After a Year Away, Military Mom Gets More Access to 2-Year-Old Daughter
Ruling today in a child-custody case that became high-profile after a national newspaper featured Leydi Mendoza as an example of a military mom who has suffered as a parent due to her military service, a New Jersey family court judge says she can have more access to her 2-year-old daughter.
Although her father retains custody of the girl, Mendoza will be able to visit the girl daily and have her sleep over on Friday nights, recounts the New York Times. Both parents are reportedly satisfied with the judge’s decision, which came in a custody dispute that developed after Mendoza, a National Guard specialist, returned from a 10-month tour of duty in Iraq.
“This has never been about keeping the baby from her mother,” says attorney Amy Lefkowitz, who represents the child’s father, Daniel Llares. “It’s about making a transition that will be appropriate for a child of this age.”
