So.. I’m about to go through a custody battle and I need advice. Any advice at all. I’m nervous. The last thing I want…

@amandaw88 it's really sad that they choose to do that. I wish they would either step up or step out. It's really hard watching my SD be let down over and over by her mom.

@livinthatmomlife, my stepdaughter has been with me since February 12th and her mom has seen her once for a few hours. She’s supposed to have her every other weekend.

@amandaw88 this is EXACTLY what I did to a T! She signed over her rights to keep from going to court. My stepdaughter has now been with us for a year and her mom has seen her, MAYBE, a total of 6x.

If he does get partial custody you can try to make it a stipulation that the children are in a licensed childcare/preschool facility when he is at work. If you live nearby you should honestly use the same facility for consistency. He might agree to it in order to get time with the kids.

Can you have in your agreement you have the right to watch him before anyone else grandparents ect

We just got custody of my stepdaughter and my best advice is to document everything and gather as much evidence as you can. We had so much evidence against her mother that she didn’t want to go to court and agreed to sign the papers giving us custody. Screenshot every text, Facebook message, status update. Anything that proves that your child will be in substantial harm. Also make sure you’re doing everything you can to prove that they will be safer with you. Best of luck to you!

Make sure to keep a detailed journal of things!!

Get a really good lawyer with lots of experience in family law. Buy a calendar and document everything. Every time he’s late picking your baby up or dropping them off. Record every single conversation you have with him. Screenshot every text! Ask him for help financially and document every time he says no. Keep every receipt of everything you buy for your kids like, clothes, toys, etc. keep doctors, daycare, recipients. DO NOT LOOSE any of those things. Even if it’s 10yrs later you hold on to everything because you never know if you will need it. If you believe he’s planning on fighting you for custody, be ready to be in and out of court, mediation for a good long year.

Best of luck to you momma ❤️.

Your attorney should be able to give you all the advice you need, the best of it too. For now I would limit contact until your attorney says its okay or you need to talk for some reason. Keep any incriminating texts or things you can use against him but more importantly have your own ducks in a row. If you look good, he'll look bad.

I agree with previous post.. just know to be strong.. no matter how much crap gets thrown at you just keep your head held high and keep your eye on your son.. it’s not easy and your going to stress more during it all than you are now... just take deep breaths and try to stay strong in front of your little one.. that was the hardest part for me when I was and am still dealing with it.. I have to hide in the bathroom while I cry if my son is awake.. but in the end all you can do is know your doing it all for your son.. all the stress and the pain is worth it because he is ❤️ good luck hun.. sending prayers your way🙏🏻🙏🏻

Proof. You can say all day that he's not a good father or they're abusive but unless you have proof it's really just your word against there's. I saved everything I could for a year straight and when we went to pre trial we were awarded custody because the other "parent" didn't want to go to court because our lawyer let them know evidence would be presented and that scared them. I looked up every person my child was around while with them and if they had a record I'd screenshot it, I would screenshot every time they posted about being out all night drinking when they wee supposed to have my child, I saved every time they called (once a month, if even that) I saved everything. I now have full custody when I did only have my kid 3 days every 8 weeks. Good luck ❤

I read your original post. And I can honestly say I would do the same. It would kill me for my daughters to ask for their father and him not be around. I think it’s time he starts to actually attempt to see your kids.