
Sal's 7-year-battle to get custody of his son is an example of how shack-up relationships damage kids. Call 1-800-DR-LAURA / 1-800-375-2872 or make an appointment at DrLaura.com
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Dr. Laura
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Caller
Hi Dr. Laura. Thank you for taking my call.
Dr. Laura
You're very welcome. What can I help you with?
Caller
I'll just got a lot of mixed emotions and my wife's been listening to you for a long time, so she told me to schedule a call with you. So I've been in a custody battle since 2018 and it's finally been resolved. Last week I was trying to been.
Dr. Laura
In the middle of a war for seven years. Yeah, what the hell is that?
Caller
So the mother has been alienating me. I mean from seeing my son and it's just been a nightmare. And then with COVID it pushed it back more. Everything was through virtual visits and so now I. I've been through rejunification therapy with him. We also got an I got a J Gal for him. So we can.
Dr. Laura
I don't know what. What's a galaxy?
Caller
What's a ga. Guardiomaglitem.
Dr. Laura
Oh, that's right.
Caller
It's like a lawyer. It's like a lawyer just for my.
Dr. Laura
I know what it is. I just always heard the Words all the way out. Sorry. And what's this therapy thing you went through? What is that called? What is that about?
Caller
Rejunification therapy. It's like reuniting.
Dr. Laura
Oh, I see.
Caller
Together. Reunification.
Dr. Laura
How long. How long have you done that with him?
Caller
I've been doing that for the past year.
Dr. Laura
And how has he been functioning? I've been trying to go for 100% custody, sir.
Caller
Yes, ma'.
Dr. Laura
Am. Yeah, I think we should just take a saw and cut him in half from the top down. No, that was a Solomon question. Two women. King Solomon. Two women decided they were the mother. King Solomon couldn't get either one to agree or to cooperate or to compromise. So he said, I'm going to get a sword and cut this kid in half, and you can each have half. And one woman screamed, no, no, she can have him. So he gave the kid to that mother because she was willing to sacrifice so that he wouldn't. The kid wouldn't be hurt. I guess you two never heard that story.
Caller
Oh, yeah, it makes sense. And. And, yeah, I mean, he's. He's very sheltered. He's. He's got two siblings since then with two different fathers other than me. And I've been trying to go for 100 custody since the beginning, and I just got granted 50. 50 custody. So I don't know. I'm just. I'm torn because now she dropped the whole parenting plan onto him, saying that I'm taking him this time, that time, and instead of easing them into it and. And letting me take it. Baby steps with him and see how he reacts and. And that. But, I mean, now he. What's done is done. And I'm trying to explain to him that everything's going to be okay. He's. I understand his feelings, and I don't want to. I'm not disrupting any of his. His stuff that he's got going on, like school and stuff like that. He's homeschooled, but not by her, which is good. I like homeschooling, but it's not by her. Like, I can homeschool him myself. And. I don't know, it's just a bad situation all the way around. And I want to do the best thing for my son. And I know.
Dr. Laura
All I can say to you is stay the course and good luck. This is a damaged kid now, so it's going to take you never giving up. Never.
Caller
And I won't.
Dr. Laura
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Caller
JP Morgan, Chase bank and a member FDIC subject to credit approval.
Dr. Laura
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Dr. Laura
My heart goes out to dear son. How did you marry this woman in the first place? She'd have big boobs.
Caller
I've never was. We were. We were never married. That's the thing.
Dr. Laura
So you just knocked her up?
Caller
Yeah, as you would say. I was shacking up with her.
Dr. Laura
Shacking up. And you're not a. Oh, that's a big one.
Caller
And she had cheated on me.
Dr. Laura
I don't care. You shack up and knock up some broad that you don't even love or want to commit to. You know, you reap the wind, baby. So here we are. I'm very glad that you seem to have superior character issue intact about following through on protecting, nurturing this child. I wish you well and you can call anytime. But right now, just stay the course. Just stay the course. You're doing everything that I would recommend. Poor kid. Oh my God, that poor kid. First the turmoil and the shack up and then the yanking back and forth for seven years. Oh, my God. Poor kid. Yeah, you guys are just shacking up and knocking up broads. Come on. You want to do that? I don't care if some woman is good with you to do any of that. I really don't care, Scuzzy, but it doesn't keep me up at night. Tie your tubes, get vasectomies, and then any woman who just wants to plop on her back for you, go for it. I don't care. Just don't hurt children. 1-800-375-2872. You're just a click away for some terrific deals being offered by companies that get the DRLaura stamp of approval. Visit drlaura.com, click on sponsors to take advantage of the special Discounts available to Dr. Laura listeners like you.
Sponsor Announcer
This episode is brought to you by Huggies Little Movers. It's fun having a baby that loves to move, but it can be challenging to find a diaper that can keep up with them. Huggies Little Movers is designed to move with your baby. With either the double grip strips or the new HugFit 360 degree waistband. You can be confident relying on Huggies Little movers for your active little ones. Huggies little movers. Made with double grip strips or the new HugFit 360 degree waistband so your little double can keep moving. Like you, Huggies. We got you, baby.
Episode: Custody Battle Nightmare
Air Date: September 13, 2025
Host: Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Caller: Sal
In this emotionally charged episode, a caller named Sal discusses his long and exhausting custody battle over his son. Dr. Laura offers her signature direct advice and reflects on the impact of parental decisions on children. The episode is a raw look into the complexities of co-parenting after separation, alienation, and the long-term effects on kids.
Sal reveals that the mother engaged in alienation, limiting his contact with their son, exacerbated by COVID-19 restrictions.
He mentions interventions such as reunification therapy and a court-appointed Guardian ad Litem (GAL).
Explanation:
Dr. Laura: “What's this therapy thing you went through? What is that about?”
Sal: “Reunification therapy. It's like reuniting... together.”
Dr. Laura, invoking King Solomon:
“Yeah, I think we should just take a saw and cut him in half from the top down. No, that was a Solomon question... He gave the kid to [the real] mother because she was willing to sacrifice so that he wouldn’t be hurt. I guess you two never heard that story.” (03:16–03:58)
Dr. Laura, on consequences:
“You shack up and knock up some broad that you don’t even love or want to commit to. You know, you reap the wind, baby. So here we are... Just don’t hurt children.” (09:25–11:05)
Dr. Laura, closing advice:
“Just stay the course. You're doing everything that I would recommend. Poor kid. Oh my God, that poor kid...” (10:01)
As always, Dr. Laura adopts a blunt, sometimes harsh, but ultimately compassionate tone. She holds both parents responsible but encourages Sal for standing by his son. The discussion is honest, unvarnished, and focused on personal accountability and the welfare of the child above all.
Listeners are given a sobering glimpse into the realities of high-conflict custody disputes, parental alienation, and the emotional toll on children. Dr. Laura responds both with her characteristic tough love—criticizing carelessness in relationships and its aftermath—while also offering unwavering support to Sal in continuing to fight for his son’s well-being. The main lesson: “Stay the course—and never give up on your kid.”