Real-Life Decision Making
You're a social worker doing a home study with Joe and Paula Sanders to see if they would make suitable adoptive parents. So far, things have been going pretty well. The couple has a nice home. They are friendly and open. They have been married three years and seem to get along well. Joe has been married before, so it makes sense to ask him why that marriage ended.
"Oh," says Paula, "can I answer that one?" You wonder how she can know, since she did not know Joe or his first wife during their marriage. However, you wait to see what she has to say.
"The marriage ended because she is a real witch," she says. "Obviously you can't count that against us. That has nothing to do with Joe or me. He didn't make the mistake of marrying a witch twice!"
Joe shifts uncomfortably on his chair. He says, "Well, actually, she has mellowed a lot. She's not that bad anymore."
"How would you know?" asks Paula, turning to face him.
"Well, I actually ran into her last week at the grocery store and we went for a cup of coffee," he replies. Paula turns red and glares right at him.
"I thought you said you weren't going to have anything to do with her anymore. You promised me!"
They both are raising their voices now, and not really paying attention to you. What do you do?