Artemis_ofthe_Hunt
Senior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Doesn't matter in this case.
I wanted to share a story with you folks who insist upon making your childrens lives miserable by fighting with the other parent, playing musical parents and badmouthing each other.
Once upon a time, there was a woman who met and married a man with three children. This woman was not a very good step-mother, though her intentions were good, she continually over-stepped her boundaries as step-mom. When things turned sour, and eventually abusive with this man, the woman fled, and because she had NO legal authority or right to do so, she fled without the children.
Fast forward to several years ago and more currently, yesterday;
The oldest child, a girl with sunny hair and a need for security, grew up, met a man and got married. Her relationship with her father was not a good one, and they hadn't spoken in a long time. When the girl found herself in a troubled pregnancy, even from the first. She couldn't have counted on her Daddy, because Daddy had turned himself into a raging alcoholic. She couldn't turn to her mother, because her mother had turned herself into a pill-popping zombie. Who could she turn to? Who had she turned to before, who had cared for her, even through the rough? Her former step-mother. So, she called the woman who was her father's former wife. This woman welcomed the contact with joy in her heart and they built on a love and trust they had shared before. This woman became an "honorary grandmother" to her former step-child's child.
Fast forward to 26 weeks ago. The girl, who had grown into an amazing young woman, despite the odds, found herself in a dangerous pregnancy. She battled on her own, because her husband was serving his country and bettering their lives. She continued contact with the woman who was her child's "honorary grandmother"...
On April 6, after having been in premature labor for several days, she gave birth to a boy child, who was 8 weeks early. He was just a little mite, just over 3lbs. His APGAR score was decent, but the doctors and nurses were wary, and brought him to the NICU unit. He was so small, and had so little fat underneath his baby's skin, he couldn't be touched without being in excruciating pain. He couldn't be breast fed, and he was so little, they were forced to put in a feeding tube. He developed breathing problems and was given a drug to help mature his lungs faster, but they were not maturing fast enough and he was put on a CPAP. He developed a fever in the ensuing days, and continued to decline. He was med-evac'd to a larger hospital with a more advanced NICU unit. The doctors there asked the girl if she wanted the doctors to continue life saving efforts, because despite their care, he had fallen into a coma.
Prayer chains that had already been started, spread further. We prayed harder. The doctors began to feel some hope when the little boy woke, and started responding to non-painful stimuli. That night, his amonia levels shot up into the high 900's, and the following day he passed. He was 10 days old.
Today:
His mom and dad and older sister mourn his loss. As do all of the people who make up this family's chosen family. Prayers continue to be whispered in memory and for strength for the family. There is no pain worse than having to bury your child.
I told this story because it reminded me just how lucky we are. We need to remember that our children have TWO parents, just like it took TWO people to create that child. Even though the love and care can come in many shapes and forms, we all have to remember to keep these children's best interests at heart.
Children's best interest is to be loved. Period. It is our jobs to keep our bitterness and hatred to our co-parents out of sight and mind of our children. Just read the story above and think how little it really matters that EX doesn't allow you to encroach on their time with their children, when you expect the same in return. You could be facing what this girl and her family are....
In Memory, Beloved Parker. We love you!
I wanted to share a story with you folks who insist upon making your childrens lives miserable by fighting with the other parent, playing musical parents and badmouthing each other.
Once upon a time, there was a woman who met and married a man with three children. This woman was not a very good step-mother, though her intentions were good, she continually over-stepped her boundaries as step-mom. When things turned sour, and eventually abusive with this man, the woman fled, and because she had NO legal authority or right to do so, she fled without the children.
Fast forward to several years ago and more currently, yesterday;
The oldest child, a girl with sunny hair and a need for security, grew up, met a man and got married. Her relationship with her father was not a good one, and they hadn't spoken in a long time. When the girl found herself in a troubled pregnancy, even from the first. She couldn't have counted on her Daddy, because Daddy had turned himself into a raging alcoholic. She couldn't turn to her mother, because her mother had turned herself into a pill-popping zombie. Who could she turn to? Who had she turned to before, who had cared for her, even through the rough? Her former step-mother. So, she called the woman who was her father's former wife. This woman welcomed the contact with joy in her heart and they built on a love and trust they had shared before. This woman became an "honorary grandmother" to her former step-child's child.
Fast forward to 26 weeks ago. The girl, who had grown into an amazing young woman, despite the odds, found herself in a dangerous pregnancy. She battled on her own, because her husband was serving his country and bettering their lives. She continued contact with the woman who was her child's "honorary grandmother"...
On April 6, after having been in premature labor for several days, she gave birth to a boy child, who was 8 weeks early. He was just a little mite, just over 3lbs. His APGAR score was decent, but the doctors and nurses were wary, and brought him to the NICU unit. He was so small, and had so little fat underneath his baby's skin, he couldn't be touched without being in excruciating pain. He couldn't be breast fed, and he was so little, they were forced to put in a feeding tube. He developed breathing problems and was given a drug to help mature his lungs faster, but they were not maturing fast enough and he was put on a CPAP. He developed a fever in the ensuing days, and continued to decline. He was med-evac'd to a larger hospital with a more advanced NICU unit. The doctors there asked the girl if she wanted the doctors to continue life saving efforts, because despite their care, he had fallen into a coma.
Prayer chains that had already been started, spread further. We prayed harder. The doctors began to feel some hope when the little boy woke, and started responding to non-painful stimuli. That night, his amonia levels shot up into the high 900's, and the following day he passed. He was 10 days old.
Today:
His mom and dad and older sister mourn his loss. As do all of the people who make up this family's chosen family. Prayers continue to be whispered in memory and for strength for the family. There is no pain worse than having to bury your child.
I told this story because it reminded me just how lucky we are. We need to remember that our children have TWO parents, just like it took TWO people to create that child. Even though the love and care can come in many shapes and forms, we all have to remember to keep these children's best interests at heart.
Children's best interest is to be loved. Period. It is our jobs to keep our bitterness and hatred to our co-parents out of sight and mind of our children. Just read the story above and think how little it really matters that EX doesn't allow you to encroach on their time with their children, when you expect the same in return. You could be facing what this girl and her family are....
In Memory, Beloved Parker. We love you!
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