When a mother loses child custody, she is no longer in control of her children’s lives. This means she cannot be with them when she wants to and will not be able to make decisions about their upbringing.
This is why it’s important to understand the possible reasons that a mother could lose her custody. It will help you prepare yourself for an upcoming child custody battle.
Neglect
Neglect is the failure to meet a child’s needs for food, shelter, medical care, educational services, emotional support and nurturing. It can result in serious physical and mental health problems that can affect a child’s life for years.
The most common form of neglect is physical neglect. It can include not providing a healthy diet, allowing a child to live in filthy conditions or leaving them unsupervised for long periods of time.
A mother who consistently fails to meet her responsibilities for her children may lose custody of them due to neglect. While minor instances of neglect (forgetting to pick them up a couple of times or not preparing lunch one day) will probably get overlooked, habitual neglect could be grounds for a loss of custody.
Child abuse and neglect are linked to a variety of factors, including social and economic disadvantages, mental illness, substance use disorders, and family dynamics. A mother who has experienced these things can be more likely to neglect her children or abuse them.
Abuse
One of the most damaging reasons a mother may lose custody is due to abuse. This can include both physical and emotional abuse.
Physical abuse can include slapping, choking, pinching, shoving, and grabbing at a child’s private parts or body. It can also include rape, sexual assault, and other types of nonconsensual sexual contact.
Emotional abuse includes constant criticism, name-calling, shaming, and other negative behaviors. Family court judges consider this type of abuse when deciding child custody cases.
Another form of abuse is parental alienation. This is when a parent deliberately manipulates their children into disliking or defaming the other parent.
When a parent lies in a divorce or child custody case, the judge will take this as evidence of dishonesty. A judge may order the parent to undergo counseling or have their parenting skills evaluated.
Addiction
If you are a mother who has been diagnosed with addiction, it is important to seek treatment. This can be in the form of professional counseling, inpatient detoxification, rehabilitation or a combination of all three.
Addiction is a serious disease, which affects the brain and body in various ways. It can negatively impact a person’s health, relationships, finances and overall quality of life.
The reason you become addicted to a substance is that it causes changes in the brain’s “reward center.” This makes the brain crave more of the drug and require increased amounts to achieve the same pleasurable feelings.
Often, addicts will continue using despite negative consequences to their health and safety. They may also change their priorities to the drug, ignoring relationships, work or school.
Mental Health Issues
If a mother has mental health issues, this can be an issue that can impact her ability to provide for her child in the best way possible. It is important to make sure that you are receiving adequate treatment for your condition and showing the court that you have your symptoms under control.
The judge must consider whether or not your condition has a measurable negative impact on your ability to care for your child. They must also consider your overall emotional stability and how you relate to your child.
In most cases, a parent with mild mental illness will not lose custody in a family law case. However, it is always important to have your mental health condition diagnosed by a qualified professional and to persuade the court that your illness does not affect your relationship with your child.
