Mine is your basic story of boy meets girl, boy and girl marry and boy and girl divorce 6 years later. Last year at this time, I found myself in court to fight to keep my son in the same state as I am in. His mother felt that I was not vital to my son's life and wanted to move him to her home state. Court was the worst and longest four hours of my life. Many people told me not to worry because here in the state of Colorado it is very pro fatherhood but they were not seeing it as the judge did. I sat there watching my former wife tell lie after lie and I just wanted to yell at her. I wanted so much to expose that she cheated and how does that make her the better person? Sorry, I was on a bit of a tangent there. But I guess that's easy to understand. You wouldn't have believed what she said in court. I had to also sit in the witness seat and it is NOT like "Law and Order" by far. Her lawyer treated me like I had killed our son.
I am a great dad and we dads do not hear that enough. Again, I was feeling like I did something wrong. When I was still allowed in his life, I spend not just my weekends with my son but I helped coach his hockey team and called him every night. I am far from perfect but I am very much part of my son's life and here I am almost begging a judge to see it my way.
After I was done testifying the judge took ten minutes to review what he heard that morning, TEN MINUTES to determine if I get to keep seeing my son or CRAP, if I get screwed. For 30 minutes the judge spoke about his ruling and it was not until, I don't t know, maybe the last five minutes where I had to look at my lawyer to ask, "Did he just say she could not move with my son?" Well, yes, that is how it all ended. The judge said that she could move but was not permitted to take our son out of state.
I really wish that my former wife would realize that kids need both parents and I wish that all of us accepted that as well. Our kids need to have a mom and dad period, end of story, even if the parents do not live together. Yes, I am still very angry at my former wife and someday I hope she will understand that our son needs his dad as much as he needs his mom.
Tommy's Story...
Well, Here's One Judge
Who Almost Got It Right.
Count Those Blessings.
Welcome to the 'State' of Denial.
