PAS: The Neighbors are the Guardians

Hiya LM & DW. Love the blog.

Not only does my ex alienate me from the kids, she has her entire family and circle of friends doing it as well.

Her family makes up sick and demeaning songs that they sing about me and my girlfriend. That's completely inappropriate for 6 and 7 year olds. She has 3 of her neighbors come out on their porch when I pick them up to "make sure they are safe," obviously implying to the kids that I'm unsafe. She has her friends watching my every move and reporting back to her from the bus stop, boy scouts, sporting events, and school functions. I feel stalked!

I had disallowed him to play on the playground with the scout troop one night after a scout meeting because of his being disruptive at school and her friends decided to make sure that she knew that I was "mean" for singling him out like that and "embarassing" him. While he was disappointed, he certainly wasn't embarrassed. It's not like I made a big announcement that he was punished and what for. We discussed it going in and he simply and politely declined the extra play and said we had to leave early that night.

As a result, of course, my kids believe that I am unable to parent them alone because I'm unstable and that I am mean just because I want to be, not because I'm trying to teach them appropriate boundaries and personal conduct. It will never end, she must be in control whether it's positive for the kids or not.

~Matt S.

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