In Re Darius A.

It is unfortunate but not uncommon to see a child involved in a tug-of-war between two competing parents. It is extremely rare, however, to see children involved in a tug-of-war between two competing courts. That, in a nutshell, is the issue before us on this appeal.

Without unnecessarily belaboring the details, Darius, Persephone and Germaine are three siblings, all of whom are still under five years of age, who were found to be Children in Need of Assistance. In January, 1978 (January, 1979, in the case of the youngest, Germaine), all three children were committed to the custody and care of…