For those of you who know my saga, I wanted to post a rather important update regarding my former DSS, who was living full-time with XH and I here in Montreal since we moved here together from Toronto.
(For those of you who don't, here's the gist: XH has 3 kids from 3 different mothers. DSS (now 13) is #2. His mother supposedly abandoned him as a baby--so says XH, and came back when he was a toddler. XH holds this over her head whenever he wants something from her, such as her permission to take her son and move out of province. When I left XH, I tried my best to keep in touch with DSS, whom I'd parented for 5 years, but XH forbade me to contact him, threatening me with legal action. My lawyer confirmed that I couldn't do a thing about this, so I let it go, despite repeatedly hearing from various ppl that DSS was doing very poorly after I left).
On Friday, my ex-MIL called while I was putting DD to bed. She spoke with my father for an hour. It was a long, emotional and convoluted conversation but here's the gist of it:
In Toronto, DSS will be close to many family members. What's more, he'll be studying exclusively in English instead of in French, which I know will be a heck of a lot easier for him with the learning disabilities he struggles with. I can only hope and pray that XH will stay far away from DSS, long enough for DSS to build a healthy social network and not be so vulnerable to his father's manipulations.
(For those of you who don't, here's the gist: XH has 3 kids from 3 different mothers. DSS (now 13) is #2. His mother supposedly abandoned him as a baby--so says XH, and came back when he was a toddler. XH holds this over her head whenever he wants something from her, such as her permission to take her son and move out of province. When I left XH, I tried my best to keep in touch with DSS, whom I'd parented for 5 years, but XH forbade me to contact him, threatening me with legal action. My lawyer confirmed that I couldn't do a thing about this, so I let it go, despite repeatedly hearing from various ppl that DSS was doing very poorly after I left).
On Friday, my ex-MIL called while I was putting DD to bed. She spoke with my father for an hour. It was a long, emotional and convoluted conversation but here's the gist of it:
- ex-MIL spoke to DSS who is now in Toronto for the summer vacation.
- DSS and his mother both confirmed that DSS has decided to move back to Toronto to live with his mother.
- DSS also confirmed that he and XH aren't on speaking terms at the moment (he said they're "mad at each other").
- DSS stated that he hasn't yet announced his decision to his father, but I assume that he chose to wait until he was a province away before doing this. I also assume that, knowing XH, the repercussions of this will be rather dramatic.
- DSS, his mother, and her twin girls will be moving into a new apartment next week where DSS can have his own room.
- DSS will start school in Toronto in late August.
- DSS has asked that I write to him at his new address.
In Toronto, DSS will be close to many family members. What's more, he'll be studying exclusively in English instead of in French, which I know will be a heck of a lot easier for him with the learning disabilities he struggles with. I can only hope and pray that XH will stay far away from DSS, long enough for DSS to build a healthy social network and not be so vulnerable to his father's manipulations.
