I Was 29 and Single When I Fought to Keep Five Siblings Together. The Judge Asked Why, and My Answer Changed Everything.

‘No.

There are some kids who need help.’

‘How many?’

‘Five.’

The silence on the other end was so long I checked whether the call had dropped.

‘Mason,’ Ben finally said, ‘you can barely remember to eat lunch.’

‘I know.’

‘And you are going to feed five children?’