When my ex-husband Daniel demanded full custody, I felt sick. He had money, lawyers, and a carefully staged image of being the “perfect dad.” I feared that no matter how much I sacrificed, I’d lose Emily and Jack. In court, his attorneys showed photos of trips to Disneyland, fancy dinners, and expensive gifts. They painted him as the fun, capable parent, while trying to make me look unstable for living in a small apartment and juggling life as a working mom. My lawyer argued that love wasn’t about money but about showing up every day — still, Daniel smirked like victory was already his.
