A statement by nine-year-old Sean Goldman to a psychologist has become fodder in the ongoing quest by his biological father to repatriate the boy to his former home in Tinton Falls.
As part of a custody-related examination, Sean told a psychologist on Monday that he wants to stay with his stepfamily in Brazil rather than return to the U.S. with David Goldman, his biological father, according to a report by the Associated Press.
The statement appeared in a transcript of the session that was released yesterday by lawyers for Sean’s stepfather, Joao Paulo Lins e Silva.
In it, Sean tells the psychologist that if he is sent back to New Jersey to be with David Goldman he will “break down totally.”
“I want to stay here in Brazil,” the 9-year-old repeats in the interview.
When asked to draw a picture of his family, the boy drew only his stepfather, sister and Brazilian grandparents, the AP reports.
David Goldman’s reaction:
“The psychological damage that has been inflicted on my son is finally out in the open.”
“There’s no words to describe the anxiety and the pain that I feel from that,” he said.
The AP reports that it wasn’t immediately clear who paid for the psychologist’s services.
Kids are resilient. Ask him the same question once he’s spent a year with his biological father.
In response to Laura in NJ: I would not discount the boy’s opinion. He is with his sister and the family that he has known and been with after losing his mother, so it is natural for him to feel this way. His need for stability must be the most important aspect to consider in this truly sad story. I feel horrible for Mr. Goldman but I feel even worse for the boy who is caught between these two parties who only want what they feel is best for him.
I think it is a scandal the way this man has tried to tear this boy away from the only family he has known for the past 6 years, especially since the child has just suffered the trauma of losing his mother. It seems that he is being extremely selfish and causing instability and drama at a time when this little boy least needs it. It reeks of an abusive personality.
Maybe there is a good reason the boy’s mother moved far far away from that “father”.
Hmmm. The only SCANDAL that has occured is the kidnapping of a child. You don’t just TAKE peoples children and decide that you are better because you can give them more financially then someone else. In North America, as well as many other places, when a child is kidnapped, we find them and return them. We don’t decide that if the kidnapper likes the child and will treat them well, they can stay with them. That is absurd. Maybe you don’t have children yourself. Maybe this was a paid remark. In a decent moral society, we don’t reward criminal behaviour. We also do not want to continue to have a family of criminals influence a young bright mind.
Hmmm. The only SCANDAL that has occured is the kidnapping of a child. You don’t just TAKE peoples children and decide that you are better because you can give them more financially then someone else. In North America, as well as many other places, when a child is kidnapped, we find them and return them. We don’t decide that if the kidnapper likes the child and will treat them well, they can stay with them. That is absurd. Maybe you don’t have children yourself. Maybe this was a paid remark. In a decent moral society, we don’t reward criminal behaviour. We also do not want to continue to have a family of criminals influence a young bright mind.
Uninterested Bystandr, your handle is dead-on, as it is obvious you have been paying zero attention to the coverage. As such, you are speaking entirely out of turn by saying, “I think it is a scandal the way this man has tried to tear this boy away from the only family he has known for the past 6 years.”
Mr. Goldman HAS BEEN *TRYING* TO REGAIN CUSTODY FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS. I quote from the Star-Ledger’s June 10 edition: “Monmouth County father David Goldman has been fighting since 2004 to regain custody of his son, but not until recently has it gained attention.”
Or,maybe uninterested is a scorn woman piece of garbage, who would use a child as a pawn to try and inflict emotional pain on the biological father, AND his son.
Believe it or not,it happens, especialy here in NJ where the system could care less about a fathers rights.
I hope Mr. Goldman does not give up. I cant imagine my son being that far away from me.
Unfortunatly the boy lost his mom (probably from bad karma on her part), but there is no other person left other then his dad to raise him the way his dad see fit.
I find it weird that a 9 year old child would say he would “break down totally” to a psychologist. That does not sound like something a 9 year old would say or think. I think they should get a second opinion with a psychologist who won’t put words in his mouth.
ah…new site same old moronic bickering
I see nothing “moronic” or “bickering” about the above exchanges.
It is interesting that a child would make a commnet like that. My guess is he was coached. The stepfather has not played by rules from the onset. If the father was a bad person, it would have gotten out in the press by now. The Brazilian family is a very powerful legal group. The mother kidnapped the child. It is sad both children will be separated, but the mother should never have kidnapped the child. They were married and living in NJ. The child is a US citizen. The NJ family court gave custody to Mr. Goldman. This matter should be handled in NJ courts. It seems at least there, Sean and David Goldman will get a fair trial. Mr. Goldman has been fighting for his son for 5 years. The legal system is Brazil is not blind, it just looks the other way. I hope they correct the wrong from five years ago! Sean & David Goldman will be reunited one day soon.