oh how it is....

Saturday evening....has it really been 2 days ? I'm amazed at the resilience of children, and teenagers. I've caught myself in the daytime, during those quiet moments that you sometimes have, thinking about Thursday evening. Thinking and re thinking. Inevitably, hurting again for my children.

In the car today, Nemo spoke to me about it. I had to buy a few groceries and took her for the drive. She said to me, "I'm so mad at Baba for saying the F word...I think he said it 10 times!" Even Cleo spoke with me about it, saying that she doesn't know how she got up the nerve to ask him to stop his language. She also told me that when they arrived at McDonalds...(5 mins from the house)....that she told her father that she didn't want to be around him anymore and wanted to go home. When he told her he'd drive her after dinner, Cleo said she'd rather call me to come pick her up. That's when her father hustled them all back in the van and they had to listen to his tirade again on the way back. Then he dumped them all out and left.

I know he was probably on his last nerve, because when he came to get the kids, my friend served him with my response to his court papers. My intention was to serve him when he brought the kids back Sat evening, but my lawyer told me that we were overdue in our time limit so I had to do it that night. (also so that I could file my affidavit of service) And you know what? My whole reasoning for letting him come get the kids again was mostly because on his paperwork he wrote that he was unable to drive to Barrie because of a physical disability. Yeah right....!! And yet again, here he was driving to Barrie, just to leave immediately.

So the court papers...

He was served with 4 documents.

# 1 - I disagree about him having sole custody of Noora. I brought up the fact that since the year 2000 he has not been an active part in the lives of any of the children, more so since we moved back to Canada. I describe his lifestyle in detail...travelling back and forth - spending 4 months in Canada and just one month with us.

#2 - was a financial assessment. The bastard wants me to pay support for Noora.

#3 - was about our family being settled in Barrie and reasoning for why we left Mississauga. I mentioned running into old friends who were giving us a hard time for removing our islamic clothing. Mentioned my work here in barrie....and schooling.

#4 - remember how he wanted to keep and maintain Noora's passport and travel without my permission? Yeah, I TOTALLY shot that one down. I talked about how he had her passport in his possession and refused to return it, against court orders. But the real trigger? I said that I fear Mr Ismail will try and have Noora married without my knowledge. I then said that he arranged the wedding of his canadian niece and his oldest. I also said that he refused to break it off when his daughter insisted. And then I mentioned that during a visit with Noora, she pointed to a wedding dress and told me that she would be wearing that in a year.

It's the truth. And I know that Cleo is mad at me for putting that in my paperwork. I don't expect her to see it as I do. But I'll tell you this....I'm extremely proud of Cleo and how tough and smart she is.

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Maryam has been having a hard time of it today. She's sort of fighting with a friend and seems close to tears. I watched Titanic with her today, at her request. She seems to be reaching out for company and love.

I'm calling about bringing the kids into counselling on Monday.

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