Chapter 13 - My children stop asking the same question
Sophie’s question was:
“Why did Daddy make us watch?”
Owen’s was:
“When can I see Daddy?”
Different children.
Same house.
Dr. Celeste Morgan, a child psychologist appointed to provide therapeutic support and limited family-court input, told me:
“Do not answer motives you cannot know.”
So I said:
“Dad made a bad decision by keeping you there.”
Not:
Dad wanted to use you.
Even though that was supported by recording.
Children should not carry litigation theory.
Then supervised visits.
Lucas attended every one.
He arrived on time.
Did not question children about case.
No gifts designed to win them.
Read books.
Played blocks.
Sophie initially refused hugs.
Lucas accepted.
Owen ran to him.
Also okay.
Supervisor reports:
Appropriate.
Emotionally subdued.
No safety incident.
That mattered.
I hated that it mattered.
Then Dr. Morgan told me something I needed.
“Your fear of Lucas as a husband cannot be automatically converted into fear of Lucas as a father.”
“He put them in that kitchen.”
“Yes.”
“That was parenting harm.”
“Yes.”
“Is he currently repeating it?”
“No.”
“Then we assess current risk plus history.”
Present tense.
Again.
Then my own mistake.
After one visit Sophie came home quiet.
I asked:
“What did Daddy say?”
“Nothing.”
“Did he ask about me?”
“No.”
“Did he mention Valerie?”
“No.”
“Did he—”
Sophie yelled:
“Mom!”
I stopped.
I was interrogating.
Different method.
Same pressure.
I apologized.
Dr. Morgan later said:
“Safety checks should not feel like depositions.”
May you like
That sentence embarrassed Natalie when I repeated it.
Good.
