Let me be real with you: I’m not a lawyer. I’m a mom in the middle of a custody battle, learning the legal ropes one late night and court motion at a time—because I have no other choice.
I didn’t ask for this fight.
I didn’t want to become my own legal team.
I just wanted to co-parent fairly and peacefully, while doing what’s best for my child.
But when that’s not possible—when decisions are made without considering the long-term impact on your child—sometimes you have to speak up. Loudly. And sometimes… You have to speak up alone.
💥 This Fight Didn’t Start in a Courtroom. It Started Years Ago in My Own Childhood.
My beliefs about parenting through separation didn’t come out of nowhere. I've lived through the damage of high-conflict co-parenting as a kid. I was only five when my father moved away, remarried, and had more children. I watched him become a fully present dad in their lives… while I became a visitor in his.
Meanwhile, I grew up watching my mother and father despise each other, out loud. Their hatred was never hidden. I was the middleman, the emotional translator, and at times... the weapon.
If I said something kind about my stepmom? My mother lashed out.
If I told my dad something innocent about life at home? It could blow up into an argument.
I even remember being used in ways that confused and scared me, like the time I came home to a house full of police officers after repeating something to my stepmom that spiraled completely out of control.
I made myself a promise back then... One I carry fiercely into the courtroom today:
I will not let my child live like that.
🧠 Representing Yourself in Court Is More Than Just Learning the Law
Right now, I'm preparing for trial in November. Every document I write, every message I archive, every detail I track, it’s all being done while raising my son, keeping our lives steady, and processing the emotional toll of it all.
This isn't just a legal process. It’s mental warfare. It’s emotional labor. It’s fighting for your child’s best interests in a system that doesn’t always see the full picture.
And when the other parent gets to paint themselves as calm, stable, and involved, while presenting a very different version of themselves outside the courtroom, it’s terrifying.
Because I know the truth. I live the truth.
But truth doesn’t always speak loud enough without evidence and composure.
So, I show up. Every time. A little stronger.
More Prepared, focused, and anchored in love.
👁 The Choices You Make as a Parent Will Echo Through Your Child’s Life
This isn’t just about court dates and visitation schedules.
It’s about what happens after the hearing.
At home.
In your child’s heart.
In their emotional memory.
If you’ve moved away and started a new family, that’s your right as an adult. But that choice shouldn’t mean your child has to give up the life they’ve known. A child shouldn’t be expected to change schools, routines, or emotional anchors simply because you decided to build something new somewhere else.
Blending families doesn’t mean erasing what came before.
And co-parenting doesn’t mean co-controlling, it means cooperating.
🧭 To Anyone Else Still in This Battle...
If you’re doing this alone, I see you.
If you’re afraid of saying the wrong thing in court, I feel you.
And if you’re showing up for your child when no one else seems to be… I’m walking this path with you.
I don’t have a verdict yet. I’m still writing motions. Still collecting evidence. Still preparing for trial.
But I do have clarity.
And I do have a voice.
And most of all, I have a child whose peace and well-being will always be worth every ounce of this fight.
You are not just defending your rights.
You’re defending their right to a healthy, stable childhood.
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