My Sister Abandoned Her Baby With Me — Ten Years Later, My Parents Took Me to Court and Regretted It

“I don’t know what happened with your mom, but I’m here now. I’ll figure this out. You’re safe with me.”

Within two weeks, it became clear Amanda wasn’t coming back anytime soon.

I filed a police report, but the officers weren’t particularly concerned. There was no crime in a mother leaving her child with a family member, they explained. Amanda wasn’t missing. She had chosen to leave.

I also called a family lawyer who explained I’d need to file for temporary guardianship—a process that would take time and money.

My life transformed overnight. I found a two-bedroom apartment closer to the hospital, stretching my budget to the breaking point. I reduced my work hours to thirty per week and switched to day shifts, arranging childcare with Gloria, who ran a small daycare.

The career advancement I’d been working toward was put on indefinite hold.

My relationship with Mark deteriorated rapidly.

“I didn’t sign up to date a single mom,” he said during one of our increasingly frequent arguments. “We had plans. How does any of that happen now?”

“Life happens,” I told him. “Plans change. What was I supposed to do? Put her in foster care?”

“Maybe that would have been better for everyone,” he muttered.

That was the end of our relationship.

The legal process of becoming Lily’s temporary guardian was extensive and expensive. I spent hours filling out paperwork, meeting with court-appointed evaluators, attending hearings. My home was inspected. My entire life was scrutinized.

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