"A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds." (Childhelp.org)

I voiced my opinion, but it wasn’t enough. I presented evidence, but it wasn’t sufficient. I was ten years old and I wanted to live with my father, but I was denied.

When my little sister and I were eight and ten, we expressed our desire to live with our dad. At the time, our parents shared joint custody. The two of us wanted out of our mother’s house, but the desires of two children were not enough to sway the judge.

Children shouldn’t have a say. They are just children.

I made it my mission to find a way out. I gathered disposable cameras, taking pictures of the living conditions and the court documents scattered across the floor. I used the cell phone my dad bought me for emergencies to record our mother threatening us and slandering our father. I hoped the photographs of the hallway filled with laundry and the pantry with no food would be enough to convince the judge. I thought the sound bytes would make him understand. But, they didn’t.

Children shouldn’t snoop around and disrespect their mothers like that. What bad children.

By the time I was in seventh grade, I had about lost hope. Three years of documenting and nothing. But, on my thirteenth birthday, everything changed.

The police were called and were on their way. She wanted to leave. She didn’t want to talk to them. She didn’t want them to know. But, I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to talk to them. I wanted them to know.

I needed to call my dad. He should know what is going on. She unplugs the phone line.

“Call Dad on the cell phone!” I yell to my sister, Rachel.

She is running toward Rachel. She is going to take the phone away. I run and stand between them. I am thrown into a table and the phone is ripped from Rachel's hand.

She yells that we are leaving the house. But, I don’t want to leave. I refuse to go down the stairs, so she pushes me down the stairs. I catch myself a few steps down.

Three days later, my sister and I testified in court and my dad received full custody. It took me being shoved down the stairs. What’s sad is, I was over-joyed it happened. It meant I was able to live with my dad and that was all I wanted for years.

It should not have to come to this. Children should be heard. They deserve a choice.

National Child Abuse Hotline

1-800-4-A-Child

(1-800-422-4453)

Oklahoma Child Abuse Hotline:

1-800-522-3511