Well another great Wed. visitation. Got a wonderful msg left on machine at about 6:30 tonight. Stbx blaming me for the way the girls are acting and then all of a sudden you can hear our 10 year old start crying. Before 7:00 they were dropped off...before they could even tell me what happened....it is him calling from his car phone....telling me how much he appreciates what "I" have caused the children to do to "him". <P>Well our 10 year tells me she can hardly walk...it seems while he was on the phone...leaving me the nasty msg...she tried to go into his bedroom to use the bathroom ( the only bathroom is in the bedroom) and he tried to stop her and stomped on her foot pretty hard. She said it hurt very bad...so off for x-rays. They came back...no break...but the doctor said it was bruised and swollen and that she needed Advil and to ice it.<P>He is really working his way up to breaking something....I am none too happy.<P>In the msg he claims that the girls and I are wanting him to do something so that he can get in trouble and it is not going to work. It is like he is trying to cover his tracks.<P>At this point I just wished he would fall off the face of the earth.<P>Nancy

Nancy,<BR> Did your daughter tell the doctor that her dad stomped on her foot? If she did, then the doctor is bound by law to report the abuse, I think. I'm not sure how that works when the child is living with the non-abusive parent, though. Make a note of this incident, and make sure you have the ER doctor's name.<P> Anyway, prayers are going up for you and your girls!

The doctor in most states is required to report. But they see a lot of this kind of stuff. My son dislocated his elbow when he was about two. Well actually a friend picked him up by his arms and his elbow dislocated. I was sure they were going to turn me in for that! But the doctor said it happens all the time.<P>The doctor may not report if dad (can't spell dumba**) did not do it intentionally. Although with that much bruising, I can't see how it couldn't be. Unless he is 500 lbs.<P>Get a copy of the report. See if there is anything in there that you can use.<P>Good Luck and try to get some rest

Yeah. Get the report. I'd start taping your phone calls too. If this happens again, get a neighbor or someone unrelated to take a look at it immediately as a collaborative witness. Take pictures of it.

Nancy...<BR>I agree with the others. Have a report filed.

I have both the msg taped and the call from his car taped.<P>At least 5 different people from the hospital asked her about it. The nurse at admitting said "your dad did this on purpose? What a great dad!" So far I have not gotten a call from anyone concerning this....<P>She is better today...still walking gingerly on the foot but said that it doesn't hurt as bad as last night. We have iced it and I have given her Advil a few times. <P>He is truly an amazing father......<P>Nancy

No call tonight....thought maybe a call to his daughter...just to check on her foot would have been the "mature" and "fatherly" thing to do.<P>Am I that stupid to believe that he would even care. Probably out drinking away his sorrows....wait....I don't think he has the capacity to feel remorse.<P>nancy

Dear Mental,<P>Please consider calling the police and pressing assault charges against your husband. A stomped foot is bad enough, please don't wait until his assaults become worse. You are legally and morally obligated to protect your children. This incident is enough cause to stop his visitation rights.<P>Gos bless,<BR>Kenneth

yup, you really have to call child protective services, if the dr. didn't. you can't let him hurt your kids.

It isn't so much that you want him thrown in jail tonight or tomorrow or next week. What you want to do is make a trail of paper and phone conversation tapes that show a habit (not the right word) of abuse - even the smallest thing. Take her to the hospital for everything and make sure to get copies of all the reports. Check with your lawyer about what your state requires for taping phone conversations that hold up in court. You may never need them but you will def. be glad that you have them when you do need them. When he does something serious you will be able to prove to the court that this has been coming for a long time and he is dangerous and shouldn't be allowed around your kids. I would also tape conversations that went like this: "I expected a call last night since you stomped on our daughters foot why didn't you call" "I was busy/ didn't think about it/whatever" This will be important later in showing that he didn't call/care about what happened. Because you don't want him saying that you only taped conversations that would nail him and that you didn't tape the conversations where he apologized and asked sincerely about her welfare. If this guy really is a jerk and a liar you have to be prepared to play hardball and you have to think like a jerk and a liar.