A Parent Should Not Have to Choose Between Speaking Out and Being With Their Children

I am fighting a possible ten-year extension of an Order for Protection (OFP). At the same time, my public writing about my case and my advocacy for family-court reform have been used against me in custody proceedings. As I understand the court’s position, stopping that public advocacy is being treated as a condition of moving toward more parenting time and, ultimately, the custody I am seeking.

That leaves me facing a choice no parent should have to face: continue speaking publicly about what I believe has gone wrong, or step back to avoid further jeopardizing my opportunity to raise my children.

That is why this content is coming down. This is not routine website maintenance. My purpose in sharing my experience has been to seek accountability, advocate for fair treatment, and help prevent other families from experiencing the same difficulties. I believe parents should be able to pursue those goals through peaceful advocacy without fearing that speaking out will cost them their relationship with their children.

Removing these pages does not mean my concerns have been resolved or that I have withdrawn them. Nor does it guarantee that I will regain custody or receive more time with my children. It means my children come first, and I am making an extraordinarily difficult decision to protect the possibility of a fuller life together.

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Ryan Alvar