Help a young mother keep custody of her small children

I've known my friend "B" since she was 4 years old. She's 27 years old now. Her life has been QUITE the journey. She has 4 lovely kids - a 10 year old boy, 4 year old girl, a 3 year old girl and a 9 month old boy. She loves being a mum - she makes beautiful home cooked meals, she keeps the kids warm and clean, her house is immaculate, she is an all round good mama.

But as a teen she got hooked on meth for a few years - and custody of her eldest went to her father.

She got clean. She did a parenting course (Whanau Marama). Her son was not returned to her. She's been powerless to fight this, due to lack of funds.

"B"'s mother died of cancer when "B" was 20 years old - and she was clean at 21. That takes some serious strength.

She has been clean for SIX years now. She now has had 3 other children, with zero meth use in her life. Both "B" and her partner have returned clean tests.

Her father is now trying to get custody of the other three children.

The judge granted her father interim custody until B's lawyer could fight it the following week. Can you even imagine, as a parent, how that would feel? To have to pass your children over with no right of reply until you can get a court date to argue your case?

"B" immediately engaged a lawyer to fight for her children - and lawyers don't come cheap. She got custody back the following week, she is the legal guardian of the children, she now has the children with her.

But her father isn't backing down. This young couple are struggling now - the lawyers bill is at $10K after a couple of weeks. Edit: -another week in, another $2500 for 1 meeting between lawyers, the parents, and her father.

I'm heartbroken for her and her children, and if I can help in some small way to get this out there, if you could find it in your heart - as a parent, as a friend - she needs to know she's not alone, that she matters, that her mothering matters, that women's stories matter and she will be ok. If "B"'s mother was still with us, she would be fighting with everything she had to protect HER daughter and her grandchildren - this is my tribute to that strong woman, and all the other women who fight for their children.

If you think there is sensible interventions and sane undertakings around children in our country you need to check a few links, like this one and the one in the links section.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300366864/oranga-tamariki-wants-girl-removed-from-couple-after-three-years-because-it-says-her-cultural-needs-are-unmet