The Verdict

The Courts Priority Consultant gave her recommendations to the Court ... she actually recommended a reduction to my time with Lil E (my son) and changed the days so that the family time I have with all three of my children is reduced by 4 hours.  Remember that I only had 15 hours each week with him ... so 30 minutes is a lot and 4 hours is just plain wrong!!! There were other things in the recommendations that clearly showed the bias toward the mother.  These changes, in fact, were her wishes.  This is the type of thinking that I am incapable of understanding.  Anybody focused on their children, and not their own self centered needs, would know that this is not what is best for anybody but themselves.  Clearly there is some confusion about who's needs are being satisfied with this schedule.

[The Verdict]  Fortunately for Lil E, the judge did not agree with the Priority Consultant, nor did he understand the logic that was used to conclude such a recommendation.  For the next three months, the schedule is to remain status-quo.  After three months, Lil E will finally sleep in his Chicago Bears theme room once a week, each and every Sunday.  After three more months, Lil E will get to sleep in his room twice a week.  And in 9 months, we are to go back to court, where the judge feels that we will be talking about a schedule that is something more like a 2-2-3 ... Shared Equal Parenting!!!! 

Am I happy?  Yes I am!!!  I would love to have him sleeping over today, and have Shared Equal Parenting now, however, given the lengthy process that I have endured through the strength and grace of God, I at least can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  And that is a light that was turned on by my faith.  Continue to have faith, as there will be changes for the better eventually, even if it's 20 years down the road.

This is however a bitter sweet moment.  Although I have been suffering through this process, there are so many parents out there that are not having such success.  This MUST CHANGE!!!  I have a friend that has been fighting to see her children for 10 years ... and recently was put in jail because she could not afford to pay the child support order, even though the appellate court declared her indigent and the father is working full time with a working spouse.  Don't miss understand me here ... I agree that parents should financially support their children, but putting a parent in jail is something I do not agree with.  Nor do I support the extreme amounts often awarded that take so much from the other parent.  There is a solution to this problem ... if it weren't so political. 

If you believe in Shared Equal Parenting, then send me an email and help me make changes!!!