KevinL Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 At this time tomorrow I will be in front of a magistrate. I am divorced, have 3 kids from my 1st marriage. I am remarried, my new wife has 3 also (think Brady Bunch). Plus we have a 5 month old baby together. My kids are 9, 8, and 5 and to say they mean the world to me would be an understatement. My ex wife lives about 10 minutes away and we have a great shared parenting plan. I get every other weekend plus 2 school nights per week. This has enabled me to be very involved with their lives, coach them in soccer and basketball, have their friends over for birthday parties and sleepovers, etc. My ex-wife works in the same town I live in. Now she is planning to move them about 45 minutes away, to a town where her (drug using) son from her 1st marriage and her (alcoholic) brother live, and where she grew up. She doesn't have a job there and will be driving back here to work. She doesn't have a home there (yet, closing in mid september) so the 1st step in the renewed custody battle is to prevent her from removing the kids from the school district they are currently in. (The one advantage she has is that the shared parenting plan lists her as the residential parent for school purposes). Anyhow there's lots more details that I don't have time to get into, but as you can imagine, just the thought of them moving is tearing me up. I know it's not far but I currently have them every 2 or 3 days, and she has stated she does not intend to allow me to have them weeknights during the school year after she moves. (That's a point for me, that she is openly intending to not comply with the court ordered visitation). Hopefully the magistrate / judge will look at this clearly because I feel the evidence is strongly on my side. I have had my time with the kids consistently over 5+ years and am very involved in their lives and activities. Anyhow, if you guys (and gals) could say a prayer for what's best for Luke, Brooke, and Rachel, I would appreciate it more than you could possibly imagine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darin3 Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 Hey bro, you know I'll be thinkin' about ya and your family here in this tough time. You know I'm a PM or phone call away if you need any support. ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Down Goes Frazia Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 best of luck landy ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DemonKnight Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 Good luck bro. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiefjay Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 Good luck Bro. I've been in those courts in NE Ohio, not easy for us guys. Try not to take it too personal if it doesn't go your way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idahov Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 Best of luck man. That's a tough situation, and hopefully common sense will prevail in you and your kids favor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TripleW64 Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 Best of luck to you. Hope it works out for you and the kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big John Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
driveby Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 prayer said. good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonorator Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 nothing sadder than kids in the middle of situations like this. i'll be praying for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatman Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 Best of luck Kev - I'll definitely be thinking about you and yours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loaf Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 thoughts out yours and their way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Czarina Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 Good on you, Kev. The world needs more committed dads. Why is she moving? Sounds like the arrangement is pretty near to ideal, given the divorce. Is the new place more affordable? Since she's bought a house there, sounds like it's going to be tough to come to a compromise about the weeknight visits. That's a lot of time on the road for your kids on school nights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dutch Oven Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 Good luck Kevin. These custody battles are very hard, especially on the kids. Hopefully everything will turn out for the best. Here's hoping you've got a good lawyer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinL Posted August 22, 2006 Author Share Posted August 22, 2006 Good on you, Kev. The world needs more committed dads. Why is she moving? Sounds like the arrangement is pretty near to ideal, given the divorce. Is the new place more affordable? Since she's bought a house there, sounds like it's going to be tough to come to a compromise about the weeknight visits. That's a lot of time on the road for your kids on school nights. In my opinion, to spite me. She's a very bitter person (her pastor has said she's the most bitter person he's ever met). It is almost ideal as is. Hopefully that can be made apparent and the fact that she is disrupting a good situation, with no compelling reason, will be a strike against her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RFFL Chump Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 Good luck to you and prayers for you and the kids. They always lose in these situations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliaz Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 I'm sending out good father vibes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hat Trick Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 Good vibes your way. Is it possible to do a week on week off type of schedule as a comprmise that way you have them for longer periods of time and still get to be involved with there schoolwork and other activities? I know the whole purpose is for them not to move, but...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinL Posted August 22, 2006 Author Share Posted August 22, 2006 Good vibes your way. Is it possible to do a week on week off type of schedule as a comprmise that way you have them for longer periods of time and still get to be involved with there schoolwork and other activities? I know the whole purpose is for them not to move, but...... Not if she moves that far away and I need to drive 45 minutes each way twice a day to get them to/from school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hat Trick Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 Not if she moves that far away and I need to drive 45 minutes each way twice a day to get them to/from school. Didn't put that into the equation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squeegiebo Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 When I worked for a judge, he had a case with similar facts and awarded custody to the father. The key difference is that the mother wanted to move them to Ohio from Pittsburgh. I hope things turn out the best way possible for you and the kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deacon Bill Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 Good luck Kevin. Been through some of that mess myself. Prayers are on the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apathy Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 Kevin, I hate that you have to go through this but I'll be thinking about you tomorrow and praying that the judge decides that what's best for the kids is to stay with their father. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh 0ne Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 Good vibes sent your way Kevin, it's great to see the love you have for ALL of your children. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rajncajn Posted August 22, 2006 Share Posted August 22, 2006 Good luck Kevin, but in all honesty I would consider yourself lucky it's not worse. My Brother-In-Law had a similar deal worked out with his ex wife when she married a guy in the Navy & was set to move to England. Luckily the guy was close to the end of his tour there & was relocated to California. Not much better, but at least it's within the country. Now he only gets to see his daughter a few months during the Summer and every other holiday. They fought it in court, but since the Mother had primary custody there was nothing they could do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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