A little backstory, my STBX and I have been married 5 difficult years and have 2 children together, a 3 year old girl, and a 9 month old boy. We got married young while I was in the military, and eventually had enough problems that we split for our third and final time within the last month. One of the major issues being her refusal to come home and put our family before her friends and parents, I spent most of my kids lives being the primary caregiver. However, when we split, she took the kids as expected. I didn’t bother to fight it because the last time this happened, and I mentioned my daughter staying with me, all I ended up with was a restraining order keeping me from my house for 30 days.

Today, I finally got to see my kids for the first time in almost 2 weeks (a lot to do with schedules not lining up), and as always, we just had our normal day together. As I was putting my daughter down to bed tonight, she was visibly upset and I asked her what was wrong. she told me “I don’t want to see mommy ever again.” This took me by surprise, so I repeated it back to her to make sure it was what she had said, and she said yes. So, I asked her why. Being that she’s 3, she can speak in full sentences, but sometimes her ramblings can be a little incoherent, as was in this case.

I know that the current situation with my STBX is sketchy at best. They are living in an apartment with 4 of her other family members, (she and the children sleep in the living room) and 2 of the other occupants consist of an alcoholic and a drug user. She is a bar maid, and works 6 days a week until 2am on most days, so she doesn’t spend much time with the kids even when she is home, and when they aren’t there, they are at the sitters. Nothing has been taken to court yet, and I’ve been told by some friends that I should call child protective services regarding my kids and the situation, but my concern is that I won’t have a chance in hell because my only vehicle at the moment is a 2 seater pickup. I was trying to hold off on making any phone calls until I purchase another car sometime this month, but it’s looking like I may have to do something before that.

I know kids only understand about half of what they are saying, but I also understand that kids are more inclined to say exactly what’s on their mind. I’m afraid to mention anything to my STBX, because I’m almost positive that she would find some way to make it my fault. She’s been on a moms group on Facebook running my name through the mud for months, and has everyone there believing that I’ve been abusing her and the children for as long as she can remember, so I can see her trying to find some way to say that I provoked my daughter into saying it.

Sorry for the long post, and thanks in advance if anyone has any advice.