I got my baby back!!! 

He's now 8.  All of this took 14 months and 2 weeks.  It should have been 6 months or less (or not at all).  I am happy and relieved, mostly, (and experiencing many other emotions as well - anger, sadness, anxiety, worry, even fear).  I'm still "under a microscope" and cannot do anything "wrong" or elicit a bad report, although to seriously mess up now, I'd have to do something horrendous.  Also, I had become used to living alone, and there will be much adjusting to do after such a long period of time.  Family court and social services are not through with me yet. But the hardest part is finally over.  They certainly did not make it easy.

From now on, I'll always love Friday the 13th and forever hate April 2nd.  The day after April Fools Day in 2007, my life fell to pieces.  Two women from Crisis Services came to my door, forced me to go to a psychiatric hospital, and Child Protection proceeded, without hesitation, to snatch my son from me - all in the course of an afternoon.  Not only that, the court issued a restraining order (routine, so they said) so I couldn't even see him after I was released from the hospital.  I don't like having a negative anniversary, but sometimes that's the way life hands it down.

When the order of protection was finally lifted, after a substantial number of months had passed, I was allowed to see my boy.  I had to meet with him in a horrid little playroom inside a large government building, with Rebecca, the b*tch from Child Protective Services, sitting in a chair outside the door.  Strangely, it seemed I hardly knew James, and he seemed minimally interested in his mom.  I'll never forget that small, repulsive playroom, which exuded poor taste and artificiality.

Now the pieces of my life are finally coming back together again.  It's been such a long time - it was way past due.

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Ms. Spears, best of luck to you, whatever mental illness you might have.  You helped me carry my burden, by doing it yourself, publicly, and it made me feel so much better, to know I'm not the only one.  My son and I both cheered when we learned you were granted overnights.  I believe you'll ultimately win the war, as I have.

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For more info, check out the EVENT: Have your kids taken away.

*NAMES CHANGED*

I wish to thank the people who helped: Ken, Nettie, Jill, and even the court's referee, who finally made the right decision.  I don't detest her anymore, though I don't regard her highly, either.  Phillip also deserves much credit.  Furthermore, I'd like to thank Marcia who was quite tolerant of me, and I'll always remain appreciative. 

My lawyer, Ken, who was appointed to me by the court, had a caseload of 250 people, and nevertheless knew instantly what was going on with each and every one of them.  He actively defended me during every court appearance, and I'll forever be grateful to him for that.  

And I must add: Jill, you have a heart of solid gold.  You've been my greatest ally throughout all of this.  You believed in me more than most anybody ever has.  I was your Ace, a model for others in my situation to follow.  You told me that I had more hurdles to cross than any of your other clients, and I convinced you that if I could retrieve my child, anyone can.  I'm glad I was able to give you something back. 

I would also like to express my outrage towards Jennifer, Rebecca, and most of the teachers and staff at my son's school (except for Maureen, the only person who reached out to me and cared).  A good heart is a rare and beautiful thing, and I've encountered scant few in my lifetime.  Maureen acted correctly; no one else at that school appeared to have any sympathy or concern.  I was excluded from all of my son's school reports and activities, and received no communications whatsoever during the period my son was living with his grandmother.  I had never lost my parental rights nor stopped being the boy's mother.  They simply cut off all contact with me, and at the same time succeeded in causing me more trouble, pain, and embarrassment, in response to my condition: bipolar disorder.  

My dear mom, you claim you're not my enemy, but a lot of your supposed acts of "concern" harmed me.  I see it as hostile and disloyal to point out every fault, flaw, and failure I have as a human being and as a parent, to that thick and dense, grossly obese slob (mentally), uppity Jennifer (will have to stop the adjectives sometime), and also to Jill (who's even more grotesque).  Your naiveté and poor judgment exacerbated an extremely difficult situation, and achieved absolutely zero.  Did you think that any of these people could ever change me?  They'd only put me through more HELL and accomplish nothing other than wasting more of my precious time.  Didn't you want me to get my son back?  Look at yourself before you criticize others.  You weren't quite the one on the chopping block.  Wait until it comes around. 

Keep a careful eye on your children; they are the last people in your life you'll ever want to lose.  For most all of us, it's unimaginable.  It was to me. Through the Family Court System, it can potentially end in tragedy.  It often just depends on inches of rainfall, or the direction the wind blows that day.  Or perhaps the mood of the judge or referee at the time of your court appearance, as the lawyers like to call it.  Somehow I survived and triumphed, and it gives me great pleasure to credit those who actively helped.  And to hold responsible (and slander) those who have hurt me.  

For those who've read the EVENT: "Friday the 13th Nightmare Court Date part 1," I believe that you might like to know how the story ended. 

Now you know.

THE END?

Family Court closed my case permanently on December 3rd, 2008.  Child Protection can always reappear.