I can't help thinking about your poor little SD.
So the little girl is openly talking to the therapist about everything in your pp- like her daddy (banning) taken her out of day care etc.
My question is how does a 3 year old know who made the decision and why would you not just send her on your days if it is traumatizing her that much?
As for the trauma - her parents separated, now they are fighting so her sense of security and her 'world' has be pulled out from under her, she has moved house, there is a new man asserting his dominance in her life, her entire routine has changed. That?s traumatic for anyone. Do not underestimate the effects of the separation alone on this child.
When I met my SO he was hopeless at dressing/washing SS. He was putting him to bed one night in PJs that were so small poor SS looked like Tom Sawyer yet they were both happy and content. It took SO about 30secs to put SS to bed so I correctly concluded that they had not brushed teeth or hands/face etc and SS was 5 so that?s how long it had being going on. Needless to say these days I put SS to bed and I dress him.
As for secluding her from all activities - if you have a visitation order how come you cant put her in activities on your days. BM is not allowed to put SS in activities on our days without checking with us first. When SS wanted to do martial arts on a wed BM send the flyer in his school bag and told him it was totally up to his dad if he went as it is on our day. That?s normal.
The guy sounds like a douchetwat but he IS her father. He should never have hit her that goes without saying but nothing you have posted to date makes me think that he should loose his parental rights. Yet you are so full and hatred towards him and determination that he be out of her life that I can't help but feel that you are a huge part of the problem. The only person that would benefit from him being gone is you and 'maybe' your gf, but long term the child will not benefit. Her self esteem will suffer and she will feel neglected and abandoned. The two most important people in any child?s life are her mother AND her father.
It is common knowledge that the WORST mistake you can make in a blended family situation is trying to replace the parent - it immediately causes stress and discontent and long term it bodes well for no one.
The guy is sloppy, always late, bitter, hateful, whatever BUT you need to find a way to move forward with him not against him ? that is what this poor child needs. Do not think for one second that she cannot sense your negativity. This poor little girl is internalizing everything that goes on around her to the point that she is wetting herself. I know you want to be a positive person in her life but you seriously need to start thinking about what is best for the child not yourself.
Re: oneluckyguy
I am chiming in here. I have been in your situation. Down to the ex hitting DS. I think what you need to do is find some counseling for you and your SO. You need to learn how do deal with the a** for her sake. Because I can gurantee that your SD's father will NOT be out of her life, whether they decrease visits or whatnot he will always be around. My DS has been in counseling since he was 3, spermdonor is controlling and emotionally abusive to DS. Telling DS that we don't love him and were mean and whatnot. The only thing we can do is tell him how much we love him. He still comes home lethargic, dirty and smelly.
He came home in December with a broken finger, I had to take him to the ER because he was SCARED to tell the spermdonor that his finger hurt. My ex is also INDICATED by DCFS for child abuse against my DS. (Shaken Baby at 3 months) He was never charged criminally and we had a bad judge in our divorce.
My DH has been in DS's life since was 13 months old. This has always been DS's life. (I obviously left the spermdonor when DS was 3 months) I couldn't even imagine how DS would be if there were all of those changes that your SD is going through. She does feel the tension, I used to get physically sick sending my DS, and I'm sure he sensed it.
So anyhow, a few suggestions as to I think you should look into.
1-get counseling for you and your SO to learn how to DEAL w/this
2-see if there is a neutral exchange site in your county. This has been wonderful for us, it cuts down on the tension. We don't have any contact w/spermdonor, it is all through this site.
3-go back to court and see if your SO can get sole custody, it doesn't sound like you guys aren't willing to work with each other and that definatley is not in the child's best interest.
GL
3 doesn't sound like you guys are willing to work with each other. woops
I would also like to say that SS has gone home and told BM that we hit him, to the point that there was a CYS investigation. Know when we hit him? When he doesn't listen and his safety is threatened. He's spanked, not hit. But he was too young to know the difference when he told his mother that, and she jumped on the chance to paint us as the bad guys. She looked at the opportunity to push us out of his life forever and took it.
SS is 7. The rage is just ending here. But we can see where it's left its marks on him. For you to perpetuate the rage, no matter how big of a screw up her BD is, is doing a HUGE disservice to your SD. If we had it to do over again, I'd like to think that DH and BM would've found a way to work well together from the get-go.
Thanks so much for replying with some sort of actual advice. I cannot imagine being in your shoes. However if SD had anything more than a bruise and tears atleast we would have proof. But he is too careful right now to do that. We are in counseling. We work together and I see the therapist solo as well.
But your right on the money with 3. They will never get along. Its like black and white. They could not be more different. They cannot agree on one thing. IF she does give into his request...he will change it to spite her!? Idk what his real psychological condition is...but he has one. We are working our way back to court, but want a strong case before we get there.
So what your saying is that You think its fine to spank a child to the point of leaving marks on them? But its wrong to take them to therapy and vent my frustrations on the internet?
I dont understand your post at all. I understand that some children do not comprehend what they see as hitting and a spanking. But think for one second how it feels to be 3 feet tall....and have someone twice your height and geeze i dont know 150 pounds more than you come at you and "spank" you? If a professional athlete decided to "push" his SO or child, it would be deemed abuse because of his sheer size!
We dont spank, we dont hit, we dont yell, and we certainly dont smack.
Im sorry we dont agree that striking a child in any circumstance teaches them anything other than aggressive and violent behavior.
It's responses like these that solidify my opinion that you are incapable of stepping back and looking at the bigger picture. You jump straight into defensiveness. You disregard real advice if it doesn't just blow sunshine up your butt. You're only looking for people to sympathize and tell you your 100% right. Well you're not. BF may be the biggest contribution here to your SD problems, but you need to realize that you are contributing a small portion as well.
I hope counseling will help you all, and I hope you get some clarity and am able to see the improvement needed within as well.