Does anyone have any advice?I handed my children over to live with their father 4 years ago when I was in the middle of. nervous breakdown.This was mostly for financial reasons although emotionally I was shot to bits too.
4 and a half years later I am considering at least going for 50/50 custody.
I am single (have been since we split despite the odd 'false start relationship ( I still can't go there! Im mentally as well as I can be i have slight PTSD and anxiety after our court battles I am , working and have been in close contact with my children again after not seeing them for a year ( Our arrangement broke down and I gained contact through taking him back to court recently) I have tried to stay away from the courts but at the same time fighting for a relationship with our 4 beautiful children for the 7 years since we split.The children desperately want to see me and always have.I was a stay at home mum for 12 years before the seperation. Since seeing them again I have noticed how desperately the children want to spend time with me but this is still very much governed by their father,I was only able to offer every second week in our most recent court appearance due to where I lived and how little I earnt plus CSA ( I am more than happy to pay this but it leaves me very tight financially in order to afford a home for the children to come more regularly.Its a chicken and egg situation.My question here is does anyone have experience of getting support in getting some kind of housing support if I gained more visitation rights or vice versa Im not sure how to begin this?I have recently decided to move back to the town where we lived (I was too afraid before i have healed, got well and done a lot of soul searching ) and feel I am maybe ready to offer more contact in the right situation.I am taking it slowly but feel that although their father and step mother offer the financial side of things the emotional support has been lacking and i am able to offer this in fact its all I can offer at the moment but I am finally strong enough to be able to parent in this way again.children are 12,15,17 and 19 so i believe only the 2 youngest can be included in the order is it even worth the fight because I know that it seems if Im around they simply want to be with me anyway sorry its long......any ideas as it is the finances that are crippling me in able to move forward and provide a home (I think. I need a 3 bed place as there are 2 girls 2 boys) IF i was to go 50/50.I am able to get legal aid this was awarded through the courts decided it was sufficient for emotional and financial abuse on his part (Leeway helped me)