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For those of you that know what's going on with my daughter, she recently sent me a friend request on fb. This was my response, that was also sent simultaneously to my mother:
I received your friend request, C****. And please don't think I've ignored it. I've debated several days about what to do with it.
Given the tone of the recent conversation we had (the only one in months), I cannot in good conscience allow you access into my personal life at this time. Nana and I received a hastily scribbled note on over facebook for mothers day. As I've told you a hundred times before, be as ugly to me as you want, Nana and Grandpa have done nothing but been there for you your entire life, they do not deserve what you are doing to them. Not even a little bit. Did your Mee-Maw (exh mom) get such disrespect on that day? I seriously doubt it. Grandpa cried because he saw on your page that you were in the city (through facebook) and couldn't even drop by and say hello. Cried. Nana and I had to deal with that. You do realize the time he has left here with us is short, right? I know you do, Nana and I explained it to you, carefully. Yet you still choose to hurt him so terribly. Shame on you. Leave that poor man alone. I do not want you contacting him right now. He and Nana both are going through enough. Not that you would know or care what is going on in their lives.
With your recent history of using us or calling only when you need something, I feel like this request is being used as nothing but a way to access my private life, if not for you, then for your father to be able to see what I'm doing. I divorced him. He no longer has a say in what I do any more, and I will not allow him to use you to spy on me.
If you would like to speak to me, nobody's phone number has changed. Mine is still *******, Nana's is *******. Has been for years. If you want to speak to Grandpa, you need to go through me or Nana and we will decide if he is having the kind of day where he can handle speaking to you. Those days are now sadly few and far between.
Plus given your malicious actions to come between ***** (DF) and I, causing both us and our families humiliation by posting crap on his facebook wall last time you had access to our pages, I don't think you're mature enough to handle the adult interactions that take place between my friends and I on my page. That was just cold hearted and mean.
If you want to speak to me, call or text. If you want to see any of us, we are a phone call away. We stopped trying to reach out to you because we are tired of being hurt, or just used to take you shopping or give you gifts, for what I don't know, barely passing seventh grade? Congrats on that, by the way. We were amazed. Nana is a person outside of her wallet and doing your school projects, you know.
If you desperately want to know what is going on in my life, here it is: I work monday through friday, I come home, make dinner, clean house, play with my hedgehog, go to bed. On the weekends, we visit Nana and Grandpa, Maw-Maw and Pops and Ms. C***** (who all still ask for you). I deal with wedding planning when I can. Shockingly, sometimes I have a glass of wine. We go out to eat with his Grandparents on Sunday (a lesson you could learn). Take that to your father. Otherwise, you need money from me, I send enough to your father every month. Have him take you shopping.
Good night.
*I feel horrible about this* -
>:D< No mom should have to think about writing something like this.
You are being very respectful and demanding respect in return. You are also making it clear that you are still there for her. Don't let anyone tell you anything different.
Maybe someday she will appreciate it. -
I liked your post, not becuase I like you situation (obviously) but I think the response was wonderfully written. Tough, yet still open, informative yet still maintaining your privacy. I hope everything works out well but if it doesnt it wont be because of lack of trying on your part!HugsIm pretty extraordinary in an ordinary way
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I agree with @kmetz44 I think you did an admirable job balancing your rationale with your expectations- those sound like very fair boundaries. I would say that maybe in a few weeks you would want to open the door to discussion again IF she follows through?
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God I know that had to be so hard for you to write. I'm sorry you are going through this with her. I think you made the right decision though on not allowing her access to your fb page, given her actions the last time she had access. Hang in there mama things will get better with her.
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Hey,I thought it well written, good boundaries, and an obvious conclusion that you still care for her. I don't think you've tossed her any "grenades with the pin already pulled for her to throw back at you".Make sure to save a hard copy of it somewhere, so that when she is older and hopefully through this, you have to go over with her if she thinks you were being unfair. Its funny how they can twist even the best intentions into hate sometimes.Hopefully, both our situations won't be permanent.xo
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kmetz44 said:
I liked your post, not becuase I like you situation (obviously) but I think the response was wonderfully written. Tough, yet still open, informative yet still maintaining your privacy. I hope everything works out well but if it doesnt it wont be because of lack of trying on your part!
Hugs
This!
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Thanks you guys. It was horrible. I was up SO late writing and re-writing. I haven't heard from mom or her yet. I keep re-reading it. I was shaking so bad by the time I hit send. I hope I did the right thing.
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Oh, and to clarify, my Dad is in the final stages of Parkinson's disease. Any emotional upset sets him back physically for days.
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I would not do you the injustice of even pretending that I can relate to the pain of having to write something like that to your baby girl. The person you love and cherish most. I don't know what's right or wrong to do in these situations, but I do know it's obvious that you love and care for your girl and want a healthy, happy, stable relationship with her. I can understand why you are choosing to not accept her to be part of your FB given her past history and knowing that she has multiple avenues of contacting you should she need/want to. You've opened all the doors you can. You explained yourself well. Blunt, but tactful and with love. I know it was so hard for you and I'm sorry it has come to this. Hoping she sees the light very soon. >:D<
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I think that you wrote this piece to her very well. I know it broke your heart every step of the way and I am so sorry that you had to write it. I also am proud of you for taking and making that step because I know what all you have been through (or at least what you have told us). :x
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Thank you, babe. I also want to show the other side, to women that may be lurking, afraid they will be judged here because their situation is out of the norm, that there is love and support here. And to the women that have judged in the past, saying that we just don't want our kids allowed because we like our "freedom" and are making excuses. Obviously, I use that freedom to live a wild and crazy life, right. I'd give up that "freedom" to have my baby back any day. And also for the moms and dads who may be using their child as a tool against your ex, this is what you're doing to your ex, AND THAT CHILD. It isn't fair, you're hurting not only your ex, but the child and SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE. Hate your ex, fine, hate away. But look at me and see the repercussions of your actions. I still love her. There are pictures of her all over my home. She still has clothes and a room and everything a teenage girl could want here, and I haven't seen her since February and only talked to her twice. Is hurting me worth damaging her forever?
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FinallyFree2BMe said:
Thank you, babe. I also want to show the other side, to women that may be lurking, afraid they will be judged here because their situation is out of the norm, that there is love and support here. And to the women that have judged in the past, saying that we just don't want our kids allowed because we like our "freedom" and are making excuses. Obviously, I use that freedom to live a wild and crazy life, right. I'd give up that "freedom" to have my baby back any day. And also for the moms and dads who may be using their child as a tool against your ex, this is what you're doing to your ex, AND THAT CHILD. It isn't fair, you're hurting not only your ex, but the child and SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE. Hate your ex, fine, hate away. But look at me and see the repercussions of your actions. I still love her. There are pictures of her all over my home. She still has clothes and a room and everything a teenage girl could want here, and I haven't seen her since February and only talked to her twice. Is hurting me worth damaging her forever?
The last part of that made me cry.I'll come out too, as a family dealing with parental alienation and a child that is being ruined by a parent just because that parent wants a pawn to use in their sick "game".Thank you for putting this out there. If you never had, I would never have known that my family is not the only one going through this. My step-daughter has a room at our house that she has never seen. When we bought the house, we bought specifically so she would have a room if she ever let her dad back into her life. It breaks my heart and I've never even met her...what it's doing to him is horrendous. And what her mother has stolen from her - a great dad - is priceless and irreplaceable.I'm on the Internet Explorer! -
I cried reading this. It was so well written and well thought out, I cried because I can well imagine that you cried as you wrote it. And I can imagine how much all of this is hurting you. Good for you for writing it.
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Oh @regp, I'm so sorry. For you and your husband. I'm sure he misses his girl every day and I can't imagine the pain it causes him. I've seen you mention your SD and her mom before, but had no idea it was this bad. Big huge hugs to you & DH. >:D<
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A quick update. I'm emotionally drained. My mom lost her job today due to state budget cuts. I heard from my daughter. It got incredibly ugly between her accusations, defending myself and my mom standing up for me. If I ever hear from her again, I would be shocked. I went and started a new tattoo tonight. A phoenix wrapped up with a dragon. I'm the phoenix, rising from the ashes of my old life, DF is my dragon, rising to protect me at my darkest time. Three hours of pain, where I felt free to cry. I have to start a new life tomorrow, one without my daughter in it. I have to sleep now. My body is revolting from the physical and emotional onslaught it's endured today. Thank you all. You don't know how much it means to have your support.
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@FinallyFree2BMe I'm so sorry that things didn't go well with your daughter today. I wish there were some magic words I could say to make you feel better, but as I have never been in this situation I am at a loss. My heart hurts for you. Sending tons of hugs and good thoughts your way.
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I'm so sorry. Your letter was perfect (boundaries and needs etc...) and it seems that you really needed to say it, for you, for her, for everyone. Her reaction seems "normal" (defensive, angry). I think most of us would be put off having received that letter - not that it was wrong, just truth can be painful. I don't think your were expecting flowers and an apology (if you see what I mean) even though you deserve both! It seems like you've been holding in a lot of anger and it's been building and eating off itself and with your letter, you've purged your hurt.... now you'll need time. Time to breathe, time to feel the weight that has been lifted off your shoulders, and time to forget what's has hurt you and time to one day forgive (truly accepting an apology if one is made or just letting it go)....
My heart goes out to you.
"Magic things are fond of deceptions.” ― Tom Robbins -
I'm sorry hunnie : ( she will grow up and regret her actions, it might take a while, but it will happen. You did the right thing!
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@finallyfree2bme I'm so sorry. I can't offer you enough hugs and good thoughts. Praying for healing and peace for you.@sammie thank you, I hurt so much for him. It just kills me to know what a truly fantastic dad he is and how much he loves and misses her.I'm on the Internet Explorer!
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Hugs my honey.
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I'm so sorry you are going through this. I don't remember the entire back story but was wondering if you tried counseling with your daughter? You are her mother for life whether you, her, or anyone else like it or not. And you said your daughter barely graduated 7th grade so she is what 11 or 12? I think some of the things in the letter would be very hurtful to a child that age and remember she is a child while you are an adult. And a child that it sounds like has been brainwashed by her father.
Praying for you and your daughter that you find peace and healing -
@lifeofchaos thankyou for putting that so well. I wanted to say that and didn't know how to put it. Is there a thread for the backstory?"Be who you are and say what you feel. Because those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter." - Dr. Seuss
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I agree with @CanadianMama. I did some pretty silly stuff to my family when I was a teenager. I didn't speak to them at all for about 6 months. It was totally immature on my part, and I know now how much I hurt them. I really regret it, and I think one day your DD will too. I'm so sorry you're dealing with this, but you're handling it with strength, and I totally admire you for it."I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and I believe in miracles." ~Audrey Hepburn
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Basically, I left her father because he cheated repeatedly and was abusive. We let her go with him because she didn't want to change schools and I came back home to new orleans. I left my job with the state and worked every other week with an agency because I had to get her back and fourth to school every day I had her (we had 50/50 custody one week on, one week off). The weeks he had her he convinced her that I was a prostitute, on drugs, that I left him because I wanted to party and drink with my friends, etc. She eventually became more hostile with me leading to an episode where she ended up putting me in the hospital. She's a big girl. Her other issue with me is that I had rules in my home, she had things like a bedtime and chores. At his home there was no such thing. I agreed to every other weekend and holiday visitation because at that point I had to save my health and sanity. I got back together with the love of my life that I lost in high school. She realized that I was serious about him and things deteriorated further. She would contact me to scream at me, demand money from me, demand that I take her shopping and just to put me down. When I would bring her to my home, she would search it while we slept, take pictures and send them to her father, steal things and bring them to him, etc. It was a nightmare. I finally started making her stay with my mother, until my mother had enough and kicked her out of her house. She called in feb. Asking for help because she was failing school, so mom and I helped her get back on track and prevented her from failing entirely. The last time she called my mom and I, she berated us for "never doing anything for her or buying anything for her". She then got on my fiancee's fb page and told him that I was still seeing and sleeping with her father. I haven't seen him in two years. That was the last straw and we stopped speaking. Then I got the friend request. Granted this is a very condensed version.
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This is a difficult situation. I feel for your daughter. She obviously got stuck in the middle and used as a pawn. I can't imagine how hurt she must be having lost her mother too. I am really hoping things get better for all of you."Be who you are and say what you feel. Because those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter." - Dr. Seuss
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If she hurts @irishlass she sure has a funny way of showing it. I never demanded anything of her except that she be kind, respectful and eventually a productive member of society. She has been given more than one chance to leave the toxic environment there and live in a real home, with us. She has a room here, a room at my mother's home. As my mom put it "she got what she wanted". We've pulled her out of the muck and saved her from herself more than once. We get spit in the face as payback every time. As I said before, this is a very condensed version. We've done the therapy, as soon as the therapist mentioned that SOME fault may lie with her father, she said she was never going back and became violent when I tried to make her go back. I got her on medication to help with her anger management, she stopped taking it because "my daddy said I didn't need it". I've been thwarted at every turn when I tried to help. I'm tired of the "I fucking hate you" line being screamed in my face. I deserve a life where I'm not afraid to sleep in my own home.
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And to answer the age question, she's almost 14. She started school late.
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Huge hugs @finallyfreetobeme. I didn't mean to imply that her hurting meant that you hurt any less! I really feel for you. You are in a really tough position."Be who you are and say what you feel. Because those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter." - Dr. Seuss
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@FinallyFree2BMe.. I'm so sorry your dealing with this right now. I myself was an extremely difficult teenager and put my parents through hell. Now that I'm older and I'm a parent, I feel absolutely horrible for the things I did and said to them. She will get it one day, just leave her alone for a while, it'll be good for both of you. How old is she if you don't mind me asking? Her father sounds like a complete dick! How can someone use their child in their sick game against their own mother. Have you tried expressing how you feel to him? Could your daughter be using drugs or drinking, and maybe that is why she is lashing out, because she is confused as to where she stands in her life right now? You sound like a very strong woman, I would have sent my child to a reform school at this point. Maybe that's something to consider, she could use a little more stability in her life. Big big BIG hugs to you mama<3
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What a hard situation for both of you. Early teens is a very hard confusing time. Like I sd she sounds like a very troubled teen and with good reason.... She lived in an abusive home (saw her mother abused) and an obviously unhappy home. Then to go thru her parents divorcing (which no kid wants even if it was a bad situation) and then to go on and see her mom find happiness and hear her dad bad mouth her mom. Tough for any kid. So it sounds like she lashed out in any way she could. I am in no way at all excusing what she did.... The abuse, trying to sabotage your relationship etc etc. I can't even begin to imagine what it's like to be in your shoes or what i would do in those curcumstances. I guess my only point is she is 14 and has been through a lot (as have you).My heart bleeds for both of you
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my dad kind of did that to me after my parents got divorced. He'd try to get information from me. I was 15 when it happened and I was fortunate to have an older sister who caught on to what he was trying to do. I can tell you with full certainty that she's not going to realize what's going on until she's about 20. I think you're doing the right thing for yourself here. The only other thing I could suggest is bring the evidence of what she's doing to court and sue for full custody. Get a restraining order against the father if you have to, but this may just make her hate you more. I was a bitch to my mother for three years. Put her through hell, and I apologize for it every time I talk to her now.
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I've stepped away for now, for my own sanity and safety. She made it clear to the judge when I tried to get custody last month at court that if she was made to live with me that she would run away at every opportunity and do whatever she could to make my life a living hell. He saw it fit to leave her where she wanted to be. I'm exhausted just thinking about it, honestly. I can't force her to love me, and if I try, I will get an equal and opposite reaction.
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I've stepped away for now, for my own sanity and safety. She made it clear to the judge when I tried to get custody last month at court that if she was made to live with me that she would run away at every opportunity and do whatever she could to make my life a living hell. He saw it fit to leave her where she wanted to be. I'm exhausted just thinking about it, honestly. I can't force her to love me, and if I try, I will get an equal and opposite reaction.
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Damn phone.
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@FinallyFree2BMe I don't have any advice, none at all. I've never been in your shoes. But you are right, you can't make her love you and you deserve to be happy and unafraid. You're doing what's best for you in your situation. I really hope it gets easier and better for you.
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Hugs, lady. >:D<
I normally wouldn't advocate this, but yes, I think stepping back is a good idea.
If she & her dad feed off of this drama, let's starve them.
You know how nothing brings people together like a common enemy?
Let's cut at the source of their so called bond.
Take you out of the picture & at some point they are going to see each other more clearly.
Stories about you will become old without a fresh supply of grievances coming in..
Sending good thoughts to all..I hope your mom & dad are ok too



















