ZE23P01539 - [2025] EWHC 1403 (Fam)

I acknowledge that I am about to become preachy, I do however want these parents to take away from this hearing that they are lucky to have a healthy, resilient child. They should strive to do their best for him and take their pleasure from him doing well. Courts are a terrible way of sorting out differences between them, however well-intentioned each party is. They will need to work things out between themselves. There will, over the years of parenting ahead of them, be occasions when each of them behaves less well than they should. That is a condition of humanity, especially stressed parents. They will have to control themselves, forgive each other, not stand on their injured pride or what they might perceive to be an infringement of their rights, and work in the best interests of AB. He is their blessing that they should cherish.

I record that Ms Callaghan has suggested that the parties engage in mediation. The respondent has now agreed to three party mediation. The applicants have offered to pay for some mediation. I say to them all, try it. Talk about what will be in AB’s best interests. Think of him and how he will benefit from the three of you working together.