Chapter 20 - Laura and custody
Laura did not lose Emily forever.
Some people expected me to want that.
At first, part of me did.
Then I watched my daughter.
She loved her mother.
She also did not feel safe sleeping at Laura’s house.
Both mattered.
For four months, Emily lived primarily with me.
Laura had frequent daytime time and some supervised overnights at her sister’s home after safety review.
She attended parenting counseling focused on:
Responding to disclosures.
Blended-family boundaries.
Coercive control.
Child safety.
Not because therapy magically earns custody.
Because behavior and judgment had to change.
At six months, Emily began one overnight with Laura every other weekend.
Then more.
At fourteen months, we reached a revised parenting agreement:
I remained primary residential parent during school weeks.
Laura had alternating weekends, one weekday evening, half holidays, substantial summer time.
Joint legal decision-making with specific conflict procedures.
Not punishment.
Structure.
Three years later, we had moved closer to something like shared parenting again.
Slowly.
Emily’s comfort mattered.
Laura’s demonstrated judgment mattered.
May you like
My anger did not get the final vote.
Good.
