Bit long, stick with me. Throwaway because I'm active on a mom board, and haven't discussed this there.
My ex and I split 5 years ago now. We had a daughter who is 16, a son who is 13 and a daughter who is 5. He's always been a good dad, and we split 50/50 custody, essentially the kids one week my house/one week his house. After my divorce, I reconnected with a high school boyfriend and fell head over heels in love again. He's in the military but hadn't had to move in years. We married 2 years ago.
A year ago, he got orders to move to Texas from where we all were in California. My older two kids were not happy at all, and didn't want to move, while the baby didn't really express a preference. I approached my ex and told him the situation. I said I know the situation sucks, but we'd foot the bill to him for every trip to him on holidays, breaks, summers, etc. He blew his top and said absolutely not, I wouldn't "take his kids away" and said he'd see me in court.
The judge ended up ruling in his favor, and I was awarded summers and every other holiday. I was absolutely devastated. I moved, and I've barely seen the kids since. They came at Christmas for a week, and it was tense the whole time. The older kids, especially my daughter, are short with me on FaceTime, while the baby gets distracted and can't chat much. My daughter has said I chose a man over her, and that she wants nothing to do with me, while my son won't talk about it but I can tell he's angry.
I've asked my ex to talk to them about it and he basically said I chose to leave, it's my fault and he's not getting involved in "our issues". So, let me have it Reddit, AITA?
[–]30caliberclipazine9 points10 points11 points (0 children) | Copy Link
I mean... it’s interesting that the female is on the shit end of the deal for once
[–][deleted] 7 points8 points9 points (2 children) | Copy Link
I think she expected to win on court. Even if they married she's the typical woman that doesn't think before making decisions (3 kids and she didn't care of her previous marriage to make it last, than she monkey branched)
[–]DWShimoda6 points7 points8 points (1 child) | Copy Link
She TOTALLY expected to win in court.
Like most women, she really doesn't see her children as "independent human beings" -- more like pets or property.
[–]Corzaa310 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
Children are little dolls she can exchange for Facebook likes.
[–]DWShimoda5 points6 points7 points (0 children) | Copy Link
I think it's interesting (and somewhat surprising) how the highest karma comments are telling her, YES, she is "the asshole" here; and moreover they seem to largely agree that the kids' anger is entirely understandable.
After all, she "asked them" -- they told her "No" they did not want to move -- then she ignored their stated wishes, said she was moving anyway; which was bad enough... but of course she didn't STOP there, instead she went to court (dragging the kids AND her ex through the equivalent of a second "custody battle"), CONFIDENT that as a WOMAN and the "MOTHER" she would get HER way.
I also note that the whole line of "we'd foot the bill to him for every trip to him on holidays, breaks, summers, etc." was obviously a complete LIE. If she and her new hubby could truly have afforded that, then obviously she should NOW be able to afford for HER to fly back to California to see her kids... which she apparently ISN'T able to do.
[–]DangZagnut2 points3 points4 points (0 children) | Copy Link
I have no real comment on it, divorce hurts everyone.
[–]action_turtle0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
Fair enough. Once kids hit around 12-16 years old they really should have what they want to do taken into consideration. 50/50 split living with each parent for years gave them a real understanding of life with dad. Which is what they prefer. No surprise the judge went in this direction. Would of been a travesty if it went the other way!
[–]fwoomer0 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
She’s absolutely the asshole.
She knew this guy was in the military and would eventually be reassigned, but dated him anyway.
She knew it, but married him anyway because she was “head over heels in love.” (I question whether women are even capable of that emotion, but that’s another thread entirely)
Then he gets reassigned and she tries to uproot her children to fit her whole selfish, new life, which she engaged in with no though to how her any of it would affect her children.
And that’s not even covering what she tried to do to the father.
There is absolutely no excuse for what she did. None. Full stop.
She’s not only the asshole, but she’s a horrible person and a pathetic excuse for a mother. I hope her current husband sees what she did to her kids, wises up, and leaves her before she ruins his life. And I hope for their sakes that her kids never speak to her again and that she eventually dies alone and unloved like the giant piece of trash she is.
[–]Shimakaze40 points1 point2 points (0 children) | Copy Link
Teenagers don't like it when you fuck up their daily lives and the only real weapon they have, is the power to ignore you. They can't yell and scream at you, they can't move out and they can't throw a punch, but nothing, no even the law can compel them to talk to you. I learned this lesson too.
[–]TeamTeddy01 point [recovered] | Copy Link
Of course she has expensive Apple products.