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Opinion: Don't Be Scared, Sandra Bullock; I've Been There
Filed under: Celeb Parents, Single Parenting, Opinions, Celeb News & Interviews
Congrats, Sandra. All will be well. Promise. Credit: People
Dear Sandra:
As I listened to the so-called experts on morning TV yammer on about how tough your custody battle is going to be, all I could think was, "Baloney!"
Like you, I adopted a baby with a husband who went rogue soon after. One sunny morning, three weeks after we brought home our daughter, Steve went to work and never came home.
I was completely blindsided (sorry for the unintentional pun, but I can't think of another word for it) and I can only describe the next few days as feeling like I was swimming underwater. Life became blurry, with a lot of feelings coming at me that I'd never dealt with before. It was the first time in my life that I couldn't eat.
The thing that made me craziest though, was the "helpful advice" from friends, family and attorneys. But I had to listen because my own thoughts were jumbled.
"Take him for all he's got," was the recurring theme. Steve was a big earner so folks thought he should have to own up to his choice through his checkbook. When I wondered aloud if keeping Steve on the hook would have a detrimental effect on my daughter in years to come, one bold-faced name matrimonial lawyer said something I will never forget:
"Honey, $10 grand a month can pay for a lot of therapy."
Bad answer. Who wants to subject their child to damage, just so you can pay to fix it? Turns out that a lot of people stay in custody battles for the potential of incoming cash. Granted, not having money is a scary situation, but having a child with psychological scars has got to be worse.
That attorney's bad answer became a turning point.
Later that evening, I attempted to clear my mind by aimlessly paging through an issue of People, the same magazine you told this week -- some 13 years after my marital upheaval -- that you were "sad and scared" about your future. I flipped to a photo of a celebrity single mom -- can't remember who -- and it totally hit me: Maybe Steve can give our baby up for adoption and I can re-adopt her as a single parent.
When offered that idea up to the next three attorneys I met with, they all said it was impossible. There's no precedent for it, one said. A judge would never allow this because Steve is not a convicted pedophile, drug addict, alcoholic, mentally deranged, physically disabled or on welfare, said the next one. (Apparently, these are the criteria wherein the court would allow someone to give up his child for adoption.) The third guy was a doozy. He said that if I tried this, I would be taking a chance of someone else coming along and adopting my child.
I decided to stop seeking the advice of the fancy-schmancy, high-priced, name-brand lawyers and found a young, solo practitioner who didn't have years of dealing with jaded, deep-pocketed clients under her belt. She was the first and only one who got it.
Sandra, I won't say that it was totally smooth sailing -- our first judge retired in the midst of the case -- but once we got in front of the judge who signed off on this "impossible" idea, it became what my attorney called a "paper push." Like you had to do in your adoption, I had to go through a second round of home studies, so the judge could be sure that I wasn't going to become destitute without a spouse. I supplied the requisite tax documents, psychological evaluation, fingerprints and proof that I had caregivers for my baby as needed.
To ensure that Steve wouldn't be on the hook for anything, I even signed a document that said that I would never pursue him for anything parent-related. And, to be doubly certain, his attorney added a section that said if my daughter ever pursued her former father for child support, and won, that I would have to pay it to her.
Easy.
It's now 13 years later, Sandra, and I have absolutely no regrets about this decision. Early on, I explained to my daughter about her biological parents and how I came along and now I'm her mom. I also explained that I had been married, but we decided that it wasn't a good marriage, so we split up (I have never bad-mouthed him, except to my shrink, which I pay for myself, thankyouverymuch). Sandra, I don't make the money you make (yet!), but I am just fine.
More importantly, my daughter is fine. Over Cheerios, as we watched the legal folks gripe and grouse this morning on your situation, she rolled her eyes and said, "Mom, you should call Sandra Bullock and tell her not to listen to these people. She'll be fine."
Trust her. She knows.
Jo Parente is the ParentDish nom de plume, a pen name, used by our editorial team when we want to spill our dirty little secrets but still keep our dignity, and families, intact.
Related: What Jesse James Has To Say










ReaderComments (Page 2 of 11)
4-29-2010 @ 8:17AM
teresa quinn said...Roland,,you are a wise man also a thruthful man..call it as it is..if every one would think this way,,we would all be better to one another. I will be keeping this to read to my friends and family.
4-29-2010 @ 9:05AM
glenn said...There are three animals that are truely monogamous in the world. The american bald eagle, Orca Whales and my wife's husband.
I give you advise that I gave my own daughter: You can tell if a male is lieing to you. his lips are moving.
So, by your own words, were you lying when you said you are monogamous?
4-29-2010 @ 9:32AM
anita said...that was VERY well put i have coppied it and put it up on my fridge
4-29-2010 @ 9:33AM
Penny said...People. He is just saying if the man is a liar, he will always be a liar. If he cheats once, why wouldn't he cheat again. Quit reading so much crap into it. Its good advice. Don't think you can change a man(or woman) into something else.
4-29-2010 @ 5:44PM
Evelyn said...My husband is a beautiful spirit, a kind, loving, funny, smart, loyal, family man who thinks cheating is so dirty and low. My husband manages a car delearship and not a week goes by that someone doesn't hit on him. Even when he's told women he's married, some persist in trying to lure him into their trap. One woman even went so far as to tell him, 'I won't tell if you don't tell' and my husband told her all he had to offer was friendship because his heart belonged to me. That's a real man! He tells me every day he loves me, he's always where he says he's going to be, he loves our grown children and our grandbaby and would never do anything to break up this precious family we've created. Wonderful men are out there, ladies... don't sell yourself short or set yourself up for a lifetime of misery with anyone who doesn't love and respect you. And, be a good partner... appreciate your man!! I clean the house and myself every day. I have a hot meal and a smile waiting for him when he gets home. I no longer work myself, and my type of wifey-ness might seem pretty 1950's, but it works... appreciate him when he goes out and works all day and he'll appreciate you back!
4-29-2010 @ 10:27AM
rex said...roland , were you born with a vagina
4-29-2010 @ 11:46AM
Racheal said...Jeannine, I wish there was a reply option to your post to Roland. I just want you to know the end result of a daughter being raised by her step father. On 4/17/10 my dad died after being my dad for 38 years. I flew from IL to OH to be with him in his last week of hospice care. I thanked him for being my dad when he did not have to be. I told him how much I loved him and what a great Papa he was to my young children. I told him that I could not have asked for a better dad. I held his hands, rubbed lotion on his tired arms and hands, kissed his cheeks and forehead and anything else that I could do to show my love and gratitude to him. I love my dad and will miss him beyond any words that I could express. I was 4 years old when he became my daddy. He was 83 when he died of congestive heart failure. He was always a kind man, a good man and a hard worker.
4-29-2010 @ 11:24AM
Belle said...Roland, Thank you for that I will be sending it out to all my friends who need this kind of advice to finally move on with their life. God Bless You!! >^.^
4-29-2010 @ 11:49AM
J said...Please your holiness . Waive the three miracle rule and make Sandra a Saint . The Mother Teresa of the new millenium
4-29-2010 @ 12:01PM
Fred Thomas said...You need to get out more. Unfortunately, there are many married women who do not practrice monogamy. Ofen women are more discreet, but there arae lots, and lots, and lots of them. Somehow, you, and most women have concluded it is in your best interest to blame all the ills on men, thereby making you appear chaste.
4-29-2010 @ 12:15PM
j said...I am so sick of hearing about Gods gift to all of mankind
4-29-2010 @ 1:28PM
J9 said...That is one of the best comments from a man I have ever seen on these boards. You are a man among men & I applaud you.
4-29-2010 @ 1:57PM
msflair said...Roland,
My husband, Robert, is in the same league as you. We have been married for 41 1/2 years. We were High School Sweethearts for two years, became engaged three weeks after graduation and married 7 months after that. We both have never been "with" anyone else - were BOTH virgins when we married. That, in itself, feels fantastic! He is wonderful to me and was and still is a great Dad and a great GrandDad to our two children and 6 Grandchildren (one of whom is in heaven)! There are some great men out there - they just may be harder to find now. I guarantee you will not find them in bars or nightclubs! The "good men" do not go there to find a mate. Try church Singles Groups, charity events, etc. And, girls AND BOYS, do NOT give away your "TREASURE" to anyone. Save yourself for the man or woman you are going to marry. You will be glad you did. I am speaking from experience. You have a right to your body - no one else does. Just say NO! I mean that for Girls and Boys, Young Men and Young Women, Older Men and Older Women - Save yourselves for your "forever mate." Yeah, it sounds "old fashioned." Remember this - You can choose to stay a Virgin - you can never go back once you give it away. And being engaged is not the time to give it away, either. Wait until the "I Do's" and your wedding night will be very special and spectacular! Humans do not have to act like dogs or cats! You have a brain! Do not let yourself get into a compromising position if you think you cannot trust yourself. Do not be completely alone anywhere. It is not easy and it is completely feasible. You CAN just say NO! NO to your selfish desires and NO to your partner's selfish desires.
I am sure I will get lots of flack for my views. Bring it on!
4-29-2010 @ 2:11PM
Johanna said...wow thanks I needed to hear that.
4-28-2010 @ 9:48PM
Michelle said...Trust In God! He will guide you!
Reply
4-29-2010 @ 10:11AM
Mel said...Whenever anyone buys something new, you usually get a manual or some kind of reading materiel. Why do people think that the creator of all things would not do the same thing. The Bible says "your word is a lamp to my feet a light to my roadway" The reason this world is in such a mess, and people chose to do what they think is right, is because they ignore God's Word. I'm sure you remember the scripture "What a man sows, so shall he reap"
WWJD
4-29-2010 @ 1:04AM
marcie said...Sandra,
I have alwats respected you, in movies and in your "private life'. In regards to Jessie.........been there done that.... Keep ahold of your children, all of them. The truth will come out. Your children will know the good mother that you seem to be. It maybe years before they see the truth so hang in there...yea rough road ahead of you as far as the kids are concerned but like I said the truth will come out. Good luck. We are all pulling for you and wish you the best of luck. If you need a place to hide out please feel free to call me.....no one will have a clue Love Ya
Reply
4-29-2010 @ 6:12AM
Tony said...i am so much i love with her and have been for yrs
Reply
4-29-2010 @ 11:11AM
terry said...Tony, i hope you remember that Mrs. James is not in love with you
and you dont have any weapons lying around the house.
please seek medical help you sound a little dangerous
4-29-2010 @ 6:18AM
piratejack1307 said...Sandra,
You did the right thing by seeking a divorce.He isn't worthy of your love and your baby's love.I learned from my dad how to treat a women.If your dad was a gentleman like my dad was and i suggest you find a man like your dad.
Reply