I thought I was trying a case today and tomorrow. I thought there was no way to settle it. This case had gone on for 4 years, almost without abatement. The parents have been caught in a cycle of pain and disappointment. One is trying their darndest to break the cycle; the other is too hurt to move beyond the pain. Their child is suffering mightily. My client thought there was no hope of moving forward and had no choice but to ask the court to make a choice between the two parents. It wasn't what she wanted, but without cooperation from the other parent, it was what she had to do. At the last minute, we were able to resolve the dispute. Is the resolution perfect? No. Is it possible everything we put into place to help these parents move forward might fall apart? Yes. Might they never get out of their cycle? Possibly. Sometimes, there is no happily ever after. Sometimes, you do the best you can and hope for the best. If they can adhere to the consent order we entered today, there is hope for this family and for their child. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
What I hope for them is that they retain the optimism they had today. We were fortunate that the judge insisted that even though we had a signed agreement, the parents nonetheless come before him so he could ensure that they understood their undertaking and its importance. The judge did a masterful job. He asked each parent questions about their son that made them smile. He talked to each of them about the struggles their son was enduring; he opined that parental conflict probably made those problems worse. He asked them about the terms of the agreement and made sure they understood their undertaking. He warned them about what would likely happen if they failed to obey the order they were entering. He made them smile and he made them tear up. I hope he caused them to soberly reflect. They left the courtroom a little lighter and with some hope. I wish for them that the actions they take justify that hope. Here in the Trenches.
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