When art mirrors life...

When art mirrors life... Lauren had left her husband – he didn’t take it well. Whether you call it a toxic relationship, coercive control, abuse or anything else, Lauren’s ex wasn’t planning to let her walk away and take their kids. So he went in hard with solicitors, social services and massive pressure on Lauren to make out she was a bad mother. But she’s a great mum with a professional job and lots of responsibility So it was going ok for Lauren until she moved to a new place She bought some pictures to brighten it up She didn’t think about the images, just the colours. Then he claimed she was a drinker – this was new. People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones He suggested she wasn’t fit to look after the children He said she was an alcoholic And social services believed him But she wasn’t a drinker, there wasn’t any booze in the house. She always fancied a glass of wine before bed, but never had one Her friends knew she rarely drank, even when the kids were with their Dad No one had ever seen her drunk He sent in the police, claiming she was drunk in charge of the kids – she was sober… But social services still believed him, despite all the evidence to the contrary The court awarded temporary custody to the man She was devastated, so were the kids She called me in We looked at the art she had chosen, especially the huge painting of wine bottles on the stairs She took it down and put it by the dustbin. Someone took it… She went back to court. The man’s allegations fell apart. The judge called him a liar The kids came home They are happy.