When custody of your children is being decided after a divorce it can be the most emotional time in your life. No one wants to live without their children. In many cases both parents are involved, loving, supportive parents, regardless of the reasons their marriage ended. And both want and believe they deserve custody of the children.
Sometimes custody battles result in one parent taking their life and the lives of their children. Recently we were witness to that with the Powell children, their father killed himself and both of the boys in an explosion because, as he said- he could not live without his kids.
The news is full of stories about parents who kill their children and many times it is discovered that they are in a custody dispute with their ex. Another common scenario is that one parent kills the other in an attempt to “win” or maybe just to make it all go away. I’m not sure why they would think this would get them custody of their children but these are not rational people.
I know that often when something like this happens friends and family will say they were afraid this would happen, afraid the parent would be pushed over the edge. How can you predict something like this, and how can you protect your children?
It’s scary to think that one of the people who loves these children most in the world would harm them, I know it is beyond my comprehension. Hailey’s father may not have always been the best, most involved father but I can say, without a doubt, he would never hurt her.
I think in cases like this you have to consider if there was abuse in the marriage, if it was, you will want to be more diligent about protecting your children. I wish I knew how to prevent this heartbreak but I don’t, I think all we can do is watch, and communicate. I believe that communication is our greatest tool, and if we can keep those lines open everyone will be better off in the end.