So, today my son had a surgery at a local Children's Hospital. I have joint, 50/50 custody of him and his brother, with joint decision making power. My ex was aware I would be there as we had communicated via email about the schedule. She was there with her husband.

While we were waiting, everything was pretty chill, i was there for my son and indifferent to what my ex and her husband were doing. I was playing with my son with a stuffed animal I bought him when I saw my ex put on a hospital pager. I thought "oh, I should get one too." And proceeded to get one at the desk.

Well, when she saw me put mine on, she lost her shit. She took hers off and threw it on the couch, and put her head in her hands. About that time they called my son's name. They ask with all of us standing there "Who is going back with him?" She said "I am" and I said "I am,too."

She immediately told the nurse "we are going to need separate rooms." The nurse was taken aback, it isn't like they can king Solomon the kid, work on half in different places, then put him back together.

Well, to not delay my son's surgery or cause a scene, I said "well, for his sake I'll stay out here." And they go back.

The longer I sat there, the more upset and concerned I got. What decisions are being made that I'm not part of? Is he looking for me as he is going under? This was a new environment for me, and I didn't know what recourse I had. I felt impotent.

I look over and see the stepdad sitting there. He is the closest person to the other person preventing me from going back. He is a mousy guy who i haven't heard say 4 words in 2 years, but maybe I can get him to talk some sense into her.

I said "Hey, that's my son back there and she is preventing me from seeing him. I have every right..." He cuts me off and said "you will have to take it up with her." I said "She isn't talking to me, yoh know that, so man to man I gotta get back there to see my son." He said, quite smarmily, "The nicest thing I can say to yoh right now is you should take it up with your lawyer."

I lost my shit. I said "you all are pieces of shit. Fuck you." Well he says "do you want me to call security?" I said "yea, call security, bring them over here." He was taken aback but went to the desk and requested security saying "This man is following me and cussing at me." I calmly and quietly wait, politely told the receptionist I agreed with security being called. I'm polite and courteous with every employee there.

Security comes, receptionist indicates he is the step dad, and the says "and this is the other party." Gesturing to me (She didn't know I was the dad).

I shake the guards hand, and proceeded to tell them the above story. I could tell quickly that they got that I was on the right side of this thing. I keep my legal documents on Google drive all the time, so I forwarded them to the security email address. By this time half a dozen security people have got involved in some form, some asking me to tell the story again (maybe to trip me up?) But I win them all over and they start going hard out for me.

They hospital, unbeknownst to me, has a full network of social workers and others to handle such an occasion. My story and paperwork gets around, they are working hard. One of the guards says "I understand, I'm in the same situation."

And so what normally they said takes a full day to get clear and straight was done in 2 hours. The hospital tells my wife that she can't interfere with my visiting, and everyone is super courteous. Come to think of it, every person after security was called, from security, to the nurses, to the doctor was a guy. I think word got around because they all had a glint in their eye and were as gracious as could be.

Let that be a lesson to guys with kids, keep your paperwork handy and be courteous to those who can help.

I caught a glimpse of my ex in the hall. She looked miserable.