Reply #12: Sounds like she needs help..... [View All]

If you can talk to her about this then do so. Don't be accusatory but ask her if she's been feeling pressure or having problems and offer to help. Could you, for instance, get the dad to look after the kids for the day while you take your friend for a day out somewhere. Get her to relax, forget about the kids, and see if you can find out what's bothering her?

If you think that this will cause difficulties and drive her away, then maybe you can talk to someone in Social Services (it's a UK thing, you must have something similar). My mother is a Social Worker who specialises in cases of child abuse or neglect. I'm confident that she would welcome someone coming to speak to her, in confidence and without revealing names, about a friend that they were worried about. If you can contact the equivalent US organisation you should be able to do the same. They would be able to give you good advice and maybe point you in the direction of some other helpful organisations.

On edit - personally, I'd have posted this is GD or elsewhere, not the lounge.....

P.