was making a big mistake and he needs to get it together and didn't want him to move there without us.

His brother was going to help us as a family and is so upset with him.  My N-H wants me to convince his brother I really dont want to go and not to be upset with my N-H.  We are the horrible ones and he just is not wanting to be married anymore or care to raise a teen.

Im looking into the laws of California where we live, and what happens if he moves to Dallas. I have found some good web sites from Bunny, and Bludie and want to know all I can. I found a place to look for some free  legal help and working on getting this in gear in the next few weeks.

I have some tax money comming and would need to move out of our house (rental) if my H moves out first and leaves me where I cant afford to stay. so I have been packing and moving things in the garage. Im almost ready and would be taking my daughter out of school but have no choice.

 

things are still unclear where I will live but very clear I will be moving on without my N-H.  That is so clear from both of our views.

We had some bad wind and the Electricity has been out for 12hrs.
Its late but wanted to share got to go.

.Onlyrenting

Anonymous

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« Reply #85 on: February 03, 2005, 05:11:48 PM »
onlyrenting,

I would take his threat very seriously. I think he is extremely dependent, childlike, and unable to face life without his family to control/abuse. Plus it makes him look bad and "lose face."

PLEASE BE CAREFUL.

I hope he goes away but I'm not counting on it.

bunny

Anonymous

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« Reply #86 on: February 03, 2005, 06:25:45 PM »
Onlyrenting1,
I agree with bunny. A balanced person -- even in the heat of anger -- should never make such threats. Do you have relatives in the area where you and your daughter could stay if things get heated? Are you still planning to move to Dallas (sorry I've been away from the board for a while so I may be behind in your posts). Any chance you could get an apartment in the same school district?

The reason for my last question is because I've dealt with the aftermath of my daughter changing high schools. Although I see some long term advantages (smaller school and she's in with a better crowd now) it's taken months for her to adjust. To minimize the impact on your daughter it might be worth exploring. Or perhaps the school would allow her to continue even if she's out of district.

Even though your daughter may be relieved when your husband is out of the picture, I bet she'll experience ambivalence. She is is likely to be sad and confused for a while because it is a huge change. The more you can stabilize her world, the better.

Just some ideas. I know you've got a lot going on and it really sounds like you're moving forward and handling it well. Keep us posted and, as always, hang in there.

Best,

bludie

onlyrenting1

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« Reply #87 on: February 03, 2005, 11:35:47 PM »
Thanks Bunny and Bludie, for your continued support of me.

This is such a nitemare, Yes I have relatives, but to impose on them would be so beyond anything I would want to do. I have an N mother and even though she lives far away her poision travels with my sisters.
I do have a nephew who I could run to if I had to.

I told my H if he was leaving as I understood him to be planning on, I would be giving a 30day notice today to the landlord.

Now he said is staying here. Great,  He is planning on having the Dept of Rehab help  him with job placement.
I guess he, like you said Bunny, would lose face with his family in Dallas.
His brother is so livid with him he knows he would not be welcomed.

I will be getting my taxes back, I have them being prepared monday and expect a direct deposit into my account in the next weeks.
I will be making this my last month here if at all possible.

My daughter is upset and does not want to leave her friends. She is  in 7th grade Jr. high I know it would be difficult for her. She wants to stay until after 8th grade, it will only get harder. If I think too hard I would talk myself out of it until June..  maybe if she only has to adjust a few months then has the summer to make friends it should work out. She  makes me worry if her Dad is here she would suddenly feel torn to stay here.
Sometimes she wants to leave and other times not.

My H  says he wants to leave us, willing to move out of state and with a threat if we go with him, he would shoot me, but now he changes his mind, so Im thinking it may be away to subject us to his control.
He may want to know where and what my plans are.
I get a gut feeling I may need move on this faster than I thought yesterday.
Or he could just be realizing he is not welcomed in Dallas now and will not want us to go either but still leave or go away, as long as he cant enjoy living near family so neither should we.
this is almost like killing us both without a gun.

I think tomorrow I will be in the legal aid office before I go into work.
if I get the papers started and find out how to protect myself I will feel better. I worry if he thinks something is up, he may get his own plan in place before I can have the money to move. I need to be careful.

My H has never been physical never hit me, and he is fine now, we dont own a gun, I know he was just very upset and he says things that are so beyond what you or I would say. I hope I can convey all of his  feelings to a legal aid to get proper custody.

He may be like someothers who may not even care about all the legal stuff, but then may try and talk me out of it or demand mediation even after all of this. I will find out if and when I would need any documentaion I have on his unstable condition.
He is on morphine and lots of other drugs,  with him its more than drugs, but maybe this would be easier to explain than the N behavior disorder?

Lots to think about.   onlyrenting

longtire

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« Reply #88 on: February 04, 2005, 10:44:20 AM »
onlyrenting1,
I feel for you having to face such a tough situation.  In my case, I am fortunate to have the time and resources to sort things out before I jump.  Tho after my recent experiences, I am getting real clear that things are not going to work out for me with my wife.

Quote from: onlyrenting1
This is such a nitemare, Yes I have relatives, but to impose on them would be so beyond anything I would want to do. I have an N mother and even though she lives far away her poision travels with my sisters.
I do have a nephew who I could run to if I had to.


Do you have any friends you can call on?  You may be surprised what people will do for you if you give them the chance.  I have long been held back by shame that if people found out about my situation they would blame me and cut ties with me.  People's reaction have been exactly the opposite of my fears and I have gotten more support and help than I could have imagined since I shared my story.

Quote from: onlyrenting1
My H  says he wants to leave us, willing to move out of state and with a threat if we go with him, he would shoot me, but now he changes his mind, so Im thinking it may be away to subject us to his control.
He may want to know where and what my plans are.
I get a gut feeling I may need move on this faster than I thought yesterday.
Or he could just be realizing he is not welcomed in Dallas now and will not want us to go either but still leave or go away, as long as he cant enjoy living near family so neither should we.
this is almost like killing us both without a gun.


Quote from: onlyrenting1
My H has never been physical never hit me, and he is fine now, we dont own a gun, I know he was just very upset and he says things that are so beyond what you or I would say. I hope I can convey all of his  feelings to a legal aid to get proper custody.


From your descriptions, I don't agree that "he is fine now".  He will only be fine when he is willing to feel all of his feelings and faces his issues.  Has he done that yet?  Abuse doesn't have to be physical to cause fear, injury and pain.

I think you should go with your gut feeling and start things moving as soon as possible.  You can always stop later if you decide it isn't the right approach for you.  At least this way you will know what is involved and what you need to do to be able to make that decision.

Be safe, be happy.
longtire

- The only thing that was ever really wrong with me was that I used to think there was something wrong with *me*.  :)

onlyrenting1

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« Reply #89 on: February 05, 2005, 02:28:15 AM »
Longtire,

 The N is never just fine, but when ever there is peace we're doing fine for the moment.

Quote
From your descriptions, I don't agree that "he is fine now". He will only be fine when he is willing to feel all of his feelings and faces his issues. Has he done that yet? Abuse doesn't have to be physical to cause fear, injury and pain


Feel ???? all of his feelings. ( he has a diagnosis along with being an N, for surpessing what ever it is anger or feelings )
He has no Issues, = (N)
I understand verbal abuse, is abuse. some of us have grown up with one or more N parents, I can be numb to Verbal hurts.

I called the legal aid to move on filing papers and making an appointment  before I went to work today but had to to leave a message.

I will not take the comment about the gun, out of my head, it is giving me a big slap in the brain to get the hell out of here.
I can't let this one go, I believe this is a turning point for me.

It was not apparent his distain for both our daughter and myself until he believed he would be better without us if he moved to Dallas alone.

I believe now his hate for us will only get worse. his Feelings are now in the open for all to see. He will now need to make sence of this hate.
It makes no sense, only in his mind.

Today he pushes my daughters buttons, she asked him to stop, she gets mad at him and sounds like a B**ch.
He later tells me how much he hates her.
I asked him to never say he hates her to me, Im her mother and right now, what comes out of his mouth has no weight with me.
So it now becomes a chore to know who to correct for the bad behavior.

He has no respect for us and I dont want my daughter to learn disrespect.
it comes to a point where her feelings won't be ignored.
Because of  the hurt that he continues to display to us both, Im having a hard time with sheilding him from her wrath. I don't care about him right now, Im so hurt myself, I find Im in such disbelief of my life.

Im angry but understand Im not alone. all the help of those who share their understanding of what I am just learning. The stories I read and maybe didnt even know was a feeling worth deal with, gets me through a difficult  day. I have come to depend on this board for guidance and to validate the crazy things that happen with an N.

I want to leave, Im making my way to this goal. I feel more brave everyday. I remember how I just up and left home 2 weeks after my 18th birthday.
I had more friends then, no children and not the same difficulties to consider.
I had my fill of my N mother, no plan just packed a few things, said I was going out (left a note I wasn't comming back) imposed on some friends and stayed with my older sister until I got my own place.

I have been here before, not having a plan with a child is risky and very scary to me. Being married to an N makes having friends difficult.
I make friends easily but I like my home life simple. My husband in the past makes every friend a threat to him, so I dont bother to encourage relationships.

I find as I begin to mentally break away I want to be happy, I do not want  miss this past 26yrs.
I wonder when I look at the family picture on my key chain if its time to put it away. My husband looks like a younger Mel Gibson so very handsome, I had the auburn redish hair (now its miss Clairol)with big green eyes, but the looks are fading for both of us.  
I want to do something now before I get any older. We are all unhappy, I need to be strong for us all and move on the best we can.

Thanks for letting me share... onlyrenting.