You are here

Should I send it?

justmakingthebest's picture

Backstory: When we were in SS's state in May I talked to BM. It was a really good talk. It was all how we were going to co-parent. Blah, blah, blah- all horse sh!t.

I reached out and texted yesterday saying that when we talked in May you said you would be willing to have me be the buffer and work on coparenting when she is irritated with DH. So, please call or text so we can get this resolved and SS and DH can see each other week after next. -- Of course no response.

 

Here is what I want to send and DH approved:

 

I am very disappointed that you are still refusing to co-parent with us. SS is always loved, care for and very entertained while at our home. His is a part of our family.

I am a mother with an ex as well. I have NEVER prevented my kids from seeing their dad. Why would I? He is a good dad. Just like DH is. 

I really wish would see that you’re are damaging your son with this behavior. Cutting a father out of a child's life and alienating them has major psychological effects. We aren't just talking some "daddy issues" later in life.

  • low self esteem
  • depression
  • lack of trust in others
  • 50% alienate themselves from their own children later in life
  • higher risks of substance abuse
  • sexual promiscuity
  • sleep issues
  • anxiety

The list goes on and on. Please just reach out to DH or I so we can set up parenting time for the week after next when DH is in SS's state. 

 

Do I send it?? I feel like it can't really make anything any worse and if she at least responds with F-you we have proof that she is getting messages. 

Comments

nengooseus's picture

I know that your BM is terrible and that you're really just tyring to make things better, but you need to back off.  What she's doing is awful, but trying to guilt trip her into co-parenting isn't going to help, and giving her facts and figures only makes you look like a sanctimonious jerk.  They're all true, yes, but she doesn't care.  Pushing her to the point that she gets angry and says something rude will not help the situation.  Any "documentation" you get from that is easily explained away.  She will say that you and DH were teaming up and harassing her (which won't look good for you in her pro-BM state).

You need to take a BIG step back and your DH needs to be dealing with the situation.  Yes, you're a team, and you want to support your DH and SS, but you are not helping the situation.  Suspend the cell phone.  Send cards and letters to SS, etc.  Your DH is entitled to a relationship with his kid, but he's 14 and screwed up.  The solution to that is not to engage with/lock horns with BM.  

Willow2010's picture

  I would not send it…I would let DH send it though.  She obviously does not want to talk to you or co-parent with you or DH, but anything that you may want to use in court, should really come from DH.  She will just claim you are overstepping and harassing her.  (She is a loon)

I would also take out the list.  I would just tell her to look up the issues that kids have when mothers will not let the father be involved in the childs life. 

Is there any way you all can move to where SS lives?  I forget why yall live so far apart.  SS is going to be a lost cause if he is not around your DH more because SSs mama is going to ruin him.  She is just a horrible mother. 

justmakingthebest's picture

DH is military. We are actually probably moving to Japan next year so we will never see SS again until he graduates if that happens. We will know more in March for sure. 

nengooseus's picture

The conflict with BM isn't working. The only thing that's important here is to keep the lines of communication open with your SS.  Stop trying with BM.  The court isn't likely to order more visitation, given SS's age, so the best hope you all have with him is to make that relationship the priority. 

Make him want to talk to you guys.  Send him cards and letters and small gifts (a book, a yo yo, something he's interested in, etc.).  Send him post cards from places you visit that tell him that you love him.  BM may interfere with them, but at least you will have tried.

twoviewpoints's picture

It's not going to make you best buds co-parenting happily ever after. 

She has clearly wrote off any chance of Dad and his son seeing each during this next visit to her trip. Sucks, yes. But do you really think trying to shame her is going to help in any way of getting her to change her mind? 

If she were a reasonable parent who sincerely desired to forge a relationship between father and son, she wouldn't be playing this f-off game in the first place. Yes, she told a judge it'd be no problem if Dad came to her state...she lied. But as long as the court order still only gives dad x and x she is under no legal obligation to give Dad each time he contacts her and says he is coming to her area. Yes, she's being a butt, however throwing rocks at her via text/email isn't ,, IMO, going to change her mind. But it will anger her.

Ok, so this upcoming trip didn't 'work' for her , instead of nailing her on being a rotten selfish parent, maybe try writing that Dad is extremely disappointed but would like to schedule another trip now that he would be available and before something else on her end is scheduled. 

The more times he tries to schedule and is rejected, the better her silly statement in court about of course, she'd never deny Dad if he was in their state will prove it self bull. She won't be able to go to court and keep using that lie. 

justmakingthebest's picture

I wish that it was an option to just keep flying out to SS's state but it isn't. I know it won't change her mind but if she responds at least she will no longer be able to say she never received anything. 

She has already shot down Christmas and Thanksgiving. Spring break is the one week a year we actually have and there is a good chance we are moving out of the country next summer so there goes that. There is no way she will let him go to Japan to see us. 

Siemprematahari's picture

I think you should remove yourself from addressing this issue and leave it alone. It seems like you have good intentions and only want the best for everyone involved but this has to come from your H. I find that when you address someone and trying to persuade them into something that you have to remove the negatives in the statements that you make. Don't make this about you, your H, how good your Ex was or potential "daddy issues" because that could easily piss her off. Your H can say something to the effect of:

"Hi BM, I know you're a caring and loving mom and I would like nothing more than to coparent with you and make this transition with our son as smooth as possible given the circumstances. I know we've had our differences but I believe with good communication you and I can come to an agreement and be on the same page when it comes to our child. I ask that you please reconsider me seeing our son. As I love and miss him very much and want him to know that he is loved by us both and want nothing but the best for him."

You know the old saying "you get more bees with honey". Whether your H means it or not is on him but the goal is for him to get to see his son and he's pretty much at her mercy so he should take a different route and address her in a more positive note.

 

STaround's picture

I think you need to let DH with this.  Putting it in writitng that you think she should she be co-parenting with "US" is a mistake, at least where I live.   YOU do not have legal rights.  Now, as a practical matter, you may be sharing pareting with DH, but where I live, the courts/guardian would blast you for this.  Comparing herself to you in an unfavorable light is not likely to win friends and influence people.  

justmakingthebest's picture

I will let it be. The lawyer told us to keep trying. He can't get a response from her lawyer for the summer journal entry so even if she calls him crying harassment at least it would get the process moving again. I will tell DH to be the one to send it and to take out "us". 

StepUltimate's picture

Just because normal people might appreciate your letter, which is really nice (but do not send!), doesn't mean a BM will. I am a peacemaker & would appreciate a caring, non-hostile communication like that to keep my priorities straight, but I suspect your letter would be the "excuse" she needs to twistedly justify her sick PAS and withholding visitation, and probably reply with a rager. In saying, Don't Send, I mean it in terms of self protection - NOT that it isn't a nice letter. 

ndc's picture

I wouldn't send it.  Maybe DH could send it, but I doubt it will do any good.

If BM suddenly changed her mind and decided to let SS visit with your DH more frequently, would he still be going to Japan?  Does he have any say over what his orders are?  Because frankly, if he's going overseas within the year, it really doesn't seem to be worth the time or effort to fight for more visitation within the next few months, especially for a 14 year old who most likely is already brainwashed and who lives in a state where the courts are clearly not doing him any favors.  By the time you get back, he'll be an adult or close to it, and can make his own choices regarding seeing his father.  

justmakingthebest's picture

unfortunately they are called "orders" not "requests", we won't have a choice.

Our lawyer feels that if we can get more time ordered that he would be able to fight that it doesn't matter where we are for those visits. Plus thanks to the cruise we have been out of the country with him before and she allowed it.

elkclan's picture

It won't work. It will make matters worse, so don't send. Nobody likes to be put on the back foot. She will immediately be defensive. This letter won't make her see the error of her ways.

If you feel you must send something - say something like you said in the text, talk about what a great opportunity this would be to see DH and say you feel sad that things seem to have deteriorated since your talk in May - ask if there was anything you did to make it worse and if there is anything you can do now to help fix it, particularly since you all miss him. 

I know that's bullshit. But the goal is to 1) let DH see the kid and 2) document for court. 

still learning's picture

Don't send it! This letter is full of accusations and all about your feelings. It will only cause a fight and further alienation.  If you must, reach out with a friendly follow up reminder letter letting her know that you're there for her and to contact you if she needs anything.  

Read up about "Writing Postively."  You can convey your point using positive supportive language that will look great in court rather than look like you're attacking BM.  

Livingoutloud's picture

I think you should back off. Also letter is very accusatory. Don’t send it. Co parenting with “us” doesn’t even make sense as you are not the parent of SS.

Saying that, BM is terrible but you can’t fix it by sending accusatory letters talking about yourself and how you do things right and how she does them wrong. Bad idea