Mediation

I had to pick up Taylor and Mandy from school early today in order to take them to the courthouse to talk to the Mediator.  


Over the last week, I did everything I could not to discuss it with the girls - I didn't want them more worried about life anymore than they already were, and I hate that they are stuck in the middle of this nightmare with their father.  


Having already talked to the Mediator myself, I have been a wreck wondering if the Mediator really believed me or if he was just trying to make me comfortable because he thought I was lying like most everyone.  


Well, the girls went to see him today.  Mandy immediately became upset at the idea that she would have to deal with the Mediator. She asked me who wanted the Mediation, and I honestly told her that her Daddy C wanted mediation.  Taylor has not wanted to see Casey in over a month due to some fight they had that she won't talk about.


After 25 minutes, the girls came back out.  They told me that he never asked any questions about me, but he only wanted to know about how they got along with their dad, etc.  I tried to not ask them questions or ask them what they said, but the girls told me anyway.  They said that they had no problems talking to me about it since they knew I wouldn't get angry with them for anything they said.  


The girls spent the next 15 minutes telling me everything they said and how they felt about their visits.  They told the Mediator what they wanted in their visits and what they felt about their father.  


All I can say at this point is that I sincerely hope that the Mediator not only takes the girls at face value and reports it all to the Judge, but that he doesn't think that I influenced them at all.  I have worked very hard to make sure that I don't speak ill of their father in front of them, and that I do not influence what they think and feel.  I have always done everything that I can to help them to have a relationship with him, and it kills me to see him hurt them the way he does.  


Well, here's to hoping that the court system actually works in their favor for once in 4 years!......