Get the boys a guardian ad litem

Hey everyone, as many of you know our family was recently evicted from the only home my children have ever known and grew up in. I have been processing so much, making moves daily to get on my feet again, but it’s time to share my story. This is not meant to slander anyone, but I can no longer stay silent and not give this a fighting chance.

Two months ago, I attempted to take my ex to meditation, due to unreasonable accommodations to our parenting plan or willingness to attend weekly ongoing appointments for the children and their special needs. This resulted in significant loss of income in our household, due to more limited hours available to work. In order for me to increase my work hours, my fiancé Travis had to sacrifice employment to stay home and parent not only his child, but the boys as well to ensure their needs were met on my work days. In mediation we discussed how high of an impact this has taken and that I’m at risk of losing my apartment if something doesn’t change so we can work more. He agreed to a 50/50 parenting plan with increased participation, but after it was found by the mediator that he has been paying less than state minimum guidelines for child support and that it was going to increase $9 even with increased parenting time, he refused any change to parenting plan which would result in more time with the children. Because he was refusing to pay the child support increase, a scheduling conference was ordered.

This loss of income and lack of participation from their father, quickly led us to an eviction and now homeless. I requested an ex parte hearing for future relocation to Pennsylvania. While I recognize I convinced him to move here, I never anticipated the overwhelming rising costs to live here. Pennsylvania is his and my hometown, so I have family support to help with children’s needs as well as a job offer in my career field and ability to transfer current employment. The cost of living is much cheaper, twice the minimum wage as here, and it will be more attainable to establish stability.

Their father objected, requesting full temporary responsibility, no child support until I get back on my feet here in NH, to which I did not object as I know shelter is most important for the children. I will always look out for the best interest of the children even if it crushes my heart in a million pieces. We still have joint decision making and he is expected to make reasonable accommodations during this time for me to see the children. Since being in respondent and his girlfriends custody(less than three weeks), my oldest son has called twice reporting very traumatic incidents, that are not in the best interest of the children to witness and needed to take a mental health day the Monday after the weekend’s incidents.

Our scheduling conference was yesterday in which a pre trial was discussed for April and a final hearing in May. I asked about advocacy for the children so their voices can be heard without manipulation or feelings considered and was told we had to agree on payment in order to make that happen. He chose after the fact to lawyer up and now is not allowing me to have a sleepover with the children this weekend at the residence I am renting a room from without inspecting the space and meeting the people I’m living with. Mind you, he has already met her years ago and this is a sudden request that was not made in court and feels intrusive and uneccesary. We are not dealing with a neglect or abuse case and we have already had the children on multiple occasions since the temporary order with no issues or objection.

My oldest has expressed multiple times how unhappy he is with the current situation and has lost his recent therapy sessions due to an insurance issue. He needs his voice to be heard, my little guy too. I’m working on getting a pro bono lawyer for myself, but a Guardian ad Litem is not something I can afford while trying to save for a home. Anyone who knows our family dynamic knows we strive to give our children, these intelligent tiny humans, the opportunity for their voices to be heard whenever possible and bend over backwards to ensure their needs are met. I know I could have done this fundraiser to help with getting on my feet or getting a lawyer, but I have full faith that I will get those things taken care of. This is the missing, and most important puzzle piece. Please consider even a small amount towards making this happen so that we can all have the peace and good life we deserve TOGETHER as a family❤️

Thank you all for your support and outreach during this very devastating process.