Custody battles are like a very bad soap opera you are forced to be in whether you like it or not. They have the complexity of a rain-drenched chess game with a dash of emotion and uncertainty. If you’ve ever played in one, you know that it can seem overwhelming.

Picture a pair of parents who were united for so long now standing on opposing ends a courtroom. Each has hopes, dreams, and lawyer’s fees that add up to as much as that family vacation you’ve been planning, then shelved indefinitely. The roller-coaster ride has been a tough one, with the messier than mending up a cat’s toy.

Emotions are running rampant, a bit like a kite caught in a gust of wind. One second you are full of hope, only to be surrounded by anxiety the next. The process is all-consuming and utterly exhausting. Parents could feel like they are having to have to grasp for straws when it comes to hoping the judge will see their side of things. Judges can be just as unpredictable as felines – seemingly agreeable today, and distant tomorrow.

Then there are the kids. Those stunning children caught in the crossfire, are so perceptive. They are listening to every whispered argument, every time you bite back a sigh. They absorb everything in like tiny emotion sponges. Trying to shield them from that is even as tricky as it is to keep a flame burning in a windy storm.

We are in the information age and that can be a double-edged sword. It guides you correctly but leads you astray, in some ways, like a crafty fox. Make the right choice on where you get your advice, and you could be breezing through it or hit emotional icebergs.

When we are dealing with custody problems, it touches on what is most important to us, which stirs up strong emotions. It can be easy to get lost in the shuffle, trying to remember that the goal is all about the children this isn’t just about making résumés. Trying to combine this with the craziness that is life takes some effort – and sometimes just a warm hug and a listening ear.

No one is alone in this, even though it certainly does feel like that sometimes. You can reach out to groups and hotlines to get assistance and they can be a comfort during this time. Talk to others and you will see that there are those who understand and sometimes shared experiences become a light house that guides you through the darkness. Remember, on this road we travel, unless you wish to be, you are not alone. And that’s just fine. Lets’ hope for roads a littl