I’m not sure of the type of relationship you have with your son-in-law. She may need some time to process, be understanding…but follow up with her, asking her to think about next steps. Be prepared with accurate information about Warning Signs and other tools available from our website.This is about everyone getting support and help so that the children and the family experience the least amount of trauma and stress as possible. Be specific and factual but try (as hard as it can be) to stay calm and neutral. Do not “accuse” her husband of anything – rather, describe your observations.Focus on your shared love and commitment for your granddaughter.Make sure that you are in a private place – away from her daughter and her husband.If you do decide to talk to her, these communication tips may be able to help: While these conversations are difficult, often they can lead to families working together to keep the children safe. Are you able to bring up your observations with her? I would be curious to know whether she has concerns that she hasn’t known how to bring up. Ideally, bringing up these concerns with your daughter would be the next immediate step. There are some steps to consider as you think about involving the police.

You are right – it is crucial to take action and yes, there will most likely be some difficult conversations and situations afterward.