Megan Cyrulewski is an ordinary person who has faced extraordinary challenges and now wants to inspire people and show them that hope gives them the power to survive anything. Who Am I? is about her journey into post-partum depression, anxiety disorder, panic attacks, visits to the psych ward, divorce, domestic violence, law school, and her courageous struggle to survive with her sanity intact—and how a beautiful little girl emerged from all this chaos.Book Available from...
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords
KOBO
All Romance ebooks
On January 18, 2012, we all convened in the courthouse for the Motion for Parenting Time hearing. My dad and I arrived with my attorney, but Tyler loved an audience so he brought his dad, step-mom, and his new on-again off-again girlfriend, Heather. Tyler walked in with his posse in tow, cocky as hell. It took all of two minutes for the judge to knock him off his feet.
The Judge addressed our respective attorneys. “Why are we here?”
“Your honor,” Tyler’s attorney began, “my client has clearly
been denied his parenti—”
The Judge didn’t even let him finish. “How?” She turned to my
attorney. “Don?”
“Your honor, as you can see in the divorce decree, there was
supposed to be a review when the minor child turned twelve-months-old. The
Defendant has ignored that review.”
“I—if I may, your honor,” Tyler’s attorney sputtered.
“I see the review in the decree. It’s here in black and white,”
she told Tyler’s attorney. “What is the problem? Why didn’t you understand the
review? Your client signed the divorce decree.”
Tyler’s attorney tried again. “But your honor—”
The judge cut him off. “There is to be a review conducted by the
Friend of the Court referee assigned to the parties. Until then, the Defendant
will continue his parenting time schedule as agreed upon in the divorce decree.
Dismissed.”
And that was it. After eight police reports and numerous
harassing text messages, phone calls, and e-mails, we won. As Don and Tyler’s
attorney went to speak with the clerk to file the necessary paperwork, Don told
us to wait for him outside the courtroom.
As we exited the courtroom, the hallway was so packed with
people that my dad and I were only able to find enough space to lean against
the wall. We were talking about the court proceedings when we looked up at saw
Tyler and his new girlfriend standing right across from us.
“Why do you lie about everything?” Tyler screamed.
Heather walked up to me and stood about an inch from my face.
“As a mother myself, you should be happy that Tyler is the father of your
child.”
My jaw dropped. “I’m sorry but I don’t know you.”
She smirked. “Well you’re going to get to know me, bitch.”
Tyler made a big show of pulling her from me like I was going to
punch her or something. By this time, everyone in the hallway was watching us.
We were pure entertainment.
Heather continued her rant. “Two times in the psych ward, Megan?
What a great mother you are.”
“Where is your mom, the real mother of our child?” Tyler
screamed. “She’s the one who takes care of Madelyne.”
My dad and I tried to move away from Tyler and Heather but they
followed us.
“Awww…” Heather mocked. “Do you have to take a Xanax because of
your anxiety?”
“Go take your Xanax and sleeping pills, you drug addict,” Tyler
shouted.
Finally, Don emerged from the courtroom and pulled us into a
quiet corridor. He explained that I needed to call our referee to set-up a
meeting to discuss a visitation schedule. I told Don about the verbal assault
by Tyler and Heather. Don said he would call Tyler’s attorney to let him know
that Heather would not be allowed in my house.
Upon leaving the courthouse, Heather screamed, “See you on
Sunday, Megan.”
I turned toward her and said calmly, “I don’t know you, but you
are not welcome in my home.”
That night, Tyler sent me multiple texts attacking my mothering
skills, my supposed drug addictions, how he was going to fight for joint
custody of Madelyne, how Heather would be accompanying him for his visitations,
and a barrage of other insults:
· “Get a life already”
· “Don’t you have something better to do than
wasting your parents’ money?”
· “Go take your pills and relax, oh yeah, then
your parents would have to watch our daughter. Oh yeah, they already do.”
· “Go talk to your friends. Oh yeah, you don’t
have any because of how crazy you are.”
· “Interesting to know you’ve been to the
hospital a couple of times. You really need to get it together.”
· “Better go call your lawyer and make up some
more stuff about me.”
· “Don’t be mad at your sorry life.”
· “I am sure living with Mom and Dad the rest
of your life will be fun.”
· “When you get a job, then you can pay me
child support. Fun.”
I finally had to turn my phone off at midnight.
___________________________________________________________________About the Author
Megan Cyrulewski has been writing short stories ever since she was ten-years-old. Eventually she settled into a career in the non-profit sector and then went back to school to get her law degree. While she was in school, she documented her divorce and child custody battle in her memoir, Who Am I? How My Daughter Taught Me to Let Go and Live Again, which was released on August 2, 2014. Megan lives in Michigan with her 3-year-old daughter who loves to dance, run, read, and snuggle time with Mommy. Megan also enjoys her volunteer work with Troy Youth Assistance as the Fundraising Chair on the Board of Directors.
Sharon x
Are you a book reviewer or book blogger? Join our book tours reviewers team - Apply Here x
http://www.beckvalleybooks.co.uk
http://www.beckvalleybooks.blogspot.com
Im not sure this is for me, I am a thriller killer kind of girl, but I love the intro to the author, who sounds like a remarkable woman x
ReplyDeleteI think this might be a book for me, I have battled with anxiety and depression too and understand how destructive it can be and how prejudiced people can be. She sounds like an amazing woman.
ReplyDeleteGems x
I love the intro! Sounds like a strong character. So many are going through the same issues she is going through.
ReplyDeleteOh this sounds like a heart wrencher--tissue box time. I already want to punch her ex in the nose-what a bully! I think I might really enjoy reading how she overcame all this!
ReplyDeleteReading everything here gave me chills I can tell this is a book that would tug at my heart strings. I also can tell that I would be able to relate to her on many levels.
ReplyDeleteReading this made me remember the time we had such a hassle with the conservatoryship hearing of my MIL. I don't ever want to go through with that again. I don't think I could read this book.
ReplyDelete