My world seemed to come crashing down when Daniel, my ex-husband, submitted a petition for full custody of our children. The money, the polished image, and the flawless “dad brand” were all things that he flaunted for everyone to see all at the same time. I was frightened that his wealth and rehearsed appearances would be more important than the sleepless nights, the school lunches, the homework help, and the consistent love that I had poured into parenting Emily and Jack.

The brutality of the weeks leading up to the hearing was evident. As if they were golden tickets, Daniel paraded gifts in front of the children. Emily was presented with a brand-new iPhone that came with every accessory imaginable, while Jack was presented with a PlayStation 5 that was loaded with tons of games.

On certain weekends, they would travel in limos that they had rented, eat at places that were extremely costly, and smile for photographs that would be uploaded on the internet with captions describing what a “fun dad” he was. Following that, he appeared in court the night before the court hearing with a golden retriever dog that had a large red bow tied around its neck. When he was under the impression that I was unable to hear, he whispered to the children, “This is just the beginning of what you’ll get if you choose me.”

The deception that was behind the puppy made my stomach turn, but I wasn’t unhappy about the puppy itself because dogs had always been a part of our dreams.

As I entered the room with Emily and Jack on the morning of the hearing, I did my best to maintain an air of composure despite the fact that fear was pressing down on me. Andrea, my attorney, gave me a slight nod, but her eyes conveyed the same sense of concern that I was experiencing. After that, Daniel showed in, looking dapper in an expensive tailored suit, and was accompanied by attorneys who appeared to have been taken straight from a court drama.

With a sneer on his face, he came in close to Sarah and added, “You just can’t keep up with me.” It is not lost on the children. His legal team was the first to enter the courtroom, and they began by presenting him with glossy images of Disneyland vacations, extravagant dinners, and broad smiles. One of the attorneys sighed and said, “Look how happy they are.” “Why should we exclude them from this way of life?” In that wooden chair, I felt myself shrinking, and I prayed that the judge could see through the smoke and mirrors that were around him.

Andrea stood up and spelled out my side of the story, which was how I had built a life for my children not with alimony or child support but with just tenacity and long days. She talked about the things that Daniel did not take into account, such as the meals that I prepared, the assignments that I supervised, and the nights that I remained up with fevers or nightmares. “Children require more than just gifts,” she stated in front of the judge.

They require the presence of the parent who is present each and every day, even when it is difficult. Despite this, I was able to capture Daniel’s grin from across the aisle. In his mind, he had already triumphed.

The judge then requested that the children provide their testimony. My chest tightened up. I knelt down and murmured, “Say what’s currently going through your minds.” Whatever happens, I will always adore you.

Emily, when she was just 10 years old, walked up with courage. She started off by saying, “Your Honor,” in a quiet voice, “you need to know the truth about our brother.” There was a rustling of murmurs in the courtroom, and Daniel’s attorneys became more rigid. “I overheard him talking to his girlfriend on the phone,” I said.

He stated that he’s not even interested in us. According to him, he is in need of us in order for Grandma to give him her mansion and money. After that, dad is going to arrange for us to attend boarding school so that he does not have to deal with us.

After that, there was a harrowing silence that followed. Emily continued by saying, “And he promised me a car if I indicated that I wanted to live with him.” According to him, the puppy was evidence that we would obtain anything if we went with him. At that moment, Jack stood, his small voice resolute.

In the event that we choose him, he assured us that we would no longer have to deal with our “boring mom.”

The judge moved closer to the bench. Is there someone who instructed you to say this? The two of my children gave a head shake in response.

This is what Emily had to say in response: “Mom told us to say what’s in our hearts, and that she would love us no matter what.”

The court inquired about who they desired to reside with, and Jack was the first to respond. “We adore our father. We are fans of Disney and presents.

However, I choose Mom.” After that, Emily immediately responded, “Me too.”

It wasn’t until the judge turned to Daniel and declared, “This court does not tolerate manipulation, bribery, or treating children as bargaining chips that I was able to take a breath.” The way you have been behaving is revolting. We will be determining appropriate child support and alimony, and custody of the children will continue to be with their mother. Daniel made an effort to recover, tripping over his reasons, but the judge immediately hushed him by raising his palm high.

This was the end. Emily and Jack were very close to me as we stood outside the courthouse. Emily hushed her mother and asked, “Mom, did I pick the right path?” There is no way I want him to despise me.

Her forehead was kissed by me. “My darling, you showed more bravery than the majority of the grownups I know. You have been 100% honest.

That is almost usually correct. A few weeks later, Daniel’s family learned about what had transpired in court. This information circulated throughout the family.