Portland that my father, whose own father is from a place where Farmington, Maine was considered “the big city,”

It is my life sentence. Life sentence.

I poured a glass of wine and fell asleep watching Boston Legal on my laptop.

I dated a NYPD cop in the 90s who left his gun on the back of a toilet in his local bar. More than once.

I would only do it if it were made into a boob-shaped pendant.

Thank you! I was just about to post something similar. I had to fight the schools in our red state so hard just to have my son treated like any other student. Other students literally threatened his life, and the principal told him to “suck it up.”

In my experience, parents who spend their time and energy (and money) accusing the other parent of alienation are seeking to put the responsibility for the failed relationship with the child/ren onto someone else. If you think the other parent is doing this, going to court isn’t going to help. Go to family counseling…

I’m really sorry that happened to you. A nearly identical thing happened to me in 1982, and I had the exact same reaction you did.

Why thank you! (Now I’m blushing)

Thank you! My son graduated from college and my daughter had her 10th birthday while my mom was in hospice. Both of those occasions required that I be present and excited and try to make the most of it. Did that mean I wasn’t thinking about my mom? Of course not.

The mother filed a motion for a restraining order, the son witnessed his mother being hit by his father. The mother was not granted the restraining order BY THIS SAME JUDGE, who then used the fact that there was no evidence of abuse (say, a restraining order) to dismiss her allegations of abuse. There is something…

There is no such thing as “wrong lentils!”

Okay, but do you have any idea at all how much money it costs and how much time it takes to pursue those remedies? And in the meantime, the child(ren) involved are hurting.

The oldest boy saw the father hit his mother. That is abuse, and if you don’t understand that, I can’t help you.

I’m pretty sure a nine-year old can tell if he saw his father hit his mother. I definitely agree that a six-year acrimonious divorce can fuck up everyone involved. Hell, I think I was pretty out of my mind during mine, and that was nothing compared to this shit show.

I’m so sorry that happened to you! I really think custodial parents should be able to move out of state if they offer reasonable visitation to the non-custodial parent. It’s bullshit that the non-custodial parent gets to control the lives of their ex and children in that way. Especially if the child doesn’t really…

Wait, it isn’t? Brb, off to google!

I’m not defending the mother, I’m calling the judge’s actions into question. Did you read how she spoke to those children? It was so over the top and bizarre that it does lead people to speculate about her motives.

I said this upthread, but it sure seems like she’s involved with one of those people who constantly complains that their ex is a bitch, is brainwashing the kids, etc.

Right? It’s like the ultimate gaslighting. You can’t possibly have independent thoughts! Someone must be telling you to hate your other parent because in literally every non-divorced household all the children get along swimmingly with both parents all of the time!