Thanks so much Stephanie and others. I am trying to go down the trail in the most right way. Sometimes I just don't know if anyone really relates, but when I write on this board, I realize, I am not only not alone, but I'm at home. Thanks

Just because she didn't want to go anymore the judge said ok? I'm not hearing that that's a justifiable reason down here.

My dad let it out of the bag that I was at the atty's yesterday when I was late picking her up. I got home and she said. Who's our attorney mom? LOL GREAT.... Thanks so much for your kind words. I KNOW this will improve. I have made 2 major mistakes. 1 with the divorce and 1 with the modification, I've learned my lesson. No mercy.

I just needed to get it out

LOL I know how to write...I just wanted to get it all out...I did not spell check, edit the above.

Well, her father is back in the picture again wanting regular visits with her down in Austin. Just yesterday I put a large retainer down for an attorney to transfer the jursdiction from Travis to Dallas and to lessen his visits and create child support, which he's never had to pay. When I moved up here, in order to move, he said if I dropped $25+ arrearage and dropped future support that we wouldn't have to have a hearing and we could have the visitation schedule that I wanted and I also got the tax credit every year. I agreed. He said he's pay willingly if it wasn't document, he never has. That was in 2006. I moved here in late 2003, but was on temp. orders to be here in Dallas and the mediation didn't happen til 03. From 03 to 07 visits were regular, but his behavior was unacceptable. Continually bashing me to Ari. In 07 he made most visits, but gave up Spring Break. In 08 he was homeless and had her for Summer for a couple weeks traveling, came up from Austin to Dallas to take her to lunch in October then had her in Houston with family at Christmas. He's made no attempt in 2009 to contact her or make visits. In my opin ion, his parenting is forfeitted, but this is just not so, legally. He showed up day after Christmas after a year of no contact demanding to take her for the weekend to a place with his new girlfriend here in Dallas, he's from Austin. I told him he could take her for the day, but bring her back at night. And he could pick her up the following day for another visit. This was what my daughter wanted, she didn't want to go with him and a complete stranger for a total weekend visiting with her local family, she's never even met. Well, he was disagreeable and called the cops. They asked if I refused to allow her to go and I said I did. Next thing you know, I get a certified letter from him, not a lawyer, stating that he wants to take her this Friday, for the weekend down in Austin. She doesn't want to go. I hired a lawyer to modify the current decree to restrict visits to a very minimal and hope that this conflict resolves very soon. It has been 10 years, her entire life, of conflict with this man whom I no longer consider to be her father. In 2008 he saw her 3 times in 2009 he saw her twice. He's been a drifter and has had her sleep in his car in 2007 and at state parks. UGH!!! This time, in courst, I am not going to have any mercy for him, I've had it with his black mail and intimidating statements. Even in the divorce, I gave him the house outright along with all other assets because he threatened to take her to Mexico and I'd never see her again. Now, I know he's a con artist, but I truly never knew before and was alone without support when I lived in Austin. He's never paid child support. Blackmailed me to drop all support and arrearage in order that he would sign docs to allow me to move to Dallas where my family is. Now, he's hardly paid a dime to support her. Fortunately, we have a wonderful man in our lives whom I met 6 years ago after I moved up here. He takes very good care of both of us and father's Ariana as if she's his own, in addition to supporting the decision to homeschool when needed. I feel as if her being in ps is a good record of the fact that I take good care of her. She gets almost all a's. Won the science fair for her grade and is moving on to district. I have few character witnesses to come to court for me and am wondering am I too busy taking care of my daughter to think of friendships and now that's coming back to bite me. I feel like I won't even need character witnesses as before, due to the fact that there's dr.'s records, no cavities, good grades, etc. etc. I am so stressed. Anyway, yes, I still want to homeschool her, but am looking toward this upcoming hearing. I pray her father will back off. My thoughts are he was bluffing with his certified letter and that he really cannot afford to hire an attorney to press contempt charges for me denying his visits. Sending love, Michelle

Thanks so much for sharing, especially at this hour on this day. I love this board.

My daughter is in public 5th grade after having 3 years of homeschool and prior to that K-1st in the same ps. She is requesting to be back at homeschool for next year. She says she has no friends in her class. Most of them don't even speak English and don't even speak with her, we're in Texas, FWIW. The reason we homeschooled in the first place was due to an intense visitation schedule with her father who lived 3 hours away from us. That schedule is no longer in place as of Dec. last year. She wanted to try public school because her friends here on the block mention how much they love it and she had an opportunity to have a traditional 5th grade experience with camp and friends and everything. Well, she's been in school now since Aug. and she's making excellent grades, no trouble there. However, the friends she thought she would make haven't come forth and she has become less and less interested in continuing with public school. In fact, we're on Christmas break and she has asked several times if she could homeschool instead of going back. Stating the main thing is that she misses being with me and that the day feels like an eternity while she is gone. To give a little history, I shared custody with my ex who does live 3 hours away and she and I did spend much time apart in the past. I am concerned we still have a lot of time to make up for. I don't know how to make this decision whether or not to send her to ps again next year or come home again to hs. What should I use to make this determination? My husband is fortunately supportive no matter what, leaving the decision making to myself. I am concerned about my abilities as a teacher. I wonder whether I will sell her short since I have no background in teaching, yet, I have her best interest at heart. I could outsource my shortcomings to a local co-op, so that's no problem. I guess I just need some feedback to anyone who cares to share. Thanks so much - Michelle

Oh My! Chicken diapers! Who knew? I am so getting these for my bantam frizzles! Thanks a lot for posting the link. And, yes, chickens are the best pets. We've been keeping chickens since Jan. of this year. We're only on a city lot, but a large one and we're getting away with it. We're down to 7 birds now consisting of 3 buff orpingtons that we hatched out Easter week, 3 bantam frizzles which are the most loving adorable funny and smart birds I've ever seen, a beautiful barred rock pullet that is laying 1x a day now for a month. Good luck! It's addictive. And, I 2nd the backyardchickens.com site. Met some really nice folks on there and they have a great board. I see this catching on, chickens are sooo much more fun and productive (considering they feed ya) than any other bird I've kept.

When we moved into this house the previous owners left a trusty rusty old Oster Waffle maker. The thing works great, however it's impossible to really clean as the plates don't remove and it's labled do not immerse in water. Does anyone have a waffle maker that they like with removable plates? Would like it if it doubled as a sandwich maker. Thanks and ya'll have a great day!

Wonderful News! Congratulations!!!

Yum - I think I'll be making this meal again. It's smelling FABULOUS. OK, so I went with the brats grilled then simmered in beer. Then garlic & vinegar steamed potatoes. I got hold of my mamma, since I was too impatient and hungry to wait on replies. LOL Ya'll have a great night!

I bought some bratwurst sausages and have them all thawed and ready to go along with some yellow potatoes. How would you prepare the potatoes to go along with the sausage? I've never made this sort of meal before, but my Irishman loves Bratwurst.:cheers2:

VERY happy for you and your family, have fun finding a name. We've been studying Abraham Lincoln this week, maybe his name could give some inspiration? Even Lincoln as a first name sounds kind of cool, doesn't it? :confused:

Well, the "boogie" girl is out now. I figured an hour in isolation was sufficient. All in all, she's an exceptionally behaved child and we are blessed for that. We had a great talk and I hope I have her understanding my side of things. I sure appreciate all the thoughts, this WAS a great day and I hope to salvage what's left of it. My throat is raw from screeching earlier and yeah - still shaky. Must be time for a long hot bath and some pampering, even though I've already showered today, I deserve it right? Bye for now!