Christina A

My daughter is 14 years old and had been sexually abused by her (my ex) stepdad since she was 12 years old. When I found out I immediately contacted the police, filed charges, quit my jobs, packed up all our furniture, and moved them back to my parents house where we all now live (in our home town). We even sold our furniture because it reminded her of that monster. We have to sleep in one room because of the size of my parent's home. I have her in counseling and am doing all that I can. I finally got a job but I'm still flat broke, I owe everybody (bills). I had to ground her for 1 week for an incident, then for 1 more week for another incident, and still then 1 more week for another incident : a total of 3 weeks. She told her dad about it, but it's completely her fault.

Her birth father abandoned us 11 years ago and has seen them just a handful of times. He didn't call on Christmas or birthdays, or even write one letter. He is a deadbeat dad to the fullest. He had been involved in drugs and drinking for many years, but is now clean. He moved to the same town when he heard about my daughter's abuse and has been here about 1 month. He calls me so they can visit when it's his payday. He scheduled a visitation but once didn't pick them up or call, then the next day he called and said he was called into work. He has yet to give me him physical address; I just have his phone number.

And now I just learned that she wants to move in with him. (He lives with his dad and step-mom.) He even told her that she can have her own room and he'll buy her new clothes!!! I know she'll be allowed to do whatever she wants and have run of the house. Also, her dad's house is 2 blocks away from her ex-boyfriend's house (of which I grounded her for having) and I found notes stating that she could sneak out and they could meet each other when ever she was at her dad's house.

I want to know if I can fight the custody change even though she's old enough to choose who she lives with. She says she needs a break from me and the nightmares she has about me as well as all the reminders of what that monster did to her. I told her it takes time to heal, and she can't run away from what's inside her. It'll be a quick fix, but she'll soon start to have those same feelings again, even if she's at her dad's house.

I'm so angry at him for putting those ideas in her head!!! All she sees is what she wants: her own room, new clothes, being able to do what she wants to do, and being 2 blocks away from her boyfriend!

So, do I have a chance at fighting this in court? Or will she be able to choose not matter what the circmstances? It's eating me alive.....

I wake him up at 7 am each morning for school. He does the usual activities that boys do; he doesn't take any naps during the day. His bedtime is 9 pm and he complains that he can't fall asleep for hours. There's no noise keeping him up; I don't like giving him liquids soon before bed (so no warm milk), and I make him wind down 30 mins before bed. I'm at a loss for any ideas.

My washing machine does fine, but when I set it to super load, it leaks. I got a new washing machine with a smaller tub & 3 settings (s,m,l) and now when I set it to large load, it's leaking! How do I stop it from leaking? I think it's coming from the drain pipe behind the washer. The water overflows out of it.

My boyfriend and I live with each other. He just started a new job 5 months ago and makes a lot more money now, but I've been at my job for 3 years. Both of our credit needs serious repair, but whose do we start with? Mine, where I've been at my job the longest, would I seem better for applying for credit once I'm cleared up or my boyfriend who makes more money - would he seem a better candidate for credit?