Today landed heavy. It reminded me how uneven “the voice of the child” can feel in practice, and how different the response looks depending on which child is speaking. One child expresses a viewand suddenly everything shifts, plans rearranged, professionals mobilised,families reshaping their day around a single sentence. Another child has been saying the same… Continue reading The Uneven Weight of a Child’s Voice
Author: TheGirlSpeaks
I Can’t Bring Your Children Home — But I Can Walk With You
There’s something I feel I need to say out loud, clearly and honestly. I can’t bring your children home. I don’t have that kind of power, and I would never claim to.I’m not a lawyer.I’m not a social worker.I’m not a miracle worker. I’m just a mother who survived a system that tried to silence… Continue reading I Can’t Bring Your Children Home — But I Can Walk With You
Not All Help Is Helpful: Why You Don’t Have to Use a Local Solicitor
When you're thrown into the world of child protection, court proceedings, or PLO letters — it's overwhelming. You're told what to do, what not to do, who you should speak to. You’re handed a list of “recommended” solicitors. And because you’ve never been here before, you follow the lead. But here’s something I wish someone… Continue reading Not All Help Is Helpful: Why You Don’t Have to Use a Local Solicitor
When Words Shift: Why We Record Everything
Families are often told the same advice when the system comes knocking: “Keep every email. Record every call. Write down every detail.” It can sound obsessive, even mistrustful. But when your family’s future rests on the words of professionals, those words matter more than anything else. And words have a way of shifting. The Meeting… Continue reading When Words Shift: Why We Record Everything
“Silence Hurts More Than Chaos: When Sibling Bonds Are Torn Apart”
My daughter grew up in the sound of siblings — laughter, arguments, footsteps thundering across the floor. Chaos was her comfort. Noise meant she wasn’t alone. Then she was taken.Placed in foster care.Even there, she had company. Another child in the home. More chaos. More noise. When she came back to us, it was different.… Continue reading “Silence Hurts More Than Chaos: When Sibling Bonds Are Torn Apart”
From the System to My Story: How The Girl Speaks Has Grown
When I first began The Girl Speaks, it was never about me.It was about a system.About the quiet, hidden battles so many families face behind closed doors and courtroom walls.I wanted to shine a light on what is so often kept in the shadows , not by shouting, but by speaking softly enough that people… Continue reading From the System to My Story: How The Girl Speaks Has Grown
“When Telling the Truth Feels Like a Crime: Parenting, Privacy, and the Fight to Be Heard”
In today’s digital age, it has become increasingly common for parents who have been through the family court system to turn to social media to share their stories. For some, it’s a way of processing trauma, for others a means of advocating for reform, and for many, a cry to be seen and heard in… Continue reading “When Telling the Truth Feels Like a Crime: Parenting, Privacy, and the Fight to Be Heard”
When Healing Isn’t Enough — Why I’m Fundraising for a Private Assessment
I did the work. But the system didn’t see it. After months — years — of showing up, healing, and proving myself, I found myself back in court being judged on a report written three years ago.My therapy? Ignored.My discharge letter from mental health services? Ignored.My glowing contact notes, character references, updated assessments? Pushed aside.… Continue reading When Healing Isn’t Enough — Why I’m Fundraising for a Private Assessment
2.Stolen 2007: My Journey Through Forced Adoption
Part 2: A Promise of Safety, A Setup for Failure a story from 2007 "In the UK, non-consensual adoption continues to affect hundreds of families each year — often targeting the vulnerable, the isolated, and the unsupported." I went home from court with my heart in pieces, but my arms full of hope.My second son… Continue reading 2.Stolen 2007: My Journey Through Forced Adoption
Your Story: Ciulin Vali Adrian
My Name is Ciulin Vali Adrian. This is My Story. I am a Romanian citizen currently living in Germany, fighting a painful and unjust battle to be reunited with my daughter. I lost custody of my baby girl under circumstances that violated both national and international child protection laws. I have been systematically ignored, marginalized,… Continue reading Your Story: Ciulin Vali Adrian
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