fyi, it took EVERYTHING in me, all my "acting skills" (and I did study theater & film) to not share my reaction verbally.
I ALWAYS managed a long pause and sigh, and made direct eye contact til they looked away in shame.
Then I'd say, "well then I guess all that's left to do is sign the termination of all your rights"..."and this DOES mean it's as if you are not and never were, their father. This is permanent"...
one of them cried signing it &first asked me what I thought. I Said "I think you're supposed to show up for your child with time AND support & if there's any way you can, then do it"...
He said he could not make the payments &he felt overwhelmed..."just wanted it over".
Sometimes I wonder if a small payment plan and some visits could have helped, but a lot of time had passed.
Some WASs seem to think the longer the time that passes between visits, the harder to show up suddenly, and it just spirals so much that their shame stops them. But who knows? I still think a little is better than nothing.
The others signed, could not make eye contact and left.
M: 57 H: 60 M: 35 yrs S30,D28,D19 H off to Alaska 2006 Recon 7/07- 8/08 *2016* X = "ALASKA 2.0" GROUND HOG DAY I File D 10/16 OW DIV 2/26/2018 X marries OW 5/2016
