A special Note before you read the story: For legal reasons PLEASE if you comment DO NOT mention my son's name, or bash the judge the system or my former husband! Thank you!

I Meredith Roseman Yager am coming to you to humbly ask for any donation of money that you are able to give, to literally keep me out of jail! In court on January 28th, 2015 in Madison County, NC I was found in contempt of court, and ordered to be arrested if I did not pay my former husband’s attorney's fees of over $5,000.  Originally I was told that I had to pay them within 30 days after the order is signed.  As of yesterday I found out upon picking the order up that it is 30 days from the court date. I am currently in limbo.  This judgment was based on a false assertion that I was declining to participate with the Parent Coordinator, who had been assigned in October, when in fact I had only stated to the Parent Coordinator that I could not afford to pay his fee of $1000.00 in entirety up front which is required by the courts. My previous lawyer could not be there, and my motion to continue the case until I could obtain proper representation from an attorney was denied. Thus, I had to represent myself, and was not allowed the right to a lawyer! Since the day of court I have found out that because it was civil court, it was not mandatory that I have a lawyer.  Since I am not a lawyer I did not know how to represent myself.

I am being penalized as a single mother for not having money. This not only hurts me, but especially my son, women, the state, men and everyone else.

I am currently self employed as a Personal Assistant doing contract labor charging what people can afford, so sometimes I have work and sometimes I do not. This time is especially hard where I live in Asheville, NC as it is winter and not tourist season. Also, many residents here are snowbirds and go to warmer places during the winter.  I also need to pay off debt which includes lawyer fees as well as other debt that I have aquired related to this matter.

I have a nine year old son whom I love and who I would like to protect from the stigma of this current situation I am in, meaning I would like to clear this up as soon as possible. He is an amazing nine year old doing the kind of things nine year old boys do like playing video games, and playing in the creek. My son means the world to me, and I have not shared any of these details with him, nor do I plan to. It is my duty as his mother to take care of him, and not put him in the middle in anyway.  He is a great artist and storyteller. He likes to build things out of legos and has a very mechanical mind. I give him as much attention as I possibly can when we are together. I stop what I am doing and listen to him telling me what he is building and the story behind it. He has become quite the reader and I provide him with ample reading material. I also still read aloud to him. I make sure he gets exercise and playtime outside and in. We schedule play dates as often as possible so he gets time to be with other kids in his age range. I expose him to music, the arts, both visual and performing, including an improvisational theatre group I am a part of called Interweave, that is a mixed abilities group. This group supports creativity for individuals with disabilities. Many of my friends in this group have disabilities, some are obvious and some are not. This group has become a part of his extended family, and he has been able to witness that people with disabilities are people too.

Another extended family has become a part of is the contra dance community, as well as the community of the Asheville Movement Collective. He has met several of my friends from the community and has seen me volunteer there. He has also helped me when I do this. I feel it is important for him to learn the value of volunteering.

We are blessed to have these communities including the community with all of our friends and family. My son is integrally involved with all of his family on my side, he loves his Paw Paw very much and has so much fun playing and visiting with his cousins and all of his relatives! With out all of these we would not be the same, I think my son’s life would be much poorer if he were to lose half of his family! I am thankful and bursting with gratitude for all of the emotional support I have been receiving through this difficult and trying time. Though very difficult for me to continue to expose myself to ask for help, I am grateful also for this site, and for all of you that can contribute. Even if you cannot your prayers and thoughts are welcome and so appreciated.

With greatest appreciation, I thank you all from the bottom of my heart!