Are my husband's behaviors toward his granddaughter a red flag?

Dear Concerned Grandparent,

Thank you for taking that difficult step in questioning a loved one's behavior in order to protect a child.

Adult Warning Signs
Your husband’s behavior could indeed be a warning sign that a child is at-risk. One warning sign does not always mean that a child is at-risk, instead it's important to notice whether there are patterns or repetition, and whether there are additional signs. Please review Behaviors to Watch for When Adults Are With Children and Signs That an Adult May Be At-Risk to Harm a Child to help you think about your observations and whether there may be other potential signs worth noting.

While viewing pornography is not necessarily a precursor to sexually abusing a child, given that you’ve shared your husband is in treatment for this, I am assuming that his pornography viewing is problematic, and therefore may also be considered a warning sign.

Observing and Responding to Children’s Warning Signs
Another place to explore for you is whether your granddaughter is showing any warning signs of possible abuse. Have you noticed any new behaviors or moods in here that are different?  Is she able to talk with you or another safe adult if she is worried about anything? You may want to look into this article published by the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (www.rainn.org): “Talking to your child if you suspect that they are being sexually abused” for some helpful tips on how to raise concerns in a supportive way.

Speaking Up
Have you asked your husband about his behavior? Would it be possible to do this in counseling together? It’s important that this concern is shared so that there are no secrets and that accountability is shared with among all adults involved in your grandchildren’s lives. Our guidebook, “Let’s Talk” may help you with raising this concern in a non-confrontational manner.

Safety Planning
This would also be a good time to strengthen your safety plan and family guidelines about safe behavior between children and adults. Identifying healthy and appropriate interactions that are expected for all adults involved with children in your life can help you feel more secure in identifying potential problems. For example, if you have a family rule that prohibits adults from being in a child’s room with the door closed and that rule is broken, you can respond more clearly about the broken rule. Please see the following resources for further guidance in setting up safe environments.

• Create A Family Safety Plan
• Everyday Actions To Keep Kids Safe
• Talking to Children and Teens

I hope this information is helpful and certainly invite you to contact us back with any additional questions or concerns. I hope for the very best for you and your family.

Take care,
Stop It Now!