I admire the love and commitment you have for your daughter.

I agree with fishorgolf that one of the most important things you can do is try to have an amicable relationship with your ex as much as possible. Kids see,hear and sense more than we are aware of and from my experience working with people over the years, one of most harmful things for a kid to expereince is having one of their parents talk disrespectfully about the other or treating the other parent with disrespect. It is hard not to let emotions get in the way but important to remember that when we talk badly about the other parent to the child, it doesn't hurt that parent, it only hurts the child (because they love that person). The opposite is also true. Kids tend to have more respect for a parent (and can learn alot from them) when the parent conducts themsef with integrity even in the face of difficult or down-right unfair circumstances.

Hang in there. Good guys don't always finish last

I'm confused. What does the education system or locale where you live have to do with a custody battle? If this was an issue then what would that say about every other parent that has their child enrolled in those same "rural" school districts?

I can understand about taking a child aross state lines but deciding where the custodial parent can live?????

Bob

When my brother went thru this neither partent was allowed to leave the state with out the others approval but they could live anywhere in the state.

Awww cute pix of her! bet she was so proud of herself!


Yes, I deal with that with my boys when they talk about the past. *sigh* All I can do is just say Yeah I remember that.....and try not to talk about it that much. Its hard to remain positive about the ex especially when the ex is doing idiotic things.....

Hope it all works out for ya! Mine is coming up on July 30th

best of luck to you. I couldn't imagine not seeing my kid on a daily basis. he goes to the grandparents at least every other weekend, but I couldn't imagine not being able to see him when I want. best of luck and my thoughts are with you.

Here we go again... Another restless night... I guess I will let you guys know how it goes tomarrow......

Ah neighbor guy, I have you in my thoughts and prayers. Good luck!

good luck, Neighbor Guy.

We are in exactly same boat so I know how it feels! Hang in there!

Good luck NG. Hope it goes well for you.

Well.... Like I have said before and will continue to say, there are no winners in a situation like this. Today's meeting started out on a negative note and two hours later it ended.

At the end of the last meeting I thought we had a workable agreement with just a few things to iron out. What I did not realize was the "math" involved. Unbenonced to me, our current agreement worked out to be 60/40 parenting time. (60% to me) Well that was were our potential "legal" ageement also worked out to be. Today we sat down exchanged pleasentries, and she said she would accept no less than 47% parenting time. I said no, explained why, a lot to do with the way she played her last parenting weekend. (see previos post) Next thing I know there is a lot of blubbering and crying and an hour of what the H happened here. Turns out her lawyer figured out that if she had at least 46.5% parenting time her child support would be next to nothing.

By the way, who ever decided to coin the term "parenting time" and figure it by the percent needs to be beaten unrecognizable with a dead eal pout. This is a child we are talking about.

Long story longer, she is goiing to come out of this smelling like a rose. getting everything she wanted. Just more than 45% parenting time. I managed to keep my daughter out of a down town Minneapolis school and will be listed as custodial parent. But everyday she is not in school she will be with her mom. As upposed to a normal everyother weekend situation, she will be with her mom 2 of 3. Then to make things even more complicated roles will reverse when school is out. I hate the arangement, but I dont have the $10-15,000 it would take to fight it. A "parentiing agreement" is the only option.

To say I have the blues is an understatement . I realize that things have to get worse before they get better. But I have to be getting close to the bottom right? Almost divorced, fighting over who is the "better parent" to raise a child, just lost my house (another long story), painting industry is in the tank, I guess when it rains it poors.

Hopefully the new job will turn out to be a long term deal. And I have some good freinds and family to hold me up . Thanks for lending me an ear everybody. Sorry for the long depressing post. I will try to find something possitive to add......

Hey, at least you get to have parenting time with ur lil sweetie. Thats the positive thing u can look at! Just hang in there!

Your post is far from depressing to me. At least you are a stand-up guy who is trying to do right by his daughter. Far too many men did like my Dad did, cut and run and to heck with his kids. I hope you can maintain a positive attitude for your daughter, and cherish every moment with her. I wish you all the luck and hope your life turns out to be a good one.

I think it's great that you got the most time with her, even if it's just a little. It doesn't sound like your ex is wanting her as much to be with her as she is to get the child support money. That's sad, but it does happen. All I can say is take every minute you can with your daughter and make the most of it. Kids are the best thing in the world we can ever have. Try to look at the positive side and always be positive around your daughter. You sound like a very good Dad and are on the right track.

I sure wish things had turned out more like you planned N_g! Thank goodness you won the school war! Things may seem bleak now but will start looking up soon.

Hang in there. After our mediation meeting, my ex and I spent a year trying to work by the rules...and dumped them, opting to co-parent and do what was right for our boys. It is not always easy, but if you can focus on the needs of the children and set aside the money factor as something totally seperate (even if it's not), then it might work. We each get the boys about 1/2 the time, and are always swapping and bending time based on what the boys need/want. My very smart lawyer warned me;
1. The guys always want more time and usually don't get it
2. The women always want more money and usually get it.

Doesn't seem right. I turned down the money and gave more time.