Day Thirteen - From Panic to Power

Each day, I prayed that I would finally be free from the nightmare. Until then, I simply went through the motions, telling myself that maybe when my children were older, I could escape this life.

I had an order of protection, yet he walked into their school and took my children—even though he was not permitted to do so. We were going through a divorce, and I believed the children were supposed to remain with the parent who had custody until everything was finalized.

I fought desperately to get them back. The school could not explain how they had allowed this to happen. Every day, I went to the place where he was staying and begged him to let me see my children. He laughed at me, cursed at me, and ordered me away from the door.

My children were inside a home with a man struggling with addiction, and I felt completely powerless to protect them.

One day, a kind young police officer came with me. He walked up the steps and calmly asked, “Please, let her see her children.”

He was met with anger and profanity.

As the officer walked back down the steps, he said something I would never forget: “You know how he took your children? You have to find a way to get them back. Is there anyone who can help you?”

I immediately thought of my aunt. Through people she knew, I found help. What happened next came from the desperation of a mother who believed her children were in danger. Three men accompanied me and stood beside me while I knocked on the door. When he refused to let me in, they kicked opened the door, held him back, and told me, “Take your children.”

So I did.

I took my babies, and I never looked back.

It was a frightening and dangerous moment—one born from desperation, not a choice I would ever encourage someone else to make. But that day became the beginning of our freedom.

After everything he had done to control us, he never even appeared in court to fight for custody.

That day, I got more than my children back.

I got my life back. I found my power, and our freedom finally began.

If you are experiencing domestic violence or a custody crisis, please seek help from a domestic-violence advocate, attorney, court, or law enforcement. You do not have to face it alone.