Do you think this will lead to Child Abuse?

Question

My 5yr old Son with my ex husband, divorced now for 4 years, has been comming home with information and manorisms that have been raising a rred flag.

last week he came home from his fathers house and was afraid to go to sleep, because every time he closed his eyes he would see peoples heads being cut off, he said he was watching a Vampire movie at his fathers house.
The week before school started he was supossed to go to PA with his father, he developed a fever and headach the day before, he called his father, on speaker phone, and told him that he didn't feel well and can't go to PA because he had a fever, I heard his father tell his "no way its not happenning you'll be fine and your going and thats it. I intercepted the phone call and told him that he is not going because he is sick and needs to be close to the doctor. Today my son came home upset once again because his father told him that he was going to punch me in the face, He was very frightened by this and I had to comfort

Answer 1

l don't know about child abuse, physically but definitely emotional / mental abuse, you will need to be on guard with him and also maybe have your agreement looked at as this is not a healthy environment for your son to be in, good luck

Answer 2

Being firm and wanting to have his son to go on a trip is not child abuse and watching vampire movies is not child abuse but telling your son he will hit you is PAS -parent alienation syndrome. Read up on it.
From your description dad is trying to put the child's mother down to make himself look good. That's wrong..but unfortunately not enough to cut off visitation to his dad's.
Mediation, supervised visitations could be in the future if you can convince the judge that it happens more and more. Start keeping a journal.
(My daughter's whole class had seen "Titanic" the year that came out ,she was in kindergarten. I was appalled, as I had nightmares about drowning bodies clinging to doors! But today's kids are exposed to a lot of stuff I don't think is appropriate. You ought to have a talk with Dad and tell him..but don't be surprised if he says he is toughening him up. Dads parent differently than moms. Visitations do not stop just because a kid is sick.

Answer 3

You need to keep a record of everything that you've observed...date/time and what the event was. It sounds like your ex is a jerk, and there's no reason a little 5 year old should be manipulated and treated that way. It is emotional abuse and it could very well turn into something more. If I were you I would start looking into an attorney in case you do stack up a case against him....in the very least he may get supervised visitation.

Answer 4

You obviously know your son is afraid and your flags are in the right place. You need to take him to the doctor and get a thorough examination. Then contact a child abuse hotline in your area and ask what steps to take next. Don't do anything that would jeopardize your relationship with your son or his with his father. This may be nothing other than separation anxiety, but because laws differ in various places, you need to discuss this with someone local. Look in the phone book under child abuse or call the attorney how handled your divorce. Get appropriate legal advice that is specific to your area and your situation. Don't fool around with this. I learned a long time ago to trust my instincts, and you should to.

Answer 5

Maybe you should talk to your lawyer, and child's doctor about this, and maybe set up some sort of separate parent counseling? I'm not sure, but maybe your ex husband isn't hurting your son physically, but he's talking bad about you in front of him... very bad apparently and that needs to stop. He needs to make it all about him and his son while he's with him, not how much he hates you. And obviously he's letting him, or making him watch movies that are way too scary for him. Yes, I'd say see counseling, and see, if you have to and or can, get it court ordered... something like, if you want to keep your visitation rights, you need to go to parent counseling...

Answer 6

You are going to have to get help. Hire a lawyer. This situation has child abuse written all over your child's nervousness. If necessary go to the police. That man is a mental case. You have to protect your child above all. If possible try your best to stop your child from going to this man's house until the police tell you what to do. Do you have family? Get help from them too. Sometimes three heads think better than one. Maybe they can help you if they have the resources. Good luck and God bless you.

Answer 7

Well it is child abuse already it's called mental abuse and you need to call your lawyer and terminte his visits to his father and let the boy talk to your lawyer and tell him every his Dad does and says. Your ex could lose his visitation rights over this. SO you need to report it as soon as possible before your son really goes into deep depression.

Answer 8

sounds to me like you have the problem not being mean or anything but for one you should not have a speaker phone on while your son is TALKING to HIS dad. second NO it will not lead to CHILD ABUSE whats wrong? I am seeing some signs of a parent trying their hardest to keep their child away from the other parent..kind of sad these days people doing this especially to the Fathers. so what if he watches a spooky movie with his Pop..if your child watches any cartoons today they are woping off things left and right ever see cartoons today? all TV is getting bad as for a 5 year old telling his Dad "I have a fever and sick, I can not go" I have never heard of such a thing except coming from a child whos parent is standing at their ear telling them what to say. Enough is enough unless the child is being abused leave him to learn and be close to his pop. if he is sick tell pop to take him to Doc while they are out and about. Its his Visitaion right take it away and whatch who get your son in the long run

Answer 9

keep him away from the dad till you talk to him...let him know that the movies and the talk of abuse to you is terrifying your son and he is having nightmares and if it doesnt stop you will take him to court and get supervised visitations

Answer 10

yes it already has mental abuse how long before physical. you need to call a lawyer and see what you need to do and have your son talk to them and if you can get it on tape things he is saying to your son. God Help your son . take action NOW..