u/Great_Membership2553

My kids do not see mom often but when they do it is high conflict. Over the past year they began opening up about her verbal and physical abuse.

My kids have told me how she would make them strip naked to get whooped with a belt, that they got belted in the shower with their skin wet.

These are all things slowly revealed to me and that I have no hard proof of. They said she hasn’t pulled a belt out since they’ve been living with me because they told her they would never go back if she did. But these last two visits are hard for me to just listen to.

My previous lawyer was ready to file for modification of custody but he left the firm on a FMLA and have a new lawyer.

The new lawyer keeps telling me to wait and see how visitations goes this summer but I don’t know when enough is enough.

My kids have called me daily since Thursday to tell me how she is cussing them out and calling them names. She snatched my sons (11) device when I was talking to him and told him he can never call me again because he was telling me how she had gotten physical with him (she put her hands around his neck) and he sent pictures of a scratch on his arm (last time at Christmas she scratched his face forcing him to face a corner).

I have this conversation recorded along with her snatching the iPad and telling him he would get beat with a belt if he stepped in her room to get it while calling me a b*tch. My eldest (13) is the only one left with a phone and she has been updating me, deleting her messages so mom won’t see.

I’m just ready to drive out of state and pick them up at this point and take any consequence that comes.

They are supposed to be back on the 8th and we have court on the 27th of this month to deal with contempt charges from the last trip in December when she did the same thing and ignored my messages on OFW the entire week only to message me half an hour before the kids were supposed to be back to tell me she was just leaving TN.

Looking for advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation. Do I call for wellness check, drive up? I don’t want my kids exposed to anymore abuse.

When does the court say enough is enough? And what modifications can I ask for moving forward? Mandatory counseling?

My kid is supposed to perform on a major stage in the city (think where celebrities do concerts) for his recital in October. The performance falls on the same day the kids are supposed to be dropped back to me.

Drop off is at 6pm
The recital is at 4pm

Mother is refusing to allow him to participate because it cuts into her time. I explained that I wasn’t asking her to give up any time but to take him and actually spend more time with him as the recital ends at 7:30pm

She says it’s not possible as she has to drive 6hrs from TN.

Is there really no way I can appeal this?

To be clear, she’s been very inconsistent with her parenting time and it isn’t even guaranteed she will show up come Fall Break. She hasn’t seen the kids since December/ Christmas break… I hate that my kid will miss this opportunity to perform just because of a 2 hr difference. He’s definitely hurt and tried speaking to her but she refused saying it was an adult conversation.

What would you all do in my situation?