I read an AOL article today titled "2 Missing Boys, Father Found Dead" It happened in Champaign, Ill - look it up. Long story short - the mother did not feel like her children were safe with their father for an unsupervised overnight visitation. The police told her if she did not allow visitation she would be arrested. She has had filed charges for FOUR "criminal actions" but the case had not yet been heard.
I wrote the letter (below) to the Judge hearing the case for my daughter. She is a text book case for something like this to happen. Whether you have a similair situation or not, and especially if you do - please write to your local Juv & Dom Relations Judge. Copy my letter - I don't care. This has got to stop!
I respectfully submit the (attached) article and ask that you consider such in regard to your many custody hearings. My own daughter is currently going through your court to settle matters regarding her two children; my two grandchildren. I purposely have omitted her name as I feel this should not be an individual consideration. This is happening everywhere and I feel it is because the courts are not given enough leeway in making their own decisions based on reason. I know that BOTH parents have rights. I also know though that SOME parents should NOT be allowed visitation without supervision. A person that seemingly loves their children can turn on them in an instant when it comes to relationship issues.
I respectfully ask that any decisions made by you and your court take into consideration that there are facts that have been undisclosed. It is so in my daughter’s case and many others I am sure. I know that in the interest of time courts don’t often have the benefit to ask pertinent questions regarding abuse, living conditions, relationship issues and the like. They may not even know! I know much of the mediation is left up to the parents, the attorneys, the Guardian Ad Litem, and mediation professionals. I also know that my daughter’s attorney is not the best person to tell the WHOLE story. Her concerns are only about staying within the parameters of the law. A lot of which she is still learning.
My daughter’s ex has (fortunately) been out of the country for the past several months on business. He has become exceedingly abusive over the telephone. He has made threats to her about taking the children when he comes home. How does one prepare for the inevitable unhappy homecoming? He will be back in the country soon and all signs are that he is not going to be any easier to deal with. Court is something that often happens after the fact. Too many times it’s too late.
I fear for my daughter’s life. I fear for the lives of my grandchildren. I become almost ill with anger when I read that another person has taken the lives of their OWN children. It saddens me when they leave the other parent behind to deal with the pain. Because they “win.” They want to hurt the other person. And they have. Children are losing their lives because of the decisions of their elders. Where does it stop?
IT’S TIME FOR CUSTODIAL PARENTS TO HAVE MORE RIGHTS!
IT’S TIME FOR CUSTODIAL PARENTS TO BE HEARD!
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