Nicole Curtisis not about to back down as she defends her family online — and in court.
TheRehab Addictstar is in the midst of a years-long custody dispute over her 3-year-old son and an ongoing battle with critics on social media about breastfeeding and mothers’ rights. But through it all, she tells PEOPLE, she’s learned to “see the good in the bad” and find strength in other moms.
“As much as I would say that it has really not been fun having everything drawn out in public, I think it’s also changed the course of my life,” says Curtis, whoseshow returns for its eighth seasonon Wednesday, July 11. “Because God isn’t putting bad in your life without [a reason]. Sometimes, the storm is there to clear the path for the sunshine.”
Nicole Curtis/Instagram
Though she’sfaced off with mommy shamersonline and in person, she maintains her trials have been worth it for the awareness they bring to issues like children’s and mothers’ rights.
“I absolutely did not set out to do any of this,” Curtis says of her role as an outspoken advocate — and often,lightening rod— online. “I’ve always been someone who wanted my private life private. But if it’s gonna be out there, let’s make it for a purpose. The more people talk about things, the more change we have.”
She’s also found a community of supporters in fellow moms who share custody of their children.
“You realize there are people out there going through your same struggles,” she says. “So many write me or stop me on the street and are like, ‘I’m going through the same thing. Thank you for speaking out.'”
He’d previously claimed that Curtisused breastfeeding as a means to keep Harper from his father, saying she continued to exclusively breastfeed longer than necessary so the mother and son could not be apart. He lateraccused her of moving to California from Michiganto make transfers between the parents more difficult.
As the legal battle escalates, Curtis continues to defend her family and practices on social media. “Some people say you just need to shut your mouth and ignore [online trolls], and I always say this: ‘If I ignore them, what happens when they go to bully a mom that’s struggling and doesn’t have the support that I have?'”
“I always wanted to have a positive effect. And some of us out here are just the guinea pigs for that. That’s just the path we have and we have to roll with it,” she says, adding, “That’s really the take I’ve had to put to it. And it’s working. I have more peace now than I did.”
Season 8 ofRehab Addictpremieres on DIY Network Wednesday, July 11, at 8 p.m.
source: people.com
