Today marks the day my 9-month-long struggle will hopefully end with the divorce I filed back in April. I had a trial on the 17th that took the whole day, but the judge couldn’t make a decision then. My husband, who’ll soon be my ex, showed up with just his attorney, no witnesses, and zero proof of income. He hasn’t seen our kids since August because he refuses to comply with the court-ordered supervised visitation. Just before the trial, he contacted family court services to start that process, but since everything’s set up now, I haven’t heard from him about any visits yet. He’s supposed to ask 3 days in advance for that. I really hoped I was prepared for trial. I had all my facts, evidence, and support with family members, my advocate from the domestic violence shelter, and even a paralegal from my attorney’s office. It felt empowering to stand up against his attorney on the stand. Today, it all comes down to whether I made my case well. Those 10 days of waiting have filled me with doubts about the future, co-parenting with him, ensuring our kids’ safety from his instability, and figuring out how to provide for them without any financial help from him. But I’m determined to do whatever it takes. Thanks for reading.
Good luck, LKM! You’re so strong for going through all of this. How are you holding up with everything?
Flippa said:
Good luck, LKM! You’re so strong for going through all of this. How are you holding up with everything?
Thanks, ABC! I’m trying to stay positive. It’s just a lot to handle, ya know? I keep reminding myself that today might finally bring some closure.
@Mal
Totally get it. It sounds like you’ve put in so much effort. Whatever the outcome, you’re already winning by standing up for yourself.
That sounds really difficult. Are you worried about the co-parenting aspect? It must be tough with someone’s instability in the picture.
Felicity said:
That sounds really difficult. Are you worried about the co-parenting aspect? It must be tough with someone’s instability in the picture.
Yeah, I’m super concerned about co-parenting. It’s one of the hardest parts for me right now. I want to keep the kids safe.
@Mal
Have you thought about involving a family therapist? That might help with navigating the co-parenting.
Sun said:
@Mal
Have you thought about involving a family therapist? That might help with navigating the co-parenting.
That’s a good idea, JKL. I hadn’t considered therapy for us, but it might help smooth things out.
I can’t believe he hasn’t seen the kids since August. That’s so sad. Are you all set for how to handle those visits when they start?
Alayna said:
I can’t believe he hasn’t seen the kids since August. That’s so sad. Are you all set for how to handle those visits when they start?
Yeah, I’m trying to prepare for how those visits will go. I just want to ensure they feel comfortable and safe.
@Mal
You’re doing such an amazing job, LKM. Being proactive about their safety will really pay off in the long run.
It sounds like you’ve really researched your options and are ready. Have you thought about what you’ll do if he still doesn’t want to do visitation?
Logan said:
It sounds like you’ve really researched your options and are ready. Have you thought about what you’ll do if he still doesn’t want to do visitation?
Honestly, I’m not sure. I guess I’ll have to work with my attorney to figure out the next steps if that happens. Just taking it one day at a time.
@Mal
That sounds totally fair. Just remember, your kids’ well-being is what matters most in all of this.
Stay strong! I read about how empowering it was for you to speak up in court. That’s not easy to do!
Zahara said:
Stay strong! I read about how empowering it was for you to speak up in court. That’s not easy to do!
Thanks, XYZ! It wasn’t easy, but I’m proud of how I handled it. Hoping it all pays off today.