Behavior Issues - How to Transition

[tharper001]

Well, it was a pretty interesting morning this morning.  We got in front of the general master this morning -- a date that has been scheduled for some time now.  Got in late from Canada last night, and was 1/2 hour early for our appointment.  Low and behold -- the witch didn't show up.  She called and left a message with the general master's asst that something had come up and there was no way she could make it -- didn't leave any more of an explanation and didn't leave a return phone number.

So... our attorney painted a pretty good picture in a very short amount of time with the general master.  We got summer visitation scheduled, we got an order for the mother to make sure the child calls her father (with shared parental responsibility, it is her OBLIGATION to do so), we got our wish for a psychiatric evaluation to begin with a psychiatrist of our choice... and best of all, our attorney was able to establish the fact that the mother be compelled to finish her deposition -- the one that she stood up after about an hour and screamed at the attorney and then stormed out -- that she finish this and that the child not be present (yes, she brought the child the last time).  The general master will also recommend that the parties do not discuss the legal matters with the child -- YES!

The visitation issue that we had -- where I was ticked that it was at the last minute -- worked out.  My husband did drop the child off after father's day, and we were able to proceed with our out-of-town plans.  Not without a phone call from the child, however (which always seems to occur when we're out of town).  The child called on Friday afternoon (we were in Canada).  She talked to her father and asked why we were lying about her mother... that her mother had tried to schedule summer visitation and that he was out-right lying.  Sure, she tried -- at the last minute.  And the child told him that she didn't want to come over or see him and was just very upset.  The child also discussed other issues related to the court documents (her mother has been reading those documents to this child).  The father told the child very calmly that she didn't have a choice in the matter, that she would come when her regularly visitation was, and that the legal matters were none of her concern.  That the courts would decide the matters.  She said okay, and that was it.  

How dare this woman think she is immune from showing up at court and how dare she force this child to make this disturbing phone calls!  Well, as our attorney pointed out today -- we're establishing a pattern.  The uncooperativeness is a he said/she said thing, but she's walked out of a deposition, she showed by phone for her court date to release her attorney and she called at the last minute this morning to say she couldn't make it.  We know she's shaking in her boots, otherwise, the child would have never called us.  And now we really know she's shaking because she didn't show this morning.  Well, at some point, she's going to have to face the general master or the judge -- and definitely the psychiatric evaluator.  Our attorney said we must be patient as things are very slow in moving, but that the pattern is being established -- and one that can't be contradicted by the mother!  He seems to know what he is doing.  I can't WAIT until that evaluation begins!  BRING IT ON... IT SHOULD BE A VERY INTERESTING SUMMER!