Chapter 12 - The Protection Order
I considered seeking a restraining order against my mother on Maisie’s behalf.
Sarah Kline slowed me down.
“What ongoing contact is Odette attempting?”
“Calls.”
“To you?”
“Yes.”
“Maisie?”
“Through me.”
“Threats?”
“No.”
“Trying to enter school?”
“No.”
“Hospital?”
“She was removed.”
Then:
“You can restrict voluntary family contact as Maisie’s parent. Court orders should address demonstrated risk, not anger.”
Good.
Child-protection services separately created a safety plan.
No unsupervised contact between Odette and Maisie while assessment continued.
I agreed.
Odette agreed reluctantly.
No judge needed at first.
Then Odette violated the spirit, not letter.
She mailed Maisie a card.
No direct-contact prohibition covered mail.
Inside:
Grandma loves you and hopes Daddy lets us see each other soon.
Bad.
Putting responsibility on me.
I did not show Maisie immediately.
Dr. Lin reviewed.
Recommended returning the card unopened? Too late, I opened. She advised not to give yet.
I wrote Odette through counsel:
Do not communicate adult blame to Maisie.
Odette responded:
“I said I love her.”
Then:
“Are you banning the word Daddy now?”
This was how she argued.
Literal wording.
Ignore implication.
We eventually obtained a more formal family-court order related to grandparent contact? Grandparents in Massachusetts can petition visitation in some circumstances but standards. Odette threatened to petition.
She did.
Because Natalie was deceased? Wait Odette is paternal grandmother, Tristan alive and fit parent. Grandparent rights limited. She filed petition alleging severed relationship would harm Maisie.
The court did not grant immediate visitation.
It ordered evaluation first.
That became another lane.
No criminal case deciding family contact automatically.
Separate.
May you like
Again.
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