I am utterly appalled and ashamed of a family court system that believes it has the right to impose dangerous and unreasonable rules on a victim of intimate partner violence and their child. This system, which purports to prioritize a child's best interests, has instead actively endangered my child. Shame on this broken system.

My last court hearing was on April 7th, yet it took two months for the order to be written. The resulting order reveals a shocking reversal: Justice M, who appeared open-minded during the hearing and treated it like a mediation, has now sided more with the other party.

During the April 7th hearing, Justice M seemed to understand the crucial bond between my child and me, acknowledging that the other party is a stranger to my child. He indicated that I should be present in the vicinity during the other party's two-hour supervised visits, allowing me to provide comfort if my child needed it. This understanding has been completely discarded. The written order now states I shall only be present for "several minutes at the beginning and end" of visits and "shall not interfere at any time." This was never discussed or agreed upon during the hearing. My legal team, my court support from FearIsNotLove, and I all have consistent notes reflecting the initial understanding that I would be able to comfort my child.

Last week, during two separate two-hour supervised visits, my child clung to me for a full 15 minutes at the beginning of both sessions. She repeatedly sought my reassurance, sitting with me before venturing off to play again. Under this new, unjust order, I will no longer be able to provide this essential comfort to my child when she needs it most. It is an abomination that I, a victim of the other party's abuse, am forced to suffer the agony of being separated from my child's comfort. How is this fair? How is this just?

Why does the family court system consistently side with abusers? Why does it actively facilitate the emotional re-traumatization of victims and their children? This is an urgent call for accountability and change within a system that has utterly failed us.