Dear Love and Hope~
I guess your names sums it all up. To have one's children taken away is a nightmare, and by the sound of it your ex is another.
You do sound a loving and strong person and I'm sure in time you will have your kids back.
Unfortunately there some things that are not easy or straightforward and that is where one needs to be fit for the long haul. Even with a decent lawyer the whole situation can grind you down, with problem after problem emerging and the goal seeming to get no closer.
I'm not sure what you mean by doing course after course? Is this some sort of condition set by the Department?
I'm not going to go into the practical aspects of keeping your ex away, I'm sure between you and your lawyer you will already have done everything possible. What I am going to ask is what support do you have? Even the strongest needs something. Do you have family or a friend you can talk to, who will be prepared to listen, understand and give whatever help they can?
Another question if you don't mind, do you have the comfort of seeing your children, even if they do not live with you? I do hope you can.
Now something else. There are many people here in this Forum who have been in abusive and violent relationships, and for a fair number of them hte scars are mental ones and run deep, affecting their current lives greatly.
Have you approached your GP and and set things out? It can't hurt to be checked out to ensure you yourself are OK.
I really would like you to write again and say more
Croix
