Chapter 18 - THE PARENTING EVALUATION
Dr. Price’s final report was eighty-seven pages.
I read every line.
Then reread the ones I hated.
He found Dustin had engaged in serious parental boundary violations, litigation-oriented manipulation, and dangerous deference to Judith.
He also found:
Claire demonstrates high protective capacity but may respond to perceived threat with rigid control and intense communication that could complicate future co-parenting if not addressed.
I wanted to throw the report.
Instead, I called Dr. Grant.
“Rigid control?”
“You asked for indefinite supervised contact regardless of future evidence.”
“He approved shaving her.”
“Yes.”
“Why is my caution pathology?”
“It isn’t. The report says may complicate.”
I hated reasonable people.
The recommendation:
Primary physical custody with me.
Sole authority over nonemergency medical and psychological care for one year, then review.
Dustin therapeutic contact progressing only with Meadow’s comfort and professional recommendation.
No Judith contact.
No relocation.
No delegation of care to unapproved adults.
Parenting communication through a monitored app.
Dustin to complete a coercive-family-pattern intervention program and individual therapy.
Meadow’s preferences given increasing weight with age.
Not permanent banishment.
Structured uncertainty.
The judge adopted most.
Dustin’s attorney asked for an automatic schedule expansion after six months.
Denied.
Judge Cole said:
“Progress is not a calendar event.”
That sentence helped me too.
May you like
I did not need to decide forever.
Only next safe step.
