Last week, after coming out of hospital due to a suspected heart attack I was served with a court order by my wife. The order was requesting that she had residence of our daughter.
This really hit me hard. As the thought of not seeing my daughter every day was heartbreaking. So like any body would do, I started phoning solicitors. Eventually I found one which offered Legal Aid, and so made an appointment. After seeing the Solicitor, things were not looking good. As our child was still quite young, she suggested most residence cases would favour the mother.
But I always have faith things will work out.
So the day of the court case arrived; both solicitors were battling it out between them while I was just sat there in bewilderment thinking “this is my life you are messing with“. After too-ing and fro-ing, it came down to us both agreeing to an undertaking not to take our daughter out of the jurisdiction, and her passport was to be held by my wife’s solicitor and not to be returned without permission of the court.
Then the final blow of the day was shoved right in my face. She has now served me with a non-molestation order. Meaning I am not allowed to contact my wife or daughter for 6 months. Obviously I contested this, saying its ridiculous and how can this be in the best interests of my daughter. Well my solicitor said unfortunately there is not a lot we can do other than contest it.
So we actually get in to the court room, but guess what, my wife is missing. Her solicitor asked the judge if she could be excused from the court, because she would feel threatened and intimidated by myself. I could not believe it, what is she playing at? It was only a few days ago that we were spending the whole day together playing with our daughter and now she feels threatened by me.
So, the judge turns to me after hearing everything and gives me the ruling. I am not allowed to harass, be violent, intimidate, threaten my wife or daughter. I am not to go within 500 metres of her address, do I have any questions. So I asked him, does this mean I am not allowed to contact her at all, ie by email.. Then her solicitor pipes up. “My client would prefer no contact at all”
Life really sucks. My contested hearing is in the middle of January, and until then I have absolutely no chance of seeing my daughter (unless a miracle happens and my wife suddenly turns up on my doorstep) I have a son from a previous marriage who is, to be frank, quite distraught that he cannot see his sister, to the point he has crossed out everything on his Christmas list and replaced it with “my sister to come home”
I keep thinking, will my daughter remember me when all this is over? If I lose my contested hearing and have to wait the full 6 months, will she remember me?
My daughter was always saying “daddy”. Whenever she couldnt do something (like couldnt get a shape in to the shape sorter)…. “daddy, daddy” Or if she wanted a story reading, “daddy, daddy” I cannot help but think, if she is still doing the same, but then wondering where I am, Its really breaking my heart, my beautiful little girl, I miss you so much.
Stay strong my princess, Daddy will see you soon