Family Law

What Do Children Think During Family Court Cases?

By Ben Stevens

Family Court cases are difficult for adults, but they can be traumatic for children.  After seeing the effect these cases can have on children, Reggie Blackledge, a family law attorney in Collins, Mississippi, wrote the following poem to help adults understand the feelings that children experience when their parents are fighting in court.  I am pleased that Mr. Blackledge granted me permission to publish his poem on my blog, and I hope that you find it as meaningful as I do:

IT'S MY FAULT

I'm 8 years old and I don't know how I got here.
As far back as I know they've been fussing.
At first they would just come out of a room with momma in tears.
Then it got so loud that I couldn't get anywhere that I didn't hear them cussing.

I've heard that a wife should love her husband, and a husband should love his wife.
That's what I would keep telling myself when I hid.
But their fighting has been going on my whole life.
It must be something I did.

I try to concentrate when I'm in class, but the teacher's words just start to fade.
Sometimes I just feel numb.
The teachers are worried about my grades.
I must really be dumb.

Now I live with momma and see daddy off and on.
Even with them living apart it's still the same.
They may not see each other but when daddy calls me they fight on the phone.
I love them both and want it to stop. I must be to blame.

We went back to court today over what the judge called child custody.
As usual they yelled at each other in the hall.
I'm the child so this custody fight must be about me.
If they are fighting over me I must be the cause.

Court is over now and I'm trying not to think about what was said.
I need to sleep. I just want some rest.
Momma's nerve pills are by her bed.
I'm so confused and upset.

They were bitter. I lay down on momma's bed.
I remember my last thought
As I whispered out loud and sleepily said,
'This must all be my fault.'

By: A. Regnal Blackledge, Attorney at Law
Shoemake & Blackledge, PLLC
Collins, Mississippi 39428
www.shoemakeblackledge.com

Full post as published by SC Family Law Blog on November 30, 2009 (boomark / email).