Chapter 17 - SOPHIE’S FATHERFamily court did not terminate Mark’s parental rights.
People were shocked.
I wasn’t, after my lawyer explained the standard.
He was Sophie’s father.
No sexual abuse.
No serious physical injury.
No evidence he intended toxic overdose.
He had engaged in coercive bath routines, physical restraint, secrecy, and inappropriate medication.
Serious.
Potentially dangerous.
But courts often ask whether risk can be managed.
Initially:
No unsupervised contact.
Then supervised visits at a center.
No bathing.
No medication administration.
No discipline beyond redirection approved in the parenting plan.
Mark had to complete psychological evaluation, parenting education, and therapy.
His visits with Sophie were awkward.
She hid behind the supervisor the first time.
Mark cried.
He did not force contact.
Good.
He asked:
“Can I sit over here?”
She nodded.
May you like
He sat.
That was perhaps the first time he let Sophie’s fear change his behavior instead of making her change hers.
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