divorce360.com provides help, advice and community for people
contemplating, going through or recovering from divorce and the issues around it,
including separation, divorce laws, spousal support and emotional issues.

ADVERTISING PARTNERS


Answers
You can search for Answers by tag here:

Invite Others
Invite friends and family to join you on d360! - Click here
where do I start
Our checklists are a great place to start. Or, get a quick review of your state's divorce laws with our Legal Cheat Sheet.
  Posted to group - Difficult Ex's    <<Previous    Next>>

Serious concerns

 I've been divorced for over a month now, with a 20 month son. My ex and I separated before he was born. A few weeks before the divorce papers were signed. Our son started acting out again at visitation exchanges, crying, screaming not wanting to go with his father. The biting,slapping, and pinching that I had previously had gotten to stop, came back.  And in addition a new behavior started, he constantly tries to hump my head, a sort of masturbation, I've done some research and they say its normal to  hump objects, even read one case where the child tried to hump a dog all the time. re-direction doesn't work, and his violent reactions are getting worse, especially after visitations. (once a week and every other weekend, plus holidays and 3 weeks vacation)

 

My ex refuses to communicate with me, especially if it has anything to do with him, barely will talk about our son. And honestly keeping conversation to e-mail only and a few words at visitation was a god sent since he use to verbally abuse me every chance he got, which I repeatedly asked him not to do in front of our son, he doesn't need to hear that mommy is " F*** B****.

 

The Ex noted that he was humping but said a friend of his said it was normal and he will not redirect him or discourage the behavior, even after I told him I spoke with the doctor and they said it was normal but not with a person, and to re-direct them to an object, such as a pillow or blanket.

 

Thinking that something else was going on, especially with the visitation exchanges. I hired a Price investigator. In the course of 3 weeks, he's had 2 women spend the night while he has our son and another women was seen coming and going from his apartment with a key (not with our son). And a 4th women at halloween with 2 of her own kids.  I could care less what my ex does with his time or whom he spends it with. But when he has our son I do care what he does and who he has around, especiallywhen its clearly having a negative impact on our sons behavior.

 

Since I have little to no faith or any decent conversation coming from my ex, I called my lawyer, at first she said we had enough to go to court,now is back peddling a little bit and thinks this will blow up in face.

 

I'm not necessarily seeking visitation to be reduced, My primary goal here is to get what ever behavior is going on to make our son act out, to have it stop. I want him to have a healthy relationship with his father, but he's impossible to deal with and he's told me flat out, he wont do anything based on agreement, only if the judge tells him to do something. Which he even has a hard time doing that, likes to play games with me. (i.e. not providing all the travel information, when traveling out of town).

 

I feel my only way of addressing these issues is to go to court. I'm concerned about the long term effects this will have on our son. But I'm also concerned that it might not be enough evidence and his lawyer (scum) will taint as I'm just being litigious (made the arguement when I filled for divorce) and either nothing will happen or the judge will punish me for bringing it to court.

 

Has anyone had anything similiar happen, any advice on how I should proceed?


by Miveta   4 Posts 
Posted on 11/10/2009 10:02 AM
Get AlertsGet Alerts!
Sent to Friendsend to friend
0

Tags:


Answers for "Serious concerns"  (4) (You must be logged in to answer)




Hi Miveta -
 
I am a relationship counselor and divorce coach here on D360.

Your son's acting out, biting, pinching, and slapping are an expression of attention getting behaviors that happen to a great number of 20 month olds.

Generally I have found that when the child received sufficient attention for positive behaviors and the negative behaviors are ignored they will grow out of them. Since the goal is generally to get attention, toddlers learn quickly that if parents doesn't respond to a particular behavior that it isn't working and they move on to a different one. That is why positive reinforcement works so well with little ones.

If you start reprimanding him for some of these behaviors it may become a game for him, something you don't want to have happen.

If he bites, hits or slaps other children you will have to sternly say, "no" and give him a time out. Adults should be able to avoid getting close enough to be bitten, slapped or pinched.

The humping is, as you said, is your toddler learning to masturbate. It is normal, even on your head. He will learn over time that he needs to participate in masturbation in private. I would do the same thing in this area... positive reinforcement for correct actions and ignore public displays of masturbation. 

If he understands enough language you might say, "This is something we do in our bedroom when we are alone, not here in the kitchen" or wherever you are, while you physically remove him from your body and place him gently on the floor, without making it seem like a problem.
Again, you don't want to make it into a game.

My guess is that he isn't getting much attention over at Dad's because of all the company. If you feel that he is getting worse, I would take him in for an evaluation with a child psychologist. If there is anything going on with your son you want to figure it out now while he is young and you can do the most to help him.

Best - Lisa
by Lisa Cannon   
Posted on 11/11/2009 12:01 AM
0





advice stays the same =) get him to a child psychologist...
by spaznskitz   7745 Posts
Posted on 11/10/2009 12:26 PM
0





Sorry, Actually he's been having visitation with his father "unsupervised" at his home for over a year now, that's why the concern all of sudden since he already settled down into a routine, and now the acting out again has come back with a vengeance.
by Miveta   4 Posts
Posted on 11/10/2009 12:14 PM
0





Put the child into therapy and have that testimony, if the therapist feels there is a true concern, as a bolster to your case.

Your sons outbursts are due more than likely to his confusion about the whole situation, and not being old enough to truly voice how he feels. It's only been a month - it takes quite a while for some kids to adjust - therapy will help. The therapist an give you suggestions to help the transition time.

One thing I suggest to parents with this issue is to already have an activity set up for the child to do right when they get home. Finger painting, a trip to the park, help to bake cookies - something fun, something that instills happiness and distracts from the transition.

 

His humping your head could also be him just trying to assert his independence and have nothing to do with what goes on at dad's. He knows it irritates you, it's fun to irritate you - (trust me, I have 5 kids, they actively look for things they can do) You have to discern when redirecting is necessary and when just plain NO CUT IT OUT is appropriate too. The therapist can help you with that.

by spaznskitz   7745 Posts
Posted on 11/10/2009 11:56 AM
1







Divorce360.com is not a substitute for advice from a lawyer, accountant, financial planner, therapist or other professional to obtain advice. Divorce360.com is not intended to, and should not, take the place of professional advice. The opinions expressed in the divorce360.com message boards are those of the author and the author alone. Divorce360.com does not endorse any specific product or service.

 
divorce Community::
popular blogs
Be Careful What You Write on the Memo Line....
Another tale from the Spaz client files....   So, I have a...read more 

Interesting Observation about Infideltiy
It iIt is intersting to see what has happened over the past 2 years.  My...read more 

Forced meeting for my daughter
I have not posted for a while, things have been going rather smoothly....until...read more 

get/give answers

Financial Mediation tomorrow.. waste of time???
So I have another mediation appointment that was ordered by the court with my...Read Answers/share yours 

Legal responsibilites to enforce visitation?
My 17 year old son refuses to go to visit his father. He has valid reasons, but...Read Answers/share yours 

expert Q&As
Faith Therapy : Does a Separation Work?
My Husband and I Are Having Trouble. Is It a Good Idea for Us to Separate?...read more 

Stress Relief: Tips to Help after Separation
Mental Health: Overwhelmed by Changes in Household Routine. What Should I do?...read more 

About Law: Do Divorce Kits Work?
Legal: What You Should Consider When You Think About Divorcing Using a Kit...read more 

expand information center
divorce360.com's ecards
divorce focused content ::
divorce most popular ::
1. When Is a Marriage Worth Saving?
10 Things to Think About When Considering Whether to Stick with a Relationship

2. 8 Things No One Ever Tells You about Divorce
Number Three May Surprise You

3. Divorcing? 15 Costly Financial Mistakes
Settlements: 15 Critical Financial Mistakes Often Made in the Heat of Divorce

4. Beginning Checklist: Planning to File for Divorce
12 Steps to Consider if You or Your Partner Have Decided to File for Divorce

5. Are You Ready For Divorce?
Three Key Questions You Must Ask Yourself