Ask Me Help Desk - Unfit mother?

I have a two year old son when my xhusband and I got divorced about a year ago and since then I have had to take on the role of being a single mother. I am a very devoted mother and my son is very well taken care of by myself. I have been recently been struggling with depression but am under the care of a physician. I have since my ex husband moved on have a boyfriend that does not live with me he lives 2 hours away and visits once a month or so that is very much concerned about my depression so much he called the police on me and they came to my house as a possible suicide. I would never make an attempt on my life but he made it seem like I would and my x husband found out and is threatening to take my son away.When we got divorced he gave full custody of my son to me and pays child support.I have never put my son in danger and at the time of the incident he was at his grandparents house. I know this seem a little bad but you must understand that I devote everything to my son and I would never put him in harms way he has a stable home with him and myself and I am not an irrisponsible mother who leaves a child with someone to go party. I have financial stability. My exhusband has a child from his previous marriage who he left when his other son was the same age. I have asked my x to help me out at times with taking care of my son and he has never helped he has not even made an attempt to call or visit his son.Is there a possibility that I may lose my son?

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Originally Posted by Lindsey1

I have a two year old son when my xhusband and I got divorced about a year ago and since then I have had to take on the role of being a single mother. I am a very devoted mother and my son is very well taken care of by myself. I have been recently been struggling with depression but am under the care of a physician. I have since my ex husband moved on have a boyfriend that does not live with me he lives 2 hours away and visits once a month or so that is very much concerned about my depression so much he called the police on me and they came to my house as a possible suicide. I would never make an attempt on my life but he made it seem like i would and my x husband found out and is threatening to take my son away.When we got divorced he gave full custody of my son to me and pays child support.I have never put my son in danger and at the time of the incident he was at his grandparents house. I know this seem a little bad but you must understand that i devote everything to my son and I would never put him in harms way he has a stable home with him and myself and I am not an irrisponsible mother who leaves a child with someone to go party. I have finacial stability. My exhusband has a child from his previous marriage who he left when his other son was the same age. I have asked my x to help me out at times with taking care of my son and he has never helped he has not even made an attempt to call or visit his son.Is there a possibility that I may lose my son?

If you prove to the courts you are not an unfit mother i.e. show them you have a clean and safe home where your son is happy and loved not to mention ell cared for. Then volunteer a psyc evaluation.. best of luck to you

Its very hard, though not impossible to wrest a child from its mother. I would talk to your physician and explain what's going on. Your physician would probably be called on to testify if he does try to get custody.

In the meantime I would not worry about it until he actually files.

He may not be serious, but you know your ex best. I have talked to two women who lost their kids, although in both cases, the dad was in Europe, so it being international was a big part of the problem. But, the bottom line is that exes do sometimes succeed in taking kids away from their mothers. So I would not just ignore this threat, particularly if he has a lot more money than you.

I would begin to assemble all the information you have demonstrating that you are a fit mother. Consult an attorney or go to a women's shelter where someone may be able to give you information and assistance for free.

I had something similar happen to me. I did not lose my children, but my ex filed papers falsely alleging that I was suicidal and asking for full custody. Scared me half to death and did nothing for my depression. I stalled, agreed to mediation, stalled some more, and compromised. I consulted an attorney and also talked to people at a women's shelter who were very helpful.

Chances are good that you will keep your son full time, but I wouldn't do nothing either. You don't want to just wait for something bad to happen to you.

Good luck!