In many states the one thing men don't have in the Domestic Relations side of the judicial system is a leg to stand on and it's because our broken judicial system remains biased. Keep in mind that it is possible for men to gain custody of their children!

One of the most critical tools in seeking sanity for yourself and family as well as gaining the documentation you will need in fighting your custody battle in court is Counseling.

It is worth the extra expense to find yourself a good family therapist who is willing to counsel your entire family, young children, teens and adults. Most insurances cover the expense.

Our family therapist is awesome. He helps us to stay on track with our family and maintain a healthy marriage. He also helps to teach our kids how to cope with the stresses of growing up in blended and/or broken families. Since he is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, anything my stepkids tell him behind closed doors can be used in court.

Annie packed up the pantry goods into boxes and hid them in the pantry. Her husband was unaware of her plans until after she left. He dropped his wife and kids off at the airport after coming home from his second job early the next morning. Her last words were, "Look for your plane ticket in the mail! I will see you in a few weeks for Christmas!"

Annie never mailed her husband's plane ticket. Her parents had paid for her flight. They had told the couple that for their Christmas gift they would fly the family home for the holidays. It was no surprise to the husband when his own parents received a call from Annie's parents telling them that they decided to make his parents responsible for paying for his flight home. When Annie's husband called her to ask about her parents change in plans she defended them then asked him to mail the boxes she had sitting on the pantry floor. When he asked her when she planned to come home she changed the subject and then ended the call. Christmas day came and the husband called to wish his wife and children a Merry Christmas. There was no answer, Annie never came home. New Years came and so did the divorce papers.

Was it denial that sent this man into the fantasy that his wife would return with his children? Depressed, he stayed away from the home, filling his days and nights with extra duty at work.

He found the boxes in the pantry and opened them up. They were filled with canned goods and food staples. He went to his children's rooms and realized that the clothes in their drawers were untouched yet all their toys and kids videos were missing. He came home to find women in his home, who had been loading up their cars with dishes, knickknacks and furniture while he was at work. When he asked what they were doing, they responded, "Annie gave us keys and told us to take what we wanted!" The man was beside himself and this was only the beginning.

Phone calls were made to the husband's squadron First Sergeant. The wife called nonstop telling the First Sergeant that her husband was physically and verbally abusive towards her and the children. Her calls became more frequent and harrassing as she pressed the issue of being the victim of abuse. Worried that there might actually be an issue (and not realizing that the wife hadn't been in the picture for several months) the First Sergeant suggested that the husband attend Anger Management classes. The husband's classes were short lived when they realized they were dealing with a vindictive ex-spouse.

I never expected to see this man again after my first encounter with him and his buddies at Denny's. We had all parted ways that evening. My girlfriends and I had a party to crash and the night was young. . . .

It's 1:20 p.m. and I find myself pacing back and forth in the foyer outside the courtroom. My husband looks handsome in his dark blue, double-breasted Armani suit. He is sitting next to me wringing his sweaty hands and feeling sick to his stomach. I feel the same way. "Why is she doing this to us?" I ask him. He takes me into his arms and whispers, "I don't know. . ."

Midway through the 2nd track our attorney exits the elevator. My husband prompts me to open my eyes. I carefully open my eyes to take a peek and find comfort in seeing her standing in front of me wearing a long beige trench coat.

Our attorney reassures us that we have nothing to worry about and offers to take our coats. One by one she asks me to point out everyone in the opposing party. I didn't want to but I forced myself to cough out the names of each person who accompanied the ex wife. I began with the ex. I took a deep breath and put on my poker face, desensitizing myself in the process, extended out my arm and pointed to the short, stalky lady with raven black hair who was sitting in between two other women and said, "The lady in the middle wearing the leather blazer is Annie. The one on the right side of her is her little sister Emily and the lady to her left is her mother Tessa." Tessa looked up and fanned her fingers in a rolling motion hollering out in a snobby tone, "Hellooo!", rolled her eyes and kept cackling with the other two. They were dressed in black slacks and leather blazers with button up shirts of vibrant colors and stiletto heels. The three women looked as though they were dressed to go clubbing. They giggled and cackled, looking up at us every few seconds. We pretended not to acknowledge the ladies.

I next pointed out the men who were with the ex. I first pointed to the man sitting directly across from me. His eyes were fixated on me like a rabid dog with a dark, threatening glare. I say meekly, "The man glaring at me, in the wrinkled clothing, is Annie's husband Henry. The old gentleman next to him in the tattered shirt and faded jeans is her father Reynold." I thought it was odd that the ex sat no where near her husband, nor did she acknowledge his existance. Their relationship is weird like that. . .