Ep. 106 - When Your Kid Gets the Cops Called On You!

In the episode "Ep. 106 - When Your Kid Gets the Cops Called On You!" of the "Empowering Choices" podcast, hosts Joshua, Lucas, and Erik delve into the complex situations parents can find themselves in when children make serious allegations about their caregivers. The episode begins with a dramatic account from Lucas, discussing a client whose child falsely reported being abused. This led to an investigation by child protective services, illustrating the grave implications such allegations can have on a family.

Lucas shares, "The background to the topic is I had a client come in who said that their kid went to school and told the school that his mom beat him with curtain rods and cuts him in the face with scissors." This shocking claim turned out to be unfounded, but it set the stage for a discussion about the responsibilities of schools and agencies in handling such claims, and the severe consequences for families.

Erik contributes to the conversation by discussing the importance of understanding child psychology and the reasons behind why children might fabricate stories. He explains that often, children act out of a lack of big-picture thinking and are driven by immediate emotional needs. "Kids, especially younger, like once they're told something or get something in their mind, sometimes it's hard for them to not continue to say that or believe that," Joshua adds, illustrating the complexity of child cognition and memory.

The discussion also covers the legal and procedural steps taken when such allegations are made, including the roles of different state agencies like DHS or CPS. Erik emphasizes the sensitivity required in these cases, noting, "You're going to hope that an investigator, if that's where that's at, will be able to put that together."

Ultimately, the hosts underscore the significance of a strong parent-child relationship as the best defense against these challenging scenarios. They discuss how building trust and communication within the family can help mitigate misunderstandings and prevent crises. "Your relationship with your kid is the best defense against any of those things," Lucas concludes, pointing out the recurring theme of the podcast that emphasizes relational over punitive measures in parenting.