but you can parent mon('s hand) to one hand of the child, and parent dad('s hand) to the other hand of the child...

Poser hierarchies are not about real life hierarchies, you're allowed to revert them :-)

Edit: why not use a third (invisible to render) object as a PointAt target for two hands? As long as the target is within reach, both hands will glue to it. Combined with IK, this seems the most manageable way to me. Pretty low tech. That way, one can connect childs left to mams right, mams left to dads right and dads left to childs right.

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Usually I'm wrong. But to be effective and efficient, I don't need to be correct or accurate.

visit www.aRtBeeWeb.nl (works) or Missing Manuals (tutorials & reviews) - both need an update though