WorriedNJmom
Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? New Jersey
My son is 16 and has court ordered visitation with his father on alternating weekends and holidays. The relationship has always been rocky. After visiting w/his father for a 2 week long vacation, he came home and broke down in tears, absolutely shaken up and does not want to see him anymore. He can not take the emotional stress anymore. His father and stepmother fight CONSTANTLY. His father is very short tempered and ALWAYS snaps at him and yells at him. My son says he feels very uncomfortable going there, he's afraid that he will "snap" one day on his father, he can not take the stress anymore and no longer wants to see him. My son has a seizure disorder, whereas stress is a BIG factor in causing seizures and is a major concern of mine. My son has undergone numerous years of counseling several years ago in helping him to deal with issues that have developed from seeing his father. He hated it, but I did what I felt was neccessary to help him. It's been roughly around 5 years since he's been in counseling and has adjusted well up until now. He is ACTUALLY requesting to see a counsler to deal with the anxiety of having to deal with his father. He feels he needs someone to talk to, which I am seeking for him.
WHAT DO I DO IN REGARDS TO VISITATION? I am required to bring him to his father, but what do I do when he refuses to go? He does not want to see him. He is scared for his own mental health.
Please, anyone with any advice, I would greatly appreciate it. I do not know which way to go with this. Do I have my son speak with his father about it, which I'm sure will have my son being yelled at and exposed to more emotional abuse? Do I petition the court to have visitation terminated, which I'm sure they'll just deny? Do I have my son petition the court on his own, which I don't feel very comfortable in doing? WHAT DO I DO?
Thank you very much for your time.
My son is 16 and has court ordered visitation with his father on alternating weekends and holidays. The relationship has always been rocky. After visiting w/his father for a 2 week long vacation, he came home and broke down in tears, absolutely shaken up and does not want to see him anymore. He can not take the emotional stress anymore. His father and stepmother fight CONSTANTLY. His father is very short tempered and ALWAYS snaps at him and yells at him. My son says he feels very uncomfortable going there, he's afraid that he will "snap" one day on his father, he can not take the stress anymore and no longer wants to see him. My son has a seizure disorder, whereas stress is a BIG factor in causing seizures and is a major concern of mine. My son has undergone numerous years of counseling several years ago in helping him to deal with issues that have developed from seeing his father. He hated it, but I did what I felt was neccessary to help him. It's been roughly around 5 years since he's been in counseling and has adjusted well up until now. He is ACTUALLY requesting to see a counsler to deal with the anxiety of having to deal with his father. He feels he needs someone to talk to, which I am seeking for him.
WHAT DO I DO IN REGARDS TO VISITATION? I am required to bring him to his father, but what do I do when he refuses to go? He does not want to see him. He is scared for his own mental health.
Please, anyone with any advice, I would greatly appreciate it. I do not know which way to go with this. Do I have my son speak with his father about it, which I'm sure will have my son being yelled at and exposed to more emotional abuse? Do I petition the court to have visitation terminated, which I'm sure they'll just deny? Do I have my son petition the court on his own, which I don't feel very comfortable in doing? WHAT DO I DO?
Thank you very much for your time.