Although my decision to involve Child Protective Services would have been the same,
the ways in which I’d have worked with this young mother would have been more nuanced and collaborative, less prescriptive in telling her what
“works” or doesn’t “work” with kids. At the time, however, and in my childless naivete, I was
very focused on teaching her behavioral child management skills, and was less empathic with
her personal needs and plight than I would be today.