I have a friend who was just served papers. Her son's father has decided he wants custody of the child. He's been an absentee father, one who has withheld a decent amount of child support saying that if she ever filed for support he would take her son away. Recently the child has been stealing and a lot of lying. It caught up with him in the form of a school meeting. The school recommended a human services program to help. The mom agrees to it. The dad agreed to it too after an initial hissy fit. There is no abuse or neglect going on in the house. I do not think the dad can take the child away but my friend is understandably upset. She is refusing to take any initiative to help herself. She calls and talks for hours and cries and I listen. It's like watching a train wreck. I can see the trains coming at each other, they are slow and loud but not paying attention to any of the signs around them warning them that a disaster is about to occur. I am frustrated and concerned for her. Any suggestions?