When I my ex and I divorced, My ex had custody of my youngest daughter, and I had custody of my oldest.
I wanted both of my girls, but I was overwelmed with my first fulltime job in 17 years plus a partime job... 57 hours a week & a few at the other, a small enough company that the boss can get away with no lunch breaks, no missing work or you loose your job. I lost my job after I missed 4 days (doctors excuse) from a car accident. My ex told me that he wouldn't be there to help me with the kids, and he told my youngest that he wouldn't get to see her much after the divorce and that he would be lonley.
Even though she'd always been closer to me, she felt bad for her dad (and love the attention he gave her) and wanted each of us to have one child. She now regrets her choice, But loves her dad bunches.

I moved to Alabama (Autauga County)because I had no job and my boyfriend asked me to come with him to help him run his business until it sells. We're still trying to sell it. My oldest daughter moved in with her dad, (she was very upset about that) and I've been her 2 1/2 years.
I regret coming here. Being away from my girls is the hardest thing in the world. The paid I've caused them is sometimes unberable. They live in Indiana.


What's hard about long distance parenting, is that it's unfair to the kids and enforcing your parenting rights. My ex holds the cards. He has an attorney. But I think that I have rights since we have joint legal custody. He told me that he will not meet me half-way anymore and that his Attorney said he didn't have to.

I believe the Indiana State laws say that when their is long distance parent... the custodial parent has to help with the travel expense. I'm suppose to get a certain percentage off my child support while I have them...I'm suppose to have a say so in all the major decisions that go on in their lives...Religion, schooling, discipline, etc.

My ex is making it harder for my daughter and I to talk each day by telling she has to have her homework/housework done each day before he gets home and they take off for his fiance's. The best time for her and I to talk is when he's not home...Because he interrupts our conversations a lot, and they usually leave shortly after he gets off work. I want private time to talk with them..

I'm very interested about what goes on in their lives and try to make contact with them 4 to 5 days a week. When he gets married, thing will be even more difficult as she'll be busy with the step-mom and her kids.. I'm dreading that.

My income is soooo limited. I can't afford an attorney...How do I find one for free, and get good representation...From so far away...

My ex isn't a bad person, he loves the kids but he and I have always had different parenting skills........ He keeps my 11 year old out until 10:30 or later on some school nights at his fiance's..Leaves her alone way to much at night so that he can spend time with his fiancee...she's gained a lot of weight because of the food he feeds her and he won't exercise with her or becareful what he feeds her...Makes them go to school when their sick, he'S talking about waking her up an extra hour before school to read the bible....called the police on my oldest daughter several times and this last time, told her that she was not welcome in his house anymore.....She's not a bad girl..He's just controlling, says a lot of mean and hurtful things to her...His fiancee got mad because my 17 year old called my ex (on a Sunday while he was at his fiance's son's birthday party) My daughter and asked him to take her to the doctor..She'd just left work (sick) and her boss said that she needed a doctors excuse to miss work or she could get fired. She'd been running a fever for days, bad headache, sinus drainage..etc... Earlier that week my ex called the doctor to have a prescription called in without her having see the doctor.. 4 days later and she wasn't feeling any better so thats when she asked him to take her to the doctor because she was feeling really bad. He told her she could wait until Monday...He said that God comes first, then his fiancee, then his kids. BUT finally gave in and he told her that it was her fault his fiancee was mad at him...I'm very angry at him for that.

HE's called the police on her several times and told the police that I have no say so because I'm not there........I'm frustrated. What do you suggest? He kicked my oldest out of the house a week and a 1/2 before she graduated..Luckily she finished on her own. I don't want him controlling everything. My youngest daughter wants to live with me, but not here in Alabama. Back in Indiana where it's familiar. I would appreciate any imput ya'll have. thank you!