Dear Readers,
Today, as we embrace Mother's Day, my thoughts are with the many mothers, including myself, navigating daunting challenges within the family court system. My journey began in 2011 with a divorce, securing primary custody of my sons who had lived with me for over 12 years. However, for the past 655 days, we've endured the hardships of this system. It all stemmed from my pursuit of higher education outside my immediate county—an endeavor that should have been celebrated as a positive step for my family's future but instead turned into a battlefield where my maternal rights were questioned and dismissed.
How does society choose to penalize a woman striving to fulfill her ambitions? By depriving her of access to her children, hitting her where it hurts the most. How dare she aspire for upward mobility? Foolishness! She must be silenced, treated like a criminal, and stripped of her rights. She should have known better than to aim for personal growth; that's a role reserved for fathers, not mothers!
The agony of separation from my children, not knowing when I'll hold them again, is beyond words. It's a pain shared by many mothers. Our legal system, designed to safeguard children's best interests, often fails, leaving families traumatized and hearts shattered.
I want to believe in a system valuing the parent-child bond, prioritizing their well-being above all. However, my experiences with the family court system have been demoralizing and traumatic, fostering post-separation abuse. I've faced challenges before—I mean, remember when I finished the Texas Water Safari in a solo, broken boat? I understand pain and the resilience of the human spirit.
But this pain is unparalleled. This ongoing legal battle is the most agonizing ordeal I've faced. I'm physically broken, with constant chest pains and a sense of limblessness worse than any boat damage.
I'm not feeling particularly motivational today. However, as we honor mothers worldwide, let's recognize the urgent need for family court reform. Let's raise our voices, advocate for policies prioritizing children's emotional needs, and lobby for laws valuing strong familial bonds, even amidst separation.
All I want is to embrace my children. I once believed it was an inherent right. But perhaps I'm just a naive mother with naive dreams, enduring this pain. We mothers deserve better, and we must persist in advocating for a system truly serving our children's best interests.
Sending hugs and wishes for a Happy Mother's Day.
Warmly,