paternal rights - an open plea to single mothers who are depriving children of  paternal contact
Channel: Belinda Knight
Date: 2024-02-10

Three men that I know RIGHT now are in the same situation: they have a child/children that they love very much but whom they are unable to see, or have ANY contact with, NOT because they are represent a danger to the child(ren), but because after they ended the relationship, their ex-partner chose to block all means of contacting them and therefore their child(ren) as well.

These are good men and loving fathers and they are broken, devastated, confused and lost.  They are struggling to deal with the extraordinary grief of both the break up itself plus losing ALL connection with their child(ren).

This is such a common phenomenon and it is horrific.  I understand that there are some men out there that are just not fit to be fathers and should be excluded from their child's life.  But In SO many cases, that is just not true.  My three friends all are stable, hardworking, loving fathers who would do ANYTHING to be able to even just talk on the phone to their children.

So PLEASE, if you have a child who's father is willing, able and healthy enough, DO THE RIGHT THING FOR YOUR CHILD and FACILLITATE VISITATION.  I think all too often we confuse the hurt that we feel at our ex with the best interests of our children.

Just imagine how your child must feel, suddenly not having their daddy in their life all of a sudden?  Or if it is easier, think of yourself as a child and imagine the PAIN and CONFUSION you would feel if one day your father just abandoned you (seemingly).  

PLEASE, don't use your child as a weapon to get revenge on your ex.  It sucks that he abandoned you and you have EVERY RIGHT to be sad and pissed off and confused about that. However those are YOUR feelings to have & worth through; its simply not fair on your child to extend your own suffering onto your baby(s) by blocking paternal acccess.

Thanks for listening. Big love to all the struggling dads out there who are about to or already in family court fighting for custody ❤️

... and if you're considering it, but haven't already, here are some links for family court (in WA)

How to represent yourself in family court handbook:
https://www.familycourt.wa.gov.au/_files/Legal_resources/Guide_Representing_yourself_Court_Childrens_Cases.pdf

Form 1 initiating application - this is the first form you file to initiate proceedings.
https://www.familycourt.wa.gov.au/_files/Forms/Form_1_Initiating_Application.doc

And this affadavit you need to submit with your form 1 application
https://www.familycourt.wa.gov.au/_files/Forms/Case_Information_Affidavit_Form_NP3.doc

Before you can file you need to go through mediation. Here is a link to some of the places that do mediation in WA:
https://www.legalaid.wa.gov.au/find-legal-answers/about-law/mediation-and-dispute-resolution

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