| 0;Hey Sweetie, it’s time to get ready to | | | | sometimes the non custodial parent, who calls. |
| go to Daddy’s for the weekend,” | | | | Whichever, they have some reason to believe |
| Sheila yelled to her eight-year old, Darcy, who | | | | their child is unsafe when with the other parent. It |
| was playing in her bedroom. She continued her | | | | may be drugs, alcohol, weapons, a new girlfriend |
| internet research for a paper due Monday. She | | | | boyfriend who seems suspicious, molestation, or |
| had gone back to school to try to retrain for a | | | | dozens of other scenarios. The profession calls |
| better job now that she was a single mom. | | | | them child welfare cases. And the parents want |
| Twenty minutes passed and she went in to check | | | | to find out if it is true and if so to obtain |
| on Darcy who she found still playing. | | | | evidence. |
| “Honey, I told you to get ready.” | | | | In order to protect client privilege they should first |
| “OK.” Darcy said, with a shrug of | | | | contact their attorney, and have him or her |
| her shoulders.” “Odd,” | | | | contact a private investigator. |
| Sheila thought,”She’s always flown | | | | Some of the types of activities the investigator |
| around her room and been ready in about five | | | | may perform include checking the new boyfriend |
| minutes before…” She quickly | | | | for criminal history; performing surveillance on the |
| dismissed the thought and she went back to her | | | | dad to see if he’s doing drug deals at |
| research. | | | | night; watching the mom to see if she’s |
| This scene plays out hundreds of times a day. | | | | driving drunk with the child in the car; making sure |
| And it probably means nothing more than the child | | | | the child is going to school every day; observing |
| was engaged in play and didn’t want to | | | | the child to see if he appears well-cared for; and |
| stop. But it could mean much more. | | | | generally making sure the child is safe. And if |
| What Darcy might have asked was, | | | | she’s not, providing evidence the judge |
| “Honey why aren’t you | | | | can use to correct the situation. |
| ready?” She might have heard this | | | | Pay attention to even the slightest change in your |
| response, “I don’t like going to | | | | child’s attitude toward your ex. Ask |
| Daddy’s anymore.” To which | | | | questions in a non-confrontive manner. Be relaxed |
| Sheila might have asked, “Why?” | | | | and pick times when your child is receptive to this |
| Hopefully Darcy would have told her the real | | | | type of dialog. |
| reason, “Daddy keeps leaving at night and | | | | The vast majority of parents do no harm to their |
| after he comes back he acts funny.” | | | | kids and this is not to suggest you go on a |
| This is usually when the parent makes a phone | | | | “witch hunt.” |
| call. Sometimes it’s the custodial parent, | | | | It just pays to be alert. |