Q: You basically need to show the judge that you are a good parent who has a strong relationship with your children. Although you can testify in court, the judge won’t necessarily accept your word. Instead you will need evidence, such as the following:  Pictures. Take plenty of pictures of the time you spend with your children. These will show that you are involved in their life. Testimony from neighbors or child care workers. These people can testify that they have seen you with your children and that you have a good relationship.  Testimony from other people. Anyone can testify that they have seen you with your children. However, it’s best to have neutral people—such as neighbors—than a new boyfriend or girlfriend, since the judge might assume they are biased. Proof that you take care of special needs. If your child is disabled or has other special needs, you should document that you provide the necessary care for the child. Find receipts that you pay for therapy, wheelchairs, etc. Also document that you take the child to medical appointments. Since you are in a custody battle, the other parent has probably accused you of being a terrible parent. In fact, you should expect him or her to keep detailed notes about your bad behavior and tell the judge. You need to honestly self-assess. There might be a lot of truth in what the other parent has said.  Do you have a drug or alcohol problem, now or in the past? For example, have you ever been arrested for DUI or had the police called on you? Do you have anger management issues? Have the police been called on you? Does the other parent have a restraining order against you for past domestic violence? Have you neglected to visit your children? You might be very busy with travel for work. Nevertheless, you can expect the other parent to make a big deal about the fact that you aren’t around. Are you always broke or unemployed? Do you have to move around a lot because you can’t afford a stable home? You want to minimize your weaknesses by showing the judge that you take them seriously and are trying to improve yourself. Accordingly, you should do the following:  Get treatment for any addictions, such as drug addiction or alcoholism. You can find a treatment program by talking to your doctor. Address any mental health problems you might have. Attend counseling or therapy and get the necessary drugs to help you. Take an anger management class. If you struggle with controlling your emotions, then you should complete an anger management class which will help you cope with your emotions. Hold onto the certificate of completion. Get your finances in order. It is unlikely that a judge will award child custody to a parent simply because they are wealthier. However, you need to show you can provide for your children, which means you can provide for their necessities. Get on top of your debt and find a job, if necessary. You should make sure to point out why living with the other parent wouldn’t be in the child’s best interests. Review the factors a judge considers and try to find evidence for each factor. For example:  If the other parent has a drug or alcohol problem, be sure to tell your lawyer. Your lawyer can get copies of medical records. Where the other parent is abusive or uses excessive discipline, you can use that information against them. Find witnesses who have seen the other parent slap or hit the child. If the other parent has a criminal history, then tell your lawyer, who can get criminal records.  If the children rarely see the other parent, then document the days the parent doesn’t visit. Write down important events (like birthdays or weekend visitation) that the parent fails to attend. If the other parent has a new partner, then you need to do a thorough background check on this new person. Look for criminal convictions. Remember to scour social media accounts—Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. If you can find a picture of the other parent drunk and at a party, print it out or download it. ” As part of any contested child custody case, you can request information or documents from the other parent. This process is called “discovery.” For example, you might want to use the following discovery techniques:  Requests for Documents. Your lawyer can request copies of documents, if they are relevant. Interrogatories. These are written questions that the other parent must answer under oath. Depositions. If you think a witness has relevant information, your lawyer can question the witness in a “deposition.” For example, you might want to depose your child’s teacher and ask if they have seen the other parent berate or hit the child.
A: Gather evidence that you are a good parent. Assess your weaknesses as a parent. Begin addressing your weaknesses. Gather evidence to use against the other parent. Request information in “discovery.

Q: Take down all of your posters with pictures of them, and don't see the new movie they are in or listen to their new song. Don’t talk about them with your friends or family, and don’t spend time on the internet researching their lives. Everyone deserves privacy, even famous people.  You can do these things gradually over the course of several days, or stop it all in one go, like ripping off a Band-Aid. Whichever way you choose to do it, make sure all of the things that remind you of them eventually make it out of your life! Try not to be jealous if you find out they’re dating someone else, or happy if they’re breaking up with their partner. It doesn’t bring you any closer to them, and it only makes it harder to separate from them. Concrete goals that focus on the bigger picture, like how you can improve yourself or do something nice for someone else, will help you far more than dwelling on an unlikely possibility. Make sure your goals are reasonable and attainable.  Think about how you want to study hard and get an “A” on your next paper or test. If you’re working on a new move in karate class, imagine yourself being able to do it perfectly, and practice when you get home. Help someone in need by volunteering at an organization, or doing something small like giving up your seat on the bus for an elderly person. If you are having intense thoughts about this celebrity, an engaging but calming activity can help get your mind off of it.  Finish that poem, book, painting, or other project you’ve been working on. Go for a walk and look around at all the beautiful trees, houses, and people that are right in front of you. Grab a coloring book or a print-out of a detailed pattern like a mandala and some colored pencils. Color to your heart’s content, and try to stay inside the lines.  Get some exercise by asking your friends if they want to play a pickup game of soccer or frisbee, or go on a run by yourself.
A:
Remove things from your life that remind you of your crush. Replace daydreams about them with thoughts about goals you have for your own life. Do something else that you like to do.