A record they tried to erase; episode 3

A Record They Tried to Erase: Protecting Her Through Truth

Episode Title: When Silence Feels Dangerous — A Mother’s Call for Urgent Legal Help

Opening Disclaimer

A Record They Tried to Erase

This series is a personal narrative and archival record created for expressive and informational purposes only.

All statements reflect my personal experiences, perceptions, recollections, opinions, and beliefs at the time they are expressed. They are not presented as verified facts, findings, or conclusions about any individual, organization, institution, or event, nor should they be interpreted as such.

Nothing in this series is intended to allege wrongdoing, assert criminal or civil liability, defame, threaten, harass, or target any person or entity. References to individuals, agencies, systems, or institutions are made solely within the context of my personal experience and without assertion of intent, motive, or legal responsibility.

This content does not constitute legal, medical, psychological, or professional advice. Viewers and listeners are encouraged to seek qualified professionals for guidance relevant to their own circumstances.

Certain details may be intentionally omitted, generalized, or altered to protect privacy, comply with legal considerations, and ensure personal safety. The inclusion or exclusion of any detail should not be interpreted as proof, admission, or implication of any kind.

This record is shared for the purposes of personal expression, preservation of lived experience, and public discourse, and should be understood within that limited scope.

Listener and viewer discretion is advised. Some content may be emotionally difficult.

Opening Statement

This episode is shared with care, responsibility, and intention.

What I am sharing reflects my personal experience, fears, beliefs, and maternal instincts, formed through what my child and I have already endured. It is not a legal conclusion, an accusation, or a determination of guilt. All matters discussed are subject to legal review.

I am sharing this as documentation, advocacy, and a request for urgent legal assistance.

The Situation

There is currently a protection order in place against me.

The petitioner is my own mother.

In this order, both she and my child are listed as protected persons, and the order is set to remain in effect until the day my daughter turns eighteen.

From my lived experience, this order has not created safety. It has created total separation between me and my child — separation without ongoing review, without meaningful reassessment, and without my child having access to me as her mother.

My Fear — Clearly Stated

I need to say this carefully and honestly.

I have a fear — and a strong maternal hunch — that this protection order may be serving another purpose beyond protection.

My fear is that by silencing me and removing me from my child’s life entirely, this order could allow my child to be physically harmed or psychologically harmed without a safe way to reach help.

I want to be very clear:

This is my fear, not a legal finding.

This is my instinct, not an accusation.

This concern is rooted in what my child and I have already lived through in the past.

As her mother, I have always been her voice, her advocate, and her protector. Being cut off from her entirely does not feel protective — it feels dangerous.

Why This Separation Alarms Me

Based on my lived experience as her parent, I believe:

• Children need at least one consistently safe adult who knows them deeply

• Removing that adult without review can leave a child vulnerable

• Silencing a protective parent removes a critical safeguard

I am not claiming harm is occurring.

I am stating that the absence of oversight and maternal connection creates risk.

And that risk feels urgent.

Important Context

I have taken steps to reduce any perceived risk or conflict.

I have relocated approximately ten hours away by land.

I am physically distant.

I am not attempting to violate any court order.

I am seeking lawful review, modification, or relief through the proper legal channels.

This relocation alone demonstrates that I am not an immediate threat, and that less restrictive, safer alternatives should at least be reviewed.

The Legal Barrier I’m Facing

I am trying to proceed responsibly and lawfully.

I wish to represent myself pro se if necessary. However, based on my understanding of South Dakota procedure, I am unable to effectively proceed pro se when:

• I am located out of state

• E-filing or digital participation is required

• Physical presence is not feasible

This has left me without meaningful access to relief.

This Is an Urgent Call for Help

This episode is a direct and urgent call for legal assistance.

I am seeking:

• An attorney licensed in South Dakota

• Experience with:

o Protection orders and modification

o Family law and due process concerns

o Long-distance or remote representation

Time matters.

Every day that passes without review is another day my child is separated from her mother — and another day my concerns cannot be assessed by the court.

Why I Am Speaking Publicly

I am speaking publicly because:

• Silence has not protected my child

• Distance has not created safety

• I have no other effective avenue to request help

This is not about attacking anyone.

This is about protective intervention, oversight, and ensuring my child has a voice.

I am her voice. I always have been.

Closing

If you are an attorney, legal advocate, or someone who can help connect me to representation in South Dakota — I am asking you to reach out.

I am seeking review, proportionate protection, and a lawful path forward.

This matter feels urgent to me because my child’s safety, mental health, and well-being matter — and because a mother’s protective instinct should never be silenced without review.

Thank you for listening.