Chapter 21 - My Case Ends
I completed my diversion.
Anger-management.
Community service.
No further incidents.
Case dismissed under agreement.
Celeste’s lawyer had argued my slap showed I was:
“violent and controlling.”
Partly useful to her narrative.
But child-protection review separated it.
One retaliatory slap.
Documented.
Addressed.
No evidence I endangered Ivy otherwise.
Still:
I had to explain it to my daughter more than once.
At five:
“Daddy hit Celeste because Daddy was very angry.”
“Did she cry?”
“Yes.”
“Did it hurt?”
“Probably.”
“Was she bad?”
“She did something dangerous.”
“So hit?”
“No.”
Ivy looked annoyed.
“You say no but did.”
Exactly.
“I made the wrong choice.”
There is no better lesson than adults admitting the rule applies after they break it.
I stopped saying:
“I would do anything for you.”
Too broad.
Anything can include terrible things.
I started saying:
“I will do what I can to keep you safe.”
Different.
May you like
Better.
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