“Trust your instincts. Ask questions about your family’s finances and listen to the children in your family. If a child notices that Grandpa has secrets or gets upset when they mention certain visitors, pay attention to what they’re telling you.”
“Emily, what would you say to other children who might be noticing confusing adult behavior in their families?”
Emily looked directly at the camera with the confidence that came from a year of speaking to lawyers, judges, and families about the importance of children’s observations.
“I would say that if grown-ups are telling you to keep secrets from other grown-ups you love, you should tell someone you trust. And if your grandma or your mom seems sad and you don’t know why, ask questions and pay attention to the answers.”
After the interview aired, the foundation received over 300 calls from women requesting consultations, plus dozens of calls from children who wanted to share observations about confusing family financial conversations.
“Mrs. Gillian,” Sandra reported during our weekly staff meeting, “we’re going to need additional space and more volunteer attorneys to handle the demand. The television story has made us a national resource for divorce-related financial fraud cases.”
“Sandra, what’s the most common pattern you’re seeing in the new cases?”
“Husbands who’ve spent years convincing their wives that financial management is too complicated for them to understand while systematically moving assets into accounts the wives can’t access. And, Mrs. Gillian, in about 60% of cases, children have observed planning meetings or conversations about hidden money.”
Six months later, Emily and I were standing in our expanded foundation offices, which now occupied an entire floor of downtown office space and employed 12 full-time advocates, plus a network of volunteer attorneys in six states.
“Grandma Kathy, look at all the thank-you letters.”
The wall behind Emily was covered with hundreds of letters from women who’d recovered hidden assets, children who’d successfully protected family members from financial fraud, and attorneys who’d used foundation resources to challenge sophisticated financial deception.
“Emily, read me your favorite letter.”
Emily selected an envelope with careful handwriting and a return address from Minnesota.
“Dear Emily and Mrs. Jillian,
My granddaughter Sarah is seven years old and she saved our family by paying attention when her grandfather thought no one was watching. Sarah noticed that Grandpa had a secret phone that he used to talk to someone named Rebecca about moving money before Grandma finds out. When Sarah told me about these conversations, I contacted your foundation and we discovered that my husband had hidden $800,000 in accounts I’d never known existed. Sarah testified just like Emily did, and the judge awarded me all the hidden money plus damages for fraud. But most importantly, Sarah learned that children have the power to protect their families when adults make bad choices.
Thank you for showing other children that paying attention and telling the truth can save their families.
With gratitude,
Margaret and Sarah Peterson.”
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