msty
Platinum

Reged: 11/16/07
Posts: 221
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Sorry, I have to vent. I broke the no contact rule last night. Ugh. There is no good that comes from telling your ex what you REALLY think of them. After all, there is a reason you are divorced. It's not like you are going to suddenly be great friends afterwards, or all those communication problems suddenly "fix" themselves after the divorce. It's in our parenting agreement that we can tell our 4 y.o. Goodnight every night she is with the other parent. It's also in our parenting agreement that we each get two weeks during the summer and that we had to give at least one months notice to the other parent, in writing so we could plan our vacations around it. I asked my ex numerous times to tell me days he wanted and he kept putting me off until finally he said the first two weeks of august (essentially). I made my plans according to that and now, a few weeks later, he wants to change the schedule. He has proposed (tried to demand actually) that he gets one week this summer and another week over the holidays. There is no way I would agree to give up my holiday time with my daughter for him. Our agreement is during the summer and we have a set schedule for every other holiday throughout the year. There is a reason that parents need a parenting agreement filed with the court. It is to ensure no bickering or fights over time with their children. I am satisfied with the agreement. I have resigned myself to joint custody. I may not like the man, but he has legal rights to our daughter just as I do. When she is with her dad, I try to stay out of it as much as possible. I know that it isn't about me when she is over there. I call each night and ask her about her day and tell her I love her. In general I try to keep my calls at night short and precise so I don't take away from their goodnight times. But I don't get the same consideration from my ex when I have our daughter. It is still all about him. He tries to tell me what time to put her to bed and what to feed her, like I haven't been her mother for her whole life and suddenly he is a great dad. Last weekend was fathers day and he asked if he could take her early on Saturday for a camping trip. I agreed and off they went. On Monday I came home to find a certified copy of a handwritten court motion asking the court to force me to joint custody because I was trying to alienate my daughter from her father. Handwritten. Sloppily. Why? Well, he apologized and said he knew the court wouldn't do anything but he filed it for me to see how "serious" he was about the situation. Up until this moment, I had gone out of my way to keep the schedule standard and still make allowances to be friendly and communicative with her dad. But now.... There's no freaking way I can spend any time with this man. So the no contact rule comes back into play and I delete his emails and text messages without reading them and will only speak maybe three words to him at 8pm when he calls for our daughter. Until last night when we argued on the phone and he tells me I am delusional and not a functioning member of society. I work full-time to pay my own bills (no child support or alimony because he is unemployed) and I am finishing my degree in Computer Information Systems. He actually mocked me for being 28 and still in college. This from a man who doesn’t have a job, has had a trust fund pay for every bit of college he has completed, lives in his parent’s house, drives his parent’s car, doesn’t have health insurance for himself, let alone for our daughter (that’s all me) and now has the preschool teacher from our daughter’s former preschool pregnant. I am delusional according to this paragon of virtue and sloth. I am proud of who I am and what I do. When I was with this guy, I didn’t like myself at all. Part of the reason I wanted out of our marriage is I looked long and hard at myself and I realized that as long as I was with him, I didn’t like myself very much. I don’t have to prove anything to him, or justify my feelings or get him to see why his actions have hurt me. We are divorced and yet he is still trying to control me, degrade me, manipulate me and he gets angry, really angry, when I won’t behave like he wants me to. Like I said, I don’t like the man. I don’t respect the man or want to spend anytime with him, yet when he has custody of our kid I have to just let it go and deal with it.
-------------------- Everything now is as it should be.
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abbysfv
Platinum

Reged: 02/13/08
Posts: 716
Loc: LA, CA
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My stbx used to tell me I was the craziest person he knew and all kinds of other terrible things. He used to mock me for everything. He was just projecting. Would you get mad if your 4 year old got mad at you and called you a poopie head? Well you have to apply the same set a principles here. Your ex is extremely immature. If he can't even support himself without his parents help he most likely has some serious self esteem issues. The next times you have to deal with him and he starts abusing you either abruptly end the conversation or don't even try to defend yourself, just say sometime like "I see, sorry you feel that way" and turn the conversation back to your daughter or whatever the reason you are speaking to him in the first place. believe me this works I've been living with an abusive man for years and if you don't respond (falls on deaf ears) they do start to see that it's pointless to even start, they are looking for a reaction.
If I were you I wouldn't delete the emails. Just create a fold and store them in there in case you need it at some point. Sounds like he's the unstable one so you might want to keep some documentation of that. Also let him file away with the court. The most custody he's going to get is 50-50.
-------------------- My subconscious is smarter.
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Jada
Platinum

Reged: 06/02/07
Posts: 3457
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Document everything that he does. How much notice he gave you. His reaction when you wouldn't change what he had requested (and document why you woulnd't). I would also document the extra time that you give him.
He is going to come across for what he is, someone who isn't reasonable and is trying to use the courts to control you.
The "situation" is of his own doing. He gave you dates for the summer, you made plans around those dates. You have him extra time, and he still isn't happy.
BTW, the no contact rule works well after divorce, too. Obviously, you have a child so there is going to be some contact. But once it starts straying away from the child, end it. And if the conversation becomes an attack on your parenting or telling you how to parent on your time, end the conversation.
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msty
Platinum

Reged: 11/16/07
Posts: 221
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Oops. I just re-read my post and I meant to say JOINT COUNSELING, not joint custody. We already share custody 50/50 and our divorce is final. It has been final for since April. He filed a handwritten court motion to force me into counseling with him.
-------------------- Everything now is as it should be.
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faith4two
Platinum
 
Reged: 11/11/07
Posts: 353
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Know what I love about this forum? You don't have to wait until Tuesday or Thursday evening at 6:30 pm for everyone to gather.
Taylor, I know EXACTLY from where you are coming on this one. And I think someone else said it best "a divorce only makes a jerk a divorced jerk".... or something like that. Parenting plans or agreements aren't going to change that either. If the guy was good for an agreement, do you think you'd have to have it all written on paper???
Now, about YOU, you're better than that, and you know it. Recognize "less than" disease when you see it - in that someone makes every attempt to tear you down to make themselves feel equal. And when you begin to anticipate it, instead of reacting to it, it actually can become a source of entertainment....
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Jada
Platinum

Reged: 06/02/07
Posts: 3457
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[quote]Oops. I just re-read my post and I meant to say JOINT COUNSELING, not joint custody. We already share custody 50/50 and our divorce is final. It has been final for since April. He filed a handwritten court motion to force me into counseling with him. [/quote]
Given what you have posted, if the two of you go to counseling together, he will stop. As he is going to find out that the counselor isn't going to tell you to do what he wants you to do.
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msty
Platinum

Reged: 11/16/07
Posts: 221
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Hi D, I know, I know, I know. Sigh. I am so tired of this man. After months of therapy and talking things through, I really wanted to put all the negativity behind me and accept our new lives. I tried to make an effort to be friends, or at least act friendly around the man, and it really wasn't worth it. I think if he truly wanted what was in our daughter's best interest, which is what he claims is his main concern, he would stop harassing me and claiming I am bad mouthing him to our child. When my daughter and I are together, I make a conscious effort to NOT talk about her dad and his drama. It's all about my daughter and I. It's not a secret I don't like his new girlfriend. I think we all know why... And my daughter knows I can't stand this woman either. So much so that we don't talk about her at all. I change the subject. Now our four y.o. is smart. She knows what is going on. Suddenly mommy and daddy aren't talking to each other, mommy is crying and her preschool teacher is sleeping over at her dad's house (before we even filed papers). yeah. She knows. And she knows exactly what I think of this woman because her father and I have screamed at each other several times during the months until our divorce was finalized. I will definitely admit to not handling the divorce in the most peaceful and cool way possible. I pretty much fell totally apart and left devastated by his actions. According to him, he felt I deserved it because I "left" him the previous summer. Long story short version: He told me to leave and dropped my daughter and I off at the airport with ten bucks and then he went to a bar. I had to sit in the Denver airport for eight hours with a three y.o and only ten dollars to my name and yet, "I left him." I couldn't even go back to our home because we had subleased the place for the summer. I had to call my parents to buy my daughter and I plan tickets and to let us stay at their house until I figured out what to do. Yeah. The divorce happened for a reason. It was never pretty. Both of us have HUGE issues with the other but at this point there is no reason to harbor anger over our relationship. It is over. We are finished. We share custody and when she is with her dad, I try to back off. When she is with me, I won't allow him to dictate how I raise my child. If I could go back in time... I would have made different choices but now I have to roll with the changes and move forward.
-------------------- Everything now is as it should be.
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scbeck
Platinum
 
Reged: 12/29/07
Posts: 881
Loc: New Brunswick Canada
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Msty I remember your story and you have come so far. I can't get over how much like my stbx yours sounds. I can truly say I feel the same about my stbx. Anger, hatred and just downright loathing plus a little bit of pity that he is so pathetic. To read your vent is like doing my own post. It really helped me identify some of the same games my stbx plays and this summer visitation thing is turning into a nightmare. Unfortunately we haven't even been to court yet but I have hope now because I finally have a date in July. I hope it helps to know that you are not alone because I know it helps me.(((hug)))
Christine
-------------------- This is the first day of the rest of my life. Or maybe tomorrow will be.
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taryn
Platinum
 
Reged: 05/31/07
Posts: 2450
Loc: standing on the mountaintop! :...
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im so sorry, msty.
i HATE when i break no contact. it only infuriates and upsets me. grrr...to that blip.
dont you hate when the very person who you disrespect most in the world gets under your skin! pppllllltttt! to him!
joint counseling?
ick! i can only hope the give you shots of teq. before go in. LOL.
-------------------- taryn.
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Sarah1014
Platinum
 
Reged: 04/12/07
Posts: 2348
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Before reading other replies, I'll post.
Have you ever heard of "projection" or "transference?"
Everything he dislikes about himself; shortcomings included are the issues he's transferring onto you. Don't fall for it.
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msty
Platinum

Reged: 11/16/07
Posts: 221
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HAHA. I second that Pfffft. I'm also going to throw in a "Whatev's" and a hand to the face. And now I am going to cuddle on the couch with my four year old while we watch The Princess and the Pauper. This has been a really good day. Good night everybody!
-------------------- Everything now is as it should be.
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SingleDad
Bronze
Reged: 06/19/08
Posts: 29
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You need to focus on what is best for your daughter and what is fair to her and both parents. You both have joint custody. What is reasonable ? I would think it is fair that your daughter has a vacation with her father during a holiday week. Then you can have her the next year holiday week.
If the father wants to be in his daughter's life more, you should be happy. Better than an absentee father for your daughter's sake. You may not be able to be great friends with your Ex - but you have to be reasonable and civil like a business relationship as co-parents.
If the terms aren't fair to one parent, they are likely to go back to court to have a more fair agreement and or try to withhold child support, etc.
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msty
Platinum

Reged: 11/16/07
Posts: 221
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Well he can't go back for more custody because I already agreed to 50/50 and we have a set parenting agreement for a reason. Just because he changes his mind arbitrarily does not mean I have to agree. We literally have every holiday split and assigned, and that was for a very good reason. Fortunately I DON'T have to be manipulated by him or put up with his bs. And I am so glad and grateful that I do have a court motion filed to protect my own rights. As far as being reasonable, I think I am being realistic when I say no communication is necessary. I find myself much more forgiving and happy when I don't speak to him. Our lives are totally separate. That is reality. And in order to be calm and collected, I have to follow the old adage, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." That's not to say I don't want him to be happy with his new gf. I think they should have a happy ending. I hope that he can be a better man with her. Lord knows we were never happy together and I hope that he can offer my daughter some stability in his home and a genuine loving relationship. I don't want him to be miserable and stuck in a relationship he didn't want because she got pregnant. If he is miserable, chances are he will try to make me miserable too. And I would so much rather have a peaceful life where I don't have to deal with an [censored] for an ex. Maybe if he's happy with her, he can stop trying to tell me how to be a parent and start focusing on getting a job to pay for his two kids. Ha.
-------------------- Everything now is as it should be.
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col6
New
Reged: 03/12/08
Posts: 21
Loc: Central NY
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Your ex sounds like my ex. It took me a long time to realize that I can just hang up the phone and that I don't have to listen to his bs, or that I can just walk away from him. It's amazing how much better I feel about myself without him around to put me down.
He does the same thing regarding vacations - we are supposed to give 30 days notice. He'll wait until the week before and ask for a week. God forbid if I have already made plans for my daughter - I'll get harrassed by him. One time I actually had to take the phones off the hook because he wanted her for a week's vacation with two days notice and my daughter and I were going away to visit relatives so I said no. I can understand how 30 days notice can be difficult but two days? I'm supposed to just sit around all summer and not make any plans for the time my daughter is with me just in case he decides he wants vacation time.
I hope your ex becomes happy with the girlfriend and stops using you for his anger outlet. It's so true...!
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