You sound like a great mom...we cant control everything, especially as they get older. My daughter lost her father a little over a year ago and I can see the difference in her. It is so difficult being a single parent. Eventhough I do the best I can, I cant do everything. I want to but its impossible.

I think the counselor would look good for court...a letter from a counselor could be very helpful and if you explain her story a bit about her father and that she's going through a rough patch rather than a lifelong pattern. AS a former "JD" I can say the scared and innocent look has a very strong effect on judges.. I would just stand there and look very scared and act very sorry and I would always get off, lol.
If they think you look or act "hard" they are tougher on you. Of course you have to come across as sincere. If she can sincerely cry that would be great.And the clothes, very important. Nerdish clothes..Nothng low cut, nothing street,

Also, if you have other family memebers to come just to sit there in the courtroom, they like that too. If she could come up with some heartfelt ******** about changing her life..but dont get caugfht faking.

I too didnt have any clue about how to be a parent...No one ever toook care of me. No one ever cooked for me or anything and by the time I was 13 I was on the street mostly..I read books about what normal people do and it helped.

Someone had to tell me youre supposed to hang up their school papers and artwork on the refrigerator. It was all foreign to me. And she was seven and she was hungry and I was like well go eat, lol...I knew how to do everything myself very young becasue I had no choice and i forget thats not her world..

Anyway, I didnt mean to try to highjack your thread...I just want to wish you and your child the best and tell you you sound like a good mom and that your doing the best you can andthats allwe can do...Youre better than your parents, and you care. Iknow its difficult but despite your sadness and disappointment now you seem very strong. I wish you continued strength and hope it all works out well..