Not sure what I'm hoping to achieve by this.
I am just so exhausted. I'm a single mum of 4 children (7, nearly 6, nearly 5 and 4months).
7 year old has different father. Her father and his partner are horrible :( for the past 4ish years the partner has pushed herseld further and further into our lives - which at first i thought was fantastic. To be ablento co parent and to all be in it together. I welcomed her in. Now, she is that far in that any concerns MUST go thrugh her. Any communication must go through her. She makes ALL of the decisions regarding my daughter. And now it is at the point where she is degrading me. Targertting me. Belittling me. As a person, as a parent. 4 years ago, They have reported me to CS stating i abuse miss 7. The case got closed because I'm not. And from then they have been attacking me ever since. Now, they are trying to use the system againsy me.they've made another report to CS i had a uniting team come out to my home with a report of abuse and starving miss 7. I am in no way doing either. CS now want me linked to all these different programs and parenting courses etc. I am doing all they wsnt even though i don't believe in need to. I am a damn good mother and i do the very best i can for my children. A year ago, i went to miss 7s father and his partner explaining that i feed miss7 needs somw councelling to help regulate her emotions etc because i feel she is having troubles, and needs extra support. They wouldn't agree to it (i was under the impression that i couldn't put her in without fathers permission, and i felt that he should be involved anyway so there was nothing i could do). I had been referred to a peadiatric psychology and social work team by a pediatrician as i had suspisions that miss 7 was self harming (pulled heave tv ontop of herself and was caught with a belt wrapped round her neck pulling it tight) background: fayher and his partner monitor ALL marks/bruiskng on her body and take photos of them and she gets soo much attention they ask "how did thst happen. Did mummy do it. Did your siblings at mummy's house do it" etc etc.. so i think that she is now harming herself to get the extra attention. In these social worker appointments i was very open and honest. They seen me on my own to get info then i signed a release of info form for then to contact father and let him know what was going on. Then they seen miss 7 by herself. And ee got an assessment report. When miss 7 went in for her app, i was informed that father and partner had also requestion to access the services, but no one could release any info to me. The info was only released to me at the end when we got the assessment report. I found out then that they had been taking miss 7 to a psychologist (without my knowledge) and no one will release any info to me regarding that. I also found out they take miss7 to drs fortnightly for 'possible abuse and weight management' (nothing is wrong eith her weight. She is not over or under weight, ive asked the dr). The assessment report summary states that it is hypothesised that miss7 feels safe and comfortable to externalise her feelings at mothers house where is more withdrawn and internalises herself at school and her fathers. No indications of abuse or neglect. So clearly i am not harming my daughter in any way. But fayher and partner continue to make these accusations. I am at my end. I am exhausted. I feel like i am my daughters unwanted babysitter instead of her mother. I am sick of having to justify my actions, my parenting. I feel like i am being judged. And ehat pisses me off the most. Is that if they were genuinely concerned for miss7s welfare, they wouldn't allow her back to me. But every second week they allow her back here (sorry should probably mention we have 50 50 custody-week about, our own agreement not court assigned) they would keep her and state that they feel it is unsafe, and they have rvery right to do so if they believe it is unsafe for her to be eith me. But not only that, they would also be concerned for the other 3 children i have in my care. But no one is asking about those children. No one is stopping miss7 from coming here. Because i am not doing annything wrong. They are just abusing the ststem and trying to get it used against me. And therenis nothing to dtate they cannot do it. Now, i am doing the bloody best i can for all of my children but it's not enough. I have to attend so many different appointments and barelt any of the appointmenrs canni take my young children too, 1 being they shouldn't be hearing the adult convos so the kids old enough to understand cannot attend ehich is fine, they are old enough to get babysat. But i have a 4month old. And i do not have friends or family support at all. So no one who o trust to watch my baby while i attend these appoointments. But they won't allow me to take baby to them because the topics are quite touchy and baby will get distressed of i am upset etc. So i have to try pay for occasional care to attend these apointments that i shouldnt have to attend. And miss7 gets thrown to social worker, to councellor to psychologist and to whoever else just beause fayher and partner want to accuse me of abusing and starvinf her. What is their purpose. What are they hoping to achieve. This isntabout me. It isn't about them. It is about an innocent 7year old who is emotionally unstable and needs support. I am trying to be on her side. Trying to help her. But pjtting her theough all of these people to prove i am not harming her is not helping her. She is suffering. She is confused. And i cannot help her. I cannot fix it. I feel so helpless and so useless. I am at the point where i am ready to give up just so she can live a happy life even if it means i miss being part of it because she shouldn't have to grow up like this. I just don't know what to do. Fatger and partner are great parents. I know they are. They just need to focus on parenting more then making my life difficult. Advice needed!
Help please.
Help please.
Posted in:
Mental Health, Self Care, Parenthood Guilt, Health & Wellbeing, Behaviour, Kids
6 Replies
To me, it seems like they're trying to break you to get custody awarded - what other purpose could there be to be such assholes? I'd be seeking legal assistance to see if it can legally be stopped.
Didn't read it all, stopped at 'no court orders'. Get mediation happening NOW. Make it known in mediation that all communication will only be done with her father. Get it in writing. Get it lodged with the courts. You can also make sure that the step mother isn't involved in the mediation process as it's between the parents.
Is it possible to exclude her like that? She is pretty much the carer for miss7 during the days, before and after school. Which is something i want to amend, why do they even need half custody when he is working everyday where as i am not working.
Yes it is. Seek legal advice on all of this. Be fair in mediation as it looks better for you but you can ask for it to be included that her Dad is to take care of her day to day needs, it is 50/50 parental responsibility for schooling, medical appointments, EVERYTHING important, make sure it is lodged with the courts when an agreement is reached so it's legally binding and then make sure you always advise of anything that is happening regarding schooling, medical etc, ask his 'opinion' etc for the important decisions and if he doesn't do like wise breach him for breaking the orders.
I don't want this to be nasty in any way, so please don't take it as judging you at all. As I certainly am not.
Is it possible that they're worried as you have 4 children and aren't working, so are worried about your finances and being able to support the 4 kids? It sounds like they're wanting more custody of her.
I doubt they'll seriously take into consideration her weight because if it's 50/50 then she shouldn't be dropping weight over a 7 day period and then somehow get it back up once at her dad's. To meet the accusations would be almost impossible to prove anything, bruises can show up a few days after a bump or knock so could easily have occurred under their care.
I know it's stressful, but you need to be strong and hold your ground. Go along with everything that's happening and just show that you have nothing to hide. CS will cotton onto what is happening :)
Get legal advice. Go thru mediation. Stop this abuse. Get counselling and support for yourself. I know it's fucked but hang in there. You've now been proven a second time that you are a fit mother. What do you think will happen a third time when they complain? This tactic is not working for them, but it is harming your child, and I'm sorry there's nothing you can do except keep on with their crap, keep showing up, but get tough, get informed. Know your rights! Get a support network around you, even if it's online, and get to know a few ppl who you can call on for baby sitting.
And I'm sorry, but they are not good parents! A good parent doesn't slander the other parent in front of children. A good parent doesn't put a child through endless interrogations and a good parent puts their own shit aside and works with the other parent for the benefit of the child.
You certainly do not have to communicate with this woman, she has no rights. HE is the father, he is the parent, time he started parenting...