| I frequently hear patients tell me about their | | | | split the infant in two, one woman shouted, "No, King |
| concerns over finding justice through the legal | | | | Solomon," "No, please don't cut the baby...don't hurt |
| system when domestic violence is before divorce | | | | the baby...give the baby to her!" |
| court. Just this week, three people cited a parallel | | | | King Solomon stopped cold, bringing down the knife |
| with the King Solomon story. | | | | and said, "You are the mother of this infant baby." |
| The story is so very compelling that when you are | | | | And he gave the baby to her. |
| living it, the biblical prose can be therapeutic. It | | | | How Family Court Enables Child Abuse |
| certainly was for me in my court dilemma over a | | | | When you take a battered child, or one who has |
| decade ago. | | | | been abused through witnessing spousal abuse, and |
| For those of you battling to have your voice and | | | | insist that this child vacillate between his/her divorcing |
| your child's voice heard in divorce court, sit back...take | | | | parents' truths, you end up with a child imploding with |
| this story in and see if it touches your underlying | | | | conflict that ultimately can lead to psychological |
| conflict. | | | | fracture. |
| The King Solomon Story | | | | We often see the protective parent shout to the |
| There was a woman who had a baby. And one night | | | | court as the mother did to King Solomon, "your |
| while sleeping with her infant next to her side, she | | | | honor, please do not cut the baby!" These parents |
| rolled over onto her infant. Sadly, her baby died. | | | | realize that the ongoing bifurcation of the child's |
| In her desperation she took another woman's baby, | | | | young psyche can potentially cause psychic |
| claiming it to be her own...actually insisting this infant | | | | devastation. |
| was her own. | | | | If you are in family court and your child is being |
| The two women fought over the baby on and on, | | | | compromised over your voices being silenced, you |
| bringing attention of their dispute to King Solomon. He | | | | are not alone. Reach into you heart for the sake of |
| declared, "I will settle this once and for all!" | | | | your child and find the way that works best for you |
| He told his aid to fetch a knife as the women | | | | to navigate these troubled waters. And most |
| continued arguing, each insisting the baby to be theirs. | | | | importantly, as you search your soul for answers, |
| King Solomon reached for the knife and said, "We | | | | educate yourself about the trends, procedures and |
| shall cut the baby in half." | | | | options you have to protect your children and |
| And as he brought the knife over his head ready to | | | | yourself before the damage is done. |