Help Fund the National Family Violence Law Center at George Washington University
Nine years ago this month, I started my blog, “One Mom’s Battle” (OMB).
I am spontaneous - sometimes that works against me, but in this case, it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
I wish I had a great story of OMB being planned out but it wasn’t. From the moment I uttered the words, “I think I am going to start a blog,” to the moment I sat down to type my first post was a span of 48-hours. September 2011, I was fueled by sheer desperation and consumed by the injustice my children were facing in the family court system. I truly believed that I was the ONLY mom….surely this was a fluke? Turns out, there are thousands and thousands of others. Had I been represented by an attorney when I started OMB, I would have surely been muzzled and silenced.
My story had a happy ending after a decade in the court system but most are not so lucky. If I had one wish, it would be that children were prioritized in family court. In many ways, I believe things are actually worse now than they were ten years ago. A total of 758 children have lost their lives since my child custody battle first began. 758 children were murdered by a divorcing or separated parent (Center for Judicial Excellence). I see glimmers of hope here and there and I get to hear success stories but I also see the darkness, the despair and the children who are failed. We have so much work to do in this broken system.
A few months ago, I stumbled on something that gives me tremendous hope: the National Family Violence Law Center (NFVLC) at George Washington University spearheaded by one of my personal (s)heroes, Joan Meier. I have been saying for years that the missing pieces to this 20,000 piece puzzle are data and research on the issues in family court. Without the data and the research, our voices, our cries for help and our picket signs fall on deaf ears.
We need to collectively come together and support Joan’s important work. The way I see it, our hands are tied by a very broken family court system that prioritizes parental rights over children’s rights. We are all demanding change but no one is listening.
If you are looking for ways to be a part of the change, please support NFVLC.
If you are seeking ways to have your voice heard, please support Joan’s efforts.
If you are seeking ways to ensure other children don’t have to endure what your children have endured, please support NFVLC.
If you would like to celebrate OMB’s 9th anniversary, please make a donation to Joan’s work at the NFVLC.
Click here to donate.
So many children are being failed. We need to ensure that children's safety is the number one factor in the family court system. It's simple, it's quick...and it could save lives. Whether you donate $9 for 9-years of OMB being a voice for the voiceless, $15 for faith in creating change, or $46 for my 46th birthday...thank you. It means a lot to me and to so many others. Love, Tina
