Ok, I will readily admit that I have been diagnosed with major depression and general anxiety, but I do everything I can to get help. I take medication, go to therapy, and have even had electroshock and been hospitalized a couple of times. However, last week my in laws decided to take complaints of a "messy" house too far. Though I didn't know it was possible, they took these complaints to the courthouse and managed to get temporary custody of my 3 children until a hearing a month from now. I have a 7yo boy, a 5yo girl, and a 4yo boy. Since my in laws took them, they have been using a militaristic approach with my kids. All schedules and discipline and little affection, whereas our chores might have fallen to the wayside, but we always have taken time to play with and be loving to the kids.
In the past couple of visits with my children since in laws took them a little over a week ago, I have become increasingly worried about the behavior of my daughter. While my 7yo son has taken the change in stride, and my 4yo has responded with a general anxiety and escalating clinginess during visits, my daughter has become difficult to predict. What worries me the most is that tonight as well as a couple of nights ago, she ran away when I approached her and claimed to be scared. Now as I was abused as a child I do not believe in physical discipline, I find this incredibly hard to accept. I have never harmed her, and I do not believe she has ever been harmed by anything more than an occasional trip across a flat surface leading to a 'boo-boo' that can be calmed by a kiss.
While she was generally more attached to her father than my boys who usually cling to me, she has never shown this amount of detachment before. I worry about what her grandparents may have said in front of her regarding me. I have tried to be just as affectionate and play with her during my short daily visits, but I don't know what to do about this.
Can anyone shed some light on this situation? What's going on? What should I do?
Side note; please do not get distracted by the kids being 'taken away.' I promise that there is nothing wrong with our house aside from the usual clutter of toys and clothes. I have a lawyer that is confident that when an actual judge hears the complete stupidity of the complaints, the kids will be given right back to us.
In the past couple of visits with my children since in laws took them a little over a week ago, I have become increasingly worried about the behavior of my daughter. While my 7yo son has taken the change in stride, and my 4yo has responded with a general anxiety and escalating clinginess during visits, my daughter has become difficult to predict. What worries me the most is that tonight as well as a couple of nights ago, she ran away when I approached her and claimed to be scared. Now as I was abused as a child I do not believe in physical discipline, I find this incredibly hard to accept. I have never harmed her, and I do not believe she has ever been harmed by anything more than an occasional trip across a flat surface leading to a 'boo-boo' that can be calmed by a kiss.
While she was generally more attached to her father than my boys who usually cling to me, she has never shown this amount of detachment before. I worry about what her grandparents may have said in front of her regarding me. I have tried to be just as affectionate and play with her during my short daily visits, but I don't know what to do about this.
Can anyone shed some light on this situation? What's going on? What should I do?
Side note; please do not get distracted by the kids being 'taken away.' I promise that there is nothing wrong with our house aside from the usual clutter of toys and clothes. I have a lawyer that is confident that when an actual judge hears the complete stupidity of the complaints, the kids will be given right back to us.