My Day In Court

My Day In Court

Last month I spent a day in court. No, I haven't been arrested or charged with anything, (at least yet!). It was a session of our county's Child and Family Court known commonly around here as “child support court.” The official reason for spending a morning there was for me to testify for one of our former foster daughters in a hearing involving custody and child support for one of her children. Not surprisingly, the “father” of the child never even bothered to show up, even though he had requested the hearing. He had apparently done so to harass the mother of his child, but later had realized that the truth about his behavior was about to be exposed in court, so as is his habit, he took the easy way out.

As it turns out, there were three hearings that morning that were of interest to me. One was the case I have described, another was for the “father” of one of my grandkids, and the third involved another of the girls who had lived with Debbie and I when we were houseparents at New Life Youth Home. All morning I sat and watched and listened to a sad parade of selfish people who cared little or none about meeting the needs of their own children. I saw anger, sadness, frustration, drama, delays, accusations, complications, and a sickening display of immature excuses from “men” and sometimes “women” who didn't want to take responsibility for their own actions.

Some of these guys couldn't pay child support because they were escorted to court from the jail. Some had addictions which they had allowed to control them instead of the instinct to provide for themselves and their families. Some were just lazy, irresponsible children themselves. Some were going to jail that day unless they paid some child support. One man was even arrested and put in handcuffs in front of his teenage daughter for his outstanding warrants. His daughter had been brought to court for her unruly behavior, and he had come to convince the judge to give him custody of her instead of putting her into treatment. Now both “dad” and daughter are in the custody of the state and are costing money to the taxpayers. I wonder what he was smoking that morning to think the judge would give the girl to him. I don't have to wonder why her behavior was habitually bad.

Guys, you need to “man up” so I will no longer need to put quotation marks around the words “man” or “father” when I refer to you. I'm even offering to help! If you will read it and put the advice to dads into action in your lives, I will give you a free copy of my book, Front Line Observer. It's time to act like men!