Jo,

I have an objection to the things you wrote. Maybe I'm off base, but the reasons you stated for visitation not being over four hours sounds more like revenge and spite than because it's in the best interest of your daughter not to see her dad. He doesn't let you see the girls so you'll be damned if you let him see your D more than 4 hours.

He's jerked you around and acted like a control freak with the children. But someone has to be the bigger person and break this cycle. Is he such a bad father that he doesn't deserve much visitation? Is the limited visitation in your D's best interest or is it in yours? It all comes down to what is best for your D. My bias is that seeing both parents is in the children's best interest.

I know how it feels to be jerked around with visitation. My ex used it as a weapon every time she was mad. I'm just concerned your anger and "tit-for-tat" may be using your daughter and visitation as a weapon or a lever. You are the bigger person and the better person. Don't stoop to his level by withholding his daughter because he's an ass to you and is doing the exact same thing or worse. I know it's not fair, but it also is doing something unexpected. You never know...maybe he'll lighten up in response.


In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.
Abraham Lincoln

It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.
Theodore Roosevelt