Geston & Geston 2012 FMCAfam 460

Children aged 12 and 11 years reported that their mother had pinched, hit and slapped the children as a form of discipline, leaving bruises that were observable to Police (discipline harsh).

The judge found that the mother was unable to distinguish between the boys’ normal behaviours and distressed behaviours, and that she considered prolonged loud crying to be normal (capacity to calm).  The mother had continued to criticise the father during access that was supervised in a contact centre (parenting style undermining).  The boys did not want to continue living with the mother (child’s wishes).

The judge ordered that the children live with the father and that the mother have no contact.