Amelia—. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT! I HOPE YOU FIND THIS AND READ THIS!
I don’t know what you know or how long you’ve known it. I don’t know what your mother, your grandmother Judy, or your aunt Melanie have been telling you, but on January 5th, the Judge did you an incredible justice. She gave you an opportunity to be heard by the court, but more importantly…. She brought you into the court to see and to hear what was being said, and said about you.
Amelia, I know that was hard and very scary for you. But that was done out of respect for you. This Judge respected that letting you be involved in these huge decisions about your life is LONG OVER DUE!
I want you to be heard by the Court, Amelia, but you must understand that with the right to be heard, comes the responsibility of ACCOUNTABILITY . That means, that when you speak in court, you are accountable to the full authority of the LAW.
Do you remember that before I or your mother spoke, we had to raise our right hand and promise to tell the “truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?” When we did that, we were making a “record” that we understand that the Judge… the Court…. Has the power to punish us if we intentionally lie or try to manipulate the judge in order to cheat or harm the other person or people involved.
Now think about this…. This time…. Your first time IN THE COURTROOM…. The Judge did not have you swear that oath, and did not let you speak for yourself. OR ANSWER QUESTIONS. Why not? I believe the judge wanted to shield you THIS TIME from the responsibility of telling the truth.
Amelia, you are 16 now, and while the law still considers you a minor, it also recognizes that you are old enough to know what telling the truth means, and the damages you can cause by lying.
SOMEONE MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR LIES TOLD IN COURT!
And that time has finally arrived.
There are consequences for conduct and behavior that harms another person and there are consequences for trying to use the Court to do that.
RIGHT NOW, the Court has decided that it is safest and “in your best interest” for you to come back to Staten Island and to live with me. Not because it’s fair…. And Not because it punishes your mother for her conduct …. (That may be coming, but that isn't what has already been decided) What has been decided, is that your future is being harmed by the situation you have been experiencing— as you heard, when the judge read the Court’s conclusion to us and for the record— and that your “best interest” right now, is to live with your Dad.
Like it or not. You, Your Mother, and I….MUST FOLLOW THE ORDERS OF THE COURT OR WE WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES.
Did you see that I put you first? YOU, Amelia…. SIXTEEN YEAR OLD AMELIA…. Are being recognized by the Court, finally…. But I need you to understand that with that recognition, comes the responsibility for your actions.
You are already experiencing that, and you don’t know it.
I am under the COURT ORDER that you must reside with me in NYC and attend school here. To follow this order, I had to unenroll you from school in Massachusetts. Amelia, you were never supposed to go to school in Massachusetts. The Court said “no” to that. I have to follow the court orders. You must come home!
Because you are refusing to return with me….YOU ARE CHOOSING NOT TO ATTEND SCHOOL And if you are trying to get around your Father’s COURT ORDERED AUTHORITY, to attend school in Massachusetts, you are willingly participating in fraud. I am the only one who can legally enroll you into a school.
I want you to be aware of this, because YOU are responsible for your choices. I am responsible for you, but YOU are responsible for your choices in what you do. I am trying to enroll you in school, but you MUST BE HERE TO ATTEND.
Amelia, right now, you are being considered a “drop out.” You are being considered as a young adult choosing not to attend school…. It’s “my job” as your parent to “make you go to school” If your mother is “preventing “ you from going to school, that is something that she will be held accountable for, but if you are “choosing” not to go to school because you’re angry about the COURT ORDERS, then you will suffer the consequences for that decision. Your grades, and your graduation may be delayed as a result. Is that what you want?
You want to be heard Amelia? I support that 100%.
BUT YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RESULTS OF YOUR CHOICES AND ACTIONS.
I’m talking about THE LAW here Amelia. Whatever our feelings are,…. They matter, but not to the law…The LAW intentionally separates from feelings, because “feelings” are almost never “fair” to both sides of a dispute. So the LAW follows rules that do not include feelings. BELIEVE ME!!… For Twelve years, the Court has ignored my feelings! … and I’ll leave it at that. But I’ve still had to follow every Court order.
Courts don’t always get it right, but defying Court orders is NEVER A SAFE CHOICE.
CONTACT ME, AMELIA! Come home, and we… You and I, can choose together ways to make things better for ALL of us.
I love you and I am so proud to be your Dad…. Always!




