We were sitting at the baby pool during "break". I saw this young lady about 10 years old shove her younger brother into the wading pool. He fell backwards, and when he got up you could tell he was upset and then started to cry. She then proceeded to grap him by his life jacket and drag him out of the pool, once she did that she started dragging him towards a picnic table behind me. When I turned around I saw her slapping him in the head, and he was protesting and you could tell he was upset. I had to speak up. I told her she needed to stop what she was doing and that it wasn't acceptable behavior. SHe told me "He's my brother!" and I told her that I really didn't care who he was to her, that it was not acceptable behavior no matter what. She just glared at me. All this time I was wondering where the parent(s) was/were. After break I took my kids back to the pool where I saw the mom on her cell phone. Would you have done the same?
2006-07-04 03:09:16 · 24 answers · asked by dixi 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
No I didn't say anything to the mother. My friend was with me and told me her daughter said something to her about me, but the mother never came over and said anything. After she got off the cell phone she went swimming with her son, and they were near us, she had plenty of chances to say something, and I was ready to oblige her. I think she probably knew better though, most of us know our kids and how they act with eachother. I know my first question to my daughter after she told me somebody "yelled" at her would be "Well what did they yell at you for?". I'd rather have somebody say something to my kids if they are acting up, and I don't catch it...but that's me.
2006-07-04 03:17:49 · update #1
I have to strongly disagree with you Jennika. That was physical abuse in action, she could have hurt her brother or any of the children swimming in that baby pool, including mine. Maybe I should have said something to the mother, I just didn't feel led to. I know she knew I said something so if she was concerned she could have confronted me at anytime and I would have expressed my concerns and opinion. I come from a time when neighbors would watch out for eachothers kids, we all know we can't have our eyes on our children 24/7, any idiot can figure that one out, but will not admit it. I dont feel I did anything wrong, I didn't touch her or verbally abuse her. I was stearn though, to let her know I was serious. She was putting others in harms way...and she was an awful example to all the smaller children who witnessed her behavior. I think I did the right thing and that's honestly all that matters in my opinion. Thanks for all your responses!
2006-07-04 03:52:36 · update #2
Absolutely! It is unfortunate that a total stranger had to tell this little girl what is "unacceptable" behavior! Who knows, maybe this will leave a lasting impression upon the girl! Even total strangers can have some impact upon our lives!
2006-07-04 03:18:38 · answer #1 · answered by sanchalou 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
GOING ONLY TO THE CHILD AND NOT THE PARENT "ONCE YOU KNEW WHO A PARENT WAS" I think was a poor choice. Yes, you should not have allowed anyone a child or adult to beat up on that kid without saying anything. Only telling the kid never insured she would be punished for her actions. Her mother may never know she pushed the brother under water. A young scared child can swallow water and drown. If she is still allowed unsupervised swimming with the younger he could be badly hurt, THE MOTHER needed to know what happened. Yes she should have been watching, but in truth we get distracted and any parent who thinks they ALWAYS know what their kid dose is a total fool. Things happen is seconds. My son was burned on a outdoor gril with 15 other adults around I SAW IT HAPPEN and could not stop it.
2006-07-04 10:27:54 · answer #2 · answered by ally'smom 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I would have done the exact same thing. Good for you! I may have grabbed that sister by her arm and taken her over to her mother and told her what she was doing to her brother. Then I would have told the mother that if she wasn't going to pay attention to what her children were doing, maybe she shouldn't bring them to the pool anymore, where her lack of concern could cause one or both of them to get hurt in the pool or the water. There is no excuse for lazy parenting and I have no problem reprimanding other people's children if the parents aren't going to take their responsibility seriously.
2006-07-04 10:19:13 · answer #3 · answered by disneychick 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. The trouble with our modern society is the lack of neighborly behavior. It takes a village to raise a child. When you see inappropriate behavior by a child, speak up. If the mom thinks you're out of line, she's crazy. You did the right thing. Some kids these days need to be told. Their mom might not speak up enough and maybe that girl will listen to someone else or think twice before she does it if enough outsiders tell her about herself. If mom condones this, she is probably abusive herself.
2006-07-04 11:17:06 · answer #4 · answered by nikki 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
absolutely. i would have probably even gone a step further and approached the mother. i would have in the most non-confrontational way possible told her what i had witnessed and said that she would be wise to keep an more diligent eye on her daughter to prevent this behavior in the future.
though truth be told if the girl believes that her actions were justifed in some way then maybe she was getting that information from her parents to begin with. one way or another you were not out of line. most people wouldn't even have done what you did.
2006-07-04 10:16:07 · answer #5 · answered by Nanny's mommy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a sad situation when an older sibling is responsible for a younger sibling, without the skills or maturity to know how to handle childcare.....the 10 yr. old is frustrated and ill-equipped for taking care of her brother. Unfortunately this is a situation that is common when the mother is unavailable both emotionally/mentally, the 10 yr. old is being robbed of her childhood while the younger sibling is being abused. I myself would have probably approached the mother on the cell phone and informed her you worked for child protective services and her behavior was being documented.....
2006-07-04 10:31:57 · answer #6 · answered by Sandy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes ,I would. I've had to correct some of the little kids around here too ! Theres one little boy that likes to tear up other peoples stuff, and I've had to holler ( so to speak ) at him for it. The mother is most of the time in the house not paying any attention to him at all. That just gets me mad when the parents dont watch their kids/kid so that they will behave or not get hurt.
I have a daughter and I keep a close eye on her !
2006-07-04 10:27:38 · answer #7 · answered by Midnights snow 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes and I would have kindly let the mother know what was going on and tryed to encourage the mother to be more mindful of the way the sister treats the brother
2006-07-04 10:18:17 · answer #8 · answered by goaldeneagle95 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you.It's never right to do something like that.I'm glad you spoke up. This mother obviously cares more about work and her life than whats going on with her children.I'm always shocked when I see these bratty,disrespectful,violent little children.... but then you see there parents and it's clear.There parents don't teach then anything.Not how to behave or anything.
2006-07-04 12:14:48 · answer #9 · answered by abercrombie_lover101 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would have approached the mother and informed her of what I had witnessed. If she took the appropriate action I would have left it at that. Had she NOT then I would have made a report to the police so her identity would have been known and then to family services.
2006-07-04 10:15:49 · answer #10 · answered by GRUMPY 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋