Reunite this Family

My children need their mother. I have shared custody 50/50 , voluntarily for 6 1/2 years since leaving their father. 

Finally, in January this year, I found the strength to request legally documented time share and consistent support that I never received. Of course it eventually led to a court case. Status quo was ordered and an Ad Liteum was assigned the case. Months went by. And that led to a very recent drastic reduction in timesharing, 3 hours a week. This decision was made without impartiality and I believe is financially motivated. Their father had ability to pay the ad Liteum retainer as well as hire his own high power attorney. 

My children are devastated, traumatized, and not given a voice. This happened suddenly on August 12 when the Guardian ad Liteum partially reviewed my medical and financial records. I have overcome a major illness and am still healing with questionable prognosis, so time lost is priceless and tragic. 

For the past 6 1/2 years, as a single mom with no family to lean on, I have cared for my children and met all their needs logistically and emotionally, despite life’s struggles with minimal support. I have fostered the most beautiful loving friendships with my girls. I am the mother I never had. We are extremely close and I role model radical trust, acceptance, safety, resilience and love. I promote their strength and creativity, autonomy and self worth, and encourage them to dream. All are necessary to become a healthy safe adult and navigate teen years. 
My social media accounts are a testament to them and our values. 

I take them to volunteer for less needy, organize other families to join in. I include them in the political process and take them to vote and help them write letters to representatives when they request. 
We cook, make art, garden, and practice randomness kindness together. We develop talents together and find solutions as a team. They are my gift to the future.  We share stages and read poetry and perform music. We camp hike and share time outdoors.
We have traditions and I’ve watched them become compassionate, generous, and thoughtful in ways most adults can not. 
My children are proud to call me mom. 

They have also been torn from their home and animals. My 9 yo finally got her hedgehog after months of research and planning, now she  has not been able to bond with it in this situation. Her dream finally achieved is on pause. My 13 yo has many projects half started that she was excited about and potentially could be her own cottage business in addition community outreach. 
 
We have two big dogs, one of which  is a PTSD service dog for me.  The other just completes the family. Both dogs are extremely depressed and sleep under the girls beds and long for the rest of our pack. 
My service dog has not been able to provide me the same work he once did lately. The impact this has is widespread and unfair. 

This decision was made without witnessing any substantial interaction between me and my children and without ever speaking to my medical team. Without interviewing any of my friends or other parents at school.  My standard of living is completely acceptable and my house is full of love and creativity, gardens, animals, collaborative projects, excess art supplies, and acceptance. I do not have the same means or resources as their father but that doesn’t exclude me from being an excellent mother. Their mother. 
I feel that this is classism and absolutely unacceptable. The children benefit from parenting styles, both parents, both homes. 
They expressed feeling unheard, and want things to stay the same.  I do as well. 

I have been pro se thus far and feel that’s seriously impacted my case and their best interest. I have sought out resources for legal assistance but in family law here, there are few and the wait is long. 

I have been proud and humble and independent most of my life. It’s excruciating to ask for help, but I am willing to do anything to rectify this situation, to have my children’s wishes considered, and prevent as much trauma to them as possible. This stage in their physical and emotional development requires their mothers guidance. 
Any donations will directly go attaining representation, any left over will pay for trauma therapy and be donated to a local women’s shelter for legal support.