6 Simple Rules for Divorce.

Today is day three with no water. I'm getting very inventive with ways to stay clean and do everything I need to do without running water. It isn't easy or simple, but if people in Africa can do it, then I can too.

Need to shave your legs? 
No problem. Just buy a few huge two-gallon sized bottles from the grocery store and use them. 

Brushing your teeth?

Easy, a bottle of water and Bob's your aunty! 

The toilet?

Uh.. Let's NOT go there. That part is kinda gross.

Shower? 

That's what friends are for. Seriously. 

You may be wondering why on earth I don't have running water. I live in a present-day suburb and no, we are not overdue on the water bill. Even if we were, they can't just shut the water off - that's against the most basic of human rights and the county can get into deep crap if they did that.

No, there is no logical reason why we don't have water.

It's just that the man my mother is trying [very hard] to divorce decided to call up the water people and tell them we were moving out 08/08/11.

Uh... NO!

But the water people didn't know that, so they cut the water off August 09. I came home to no water, after trying to wash my hands. Needless to say, I was very pissed. 

But what makes this whole situation so much more disturbing? His youngest child [my baby sister who is 14 years younger than me] doesn't have access to running water at the house. 

And why is this significant?

Because in two weeks we are going to court [for the third time] to go through yet another child custody hearing - a custody battle over this child. 

I have my theories as to why he did it, my mother has her own. It's a random and stupid move which for a few days put us under enormous strain, yesterday being the worst of it.
But, after being on hold for 15 minutes listening to painfully repetitive crappy music, I managed to arrange for the water to be put back on today under MY name.

Here are a few words of wisdom for anyone trying to divorce a childish, narcissistic and abusive guy:

1. Get him out of the house as soon as you possibly can. 
2. Set up rules and stick to them, and make sure he sticks to them too. If he doesn't, then promise dire consequences and FOLLOW THROUGH. But in saying that, you must also follow the same rules or face the same consequences.
3. Be prepared to hear gossip about you, but whatever you do, don't go spreading gossip about him. Be the more mature person.
4. Take his name off everything you possibly can! Split credit cards, bank accounts, car titles, utility bills etc.. If you don't, then he has the power to take control of them and use it to ruin your life. Seriously, it's all unnecessary drama designed to provoke you.
5. Don't ever, ever, ever, EVER lose your temper. It is what he wants, and it will prove him right. If you do lose your temper or he hurts you in some way, freak out behind closed doors. 
6. And the MOST IMPORTANT rule of them all: YOU ARE NOT AS POWERLESS AS YOU THINK YOU ARE. 

I hope these help someone one day. I wish I had known all of these a year and a half ago. It would have made a huge difference.