A sad, but unfortunately true story
Today at 10:00 AM, little Elena (3 years old) was reunited with her mother.
Elena had been living with her father at the ZwüscheHalt. There, the two had sought respite from the tensions at home and the increasingly unbearable situation of violence.
This story isn't funny! On the contrary, it's tragic.
Elena would have loved to stay with her dad, and he would have gladly continued to care for her, but the judge in his courthouse was against it. He believes Elena belongs with her mother. Her mother studies all day, and perhaps she'll soon return to her homeland, but until then, Elena is allowed to go to daycare. Her father would love to look after his daughter in the meantime, but, as the judge says, Elena belongs with her mother.
The father gave the judge many reasons why he believed Elena would be better off with him, but the judge didn't find any of them particularly important. The mother simply said that it was her child and belonged to her. The judge apparently found that very important, and that's why Elena had to go to her mother's today.
Elena would have preferred to stay with her father, or even better, for her mother and father to somehow work out a joint care arrangement.
But the judge saw things differently. In his haste to issue rulings, he completely forgot to clearly state when, for how long, and where Elena and her father would be allowed to see each other again. The judge apparently didn't consider this important; however, he did seem to think it was crucial that the father knew exactly how much he would have to pay from now on.
during the time lived with his daughter, she never received any money from her mother; he provided for her entirely on his own. But the judge apparently doesn't consider that particularly important.
The judge could easily resolve this. He could simply mediator send mediator is someone who helps mothers and fathers find solutions together for their problems, especially for the children who are caught between them. Such mediators can sometimes find excellent solutions for the children, such as shared custody, where the child lives with the father on a 50/50 basis. This allows the father to look after the child when the mother is at work, and vice versa.
Then everyone would have enough to live on and Elena would have two parents.
The law has allowed the judge to compel the parents to attend mediation for quite some time now. But perhaps the judge doesn't consider that so important, because after all, he the judge and therefore makes the decisions.
And that's why Elena has to go to her mom's today, even if nobody understands.
Goodbye Elena – hopefully see you soon.
Tele M1, February 7, 2011;
Zofinger Tagblatt, February 8, 2011;
Aargauer Zeitung, February 9, 2011;
Tele M1, February 8, 2011