Texas Father just trying to do the right thing.

[Bradley]

Once again, the mother always wins....
I was kicked along with my wife out of my daughters cheerleading event today because the costodial parent, my daughters mother called 911 on a distrubance, My wife and I were confronted at the door and this estranged relative of my exwife was yelling at me. I remained calm but still was escorted out the game. My ex wife says I have no right to be at  the game because it is not my weekend.
What can I do now?
Do I have rights to be at my daughters extra curricular activities?

[socrateaser]

>Once again, the mother always wins....
>I was kicked along with my wife out of my daughters
>cheerleading event today because the costodial parent, my
>daughters mother called 911 on a distrubance, My wife and I
>were confronted at the door and this estranged relative of my
>exwife was yelling at me. I remained calm but still was
>escorted out the game. My ex wife says I have no right to be
>at  the game because it is not my weekend.
>What can I do now?
>Do I have rights to be at my daughters extra curricular
>activities?

First, let me remind you that I do not tolerate bad attitudes in this forum. Don't tell me that the "mother always wins," because that by itself suggests that you have a serious chip on your shoulder that helps to create the very circumstances that you seek to avoid. So, you need to think about this. Now to the law:

Under the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, you have a protected liberty interest that grants you the right to do whatever you wish, wherever and whenever you wish to do it, unless your behavior is otherwise prohibited by statute or court order.

So, if you are under no express court order to not attend your child's extra-curricular activities, or to be within a certain physical proximity of the other parent or your child, then the only lawful reason why law enforcement could have removed you from the premises, is if they believed that you were acting disorderly in public.

As you have not told me EXACTLY what took place, I can't analyze the situation, or comment further.

[Bradley]

I am sorry to seem that way, but Texas is a 90 percent in favor of the mother state. I just feel as my title states, Father trying to do the right thing.
Some words were exchanged between myself and my ex wifes ex stepfathers wife, which she started as soon as i entered the gate of the game.  I did not use profanity or call anyone names just defending myself as to have a right to walk my daughter on the field for her homecoming game.  The lady who verbally attacked me also called my wife a stupid idiot.  SHe was loud and obnoxious and I just walked away and sat down, she or my ex wife called the police. WHich one I am not sure. The fact is I came to support my daughter and the whole family of my ex wife was there and were their witnesses that caused the problem. I then was removed from the game me, my wife , my two sons and my guests, very embarassing, and the police did not care to hear my story. Thanks for the advice.

[socrateaser]

>I am sorry to seem that way, but Texas is a 90 percent in
>favor of the mother state. I just feel as my title states,
>Father trying to do the right thing.
>Some words were exchanged between myself and my ex wifes ex
>stepfathers wife, which she started as soon as i entered the
>gate of the game.  I did not use profanity or call anyone
>names just defending myself as to have a right to walk my
>daughter on the field for her homecoming game.  The lady who
>verbally attacked me also called my wife a stupid idiot.  SHe
>was loud and obnoxious and I just walked away and sat down,
>she or my ex wife called the police. WHich one I am not sure.
>The fact is I came to support my daughter and the whole family
>of my ex wife was there and were their witnesses that caused
>the problem. I then was removed from the game me, my wife , my
>two sons and my guests, very embarassing, and the police did
>not care to hear my story. Thanks for the advice.

OK, that's useful. This is how to fix your problem in the future. Buy yourself a small dictation recorder, and anytime that you are within talking distance of the other parent, take it out so it's in plain sight of her and anyone else and push record. Then, NEVER, and I mean NEVER, say anything hostile, sarcastic, or even mildly provocative. You keep it in your mind that the only thing that matters is your child, and nothing else. Then, if the other parent or her family or friends start something, you just let them wail on you verbally, but you do not say anything agressive in response. If you do, then know right now, that while it may make you feel more like a man while you're in the moment, you're actually shooting yourself in the foot by allowing someone to get to you with words. You know the old saying, "Sticks and stones..." Well, when it comes to ex's, the best move is tol allow that person to use all the words they want, because if you get them on tape in public, and they know that you're recording them, and they are bad mouthing you in front of your child, then a judge will positively have them for dinner when he/she hears the conversation played back in court.

Furthermore, the police/sheriff will be able to listen to the tone of things right there in living color and when that happens, I can practically guarantee that the result will be that the other parent will be the one who is escorted from the premises.

I know this, because I've had it happen personally, and I've had many people confirm this. A tape recorder in plain sight is as good as an M16 when it comes to getting an advantage with a hostile ex.

And, you can take that to the bank.

[DecentDad]

My ex used exchanges as her opportunity to unload whatever thoughts she wanted on me, holding onto our then toddler until she was done expressing herself.

When I began carrying a microcassette recorder to every exchange, there was peace.

Years later, I now carry it in my pocket just in case (no need for daughter to see me carrying it), and only on a couple of occasions have I brought it out (i.e., my ex would start saying something, and then immediately stop when I pulled out the recorder).

It apparently infuriated her (I've gotten emails about my so-called inappropriateness and paranoia regarding the recorder), but spending $50 on that little thing did more to keep things "pleasant" than any court order or police officer could do.

DD

[gipsy]

My atty recomended a Video recorder . Surveilance = good behavior And the end of problems at the transfer !