Question

You are a parole officer whose caseload includes a single mother with three hyperactive, attention-deficit-disordered young children. She receives no support from her ex-husband. Her own mother wants nothing to do with her or the children, believing that “God is punishing her.” The parolee works as a topless dancer but hates it. She continues dancing because it pays the bills so well. You know that she smokes marijuana on a regular basis in an effort to deal with stress. Obviously, this is a violation of probation. However, if you file a violation report on her, she will go back to prison. You know she is doing the best she can with her kids, she is heavily involved with their school, and they are strongly bonded to her. You worry about what will happen to the kids. What would you do?

Answer 1

I understand that she is a mother, so I would warn her. I would tell her to stop, and get her stuff together. Or else I, the parole officer, will get fired and you, the mother, will eventually get caught and sent back to prison.  And if she wants the best for her kids, then find help for the stress, or find something that calms her down, nothing having to do with drugs or alcohol, of course. Something like painting, running, going for a walk, or writing it down in a journal to let it out. If she wants to stay with her kids, she will get her self together and fix her problems.