crazy mom at my bus stop!!?

Question

every morning at my bus stop there is this mean/rude lady that is always yelling at her kids(2 sons 1 daughter all in middle school).this morning she made her youngest son cry by yelling and calling him pathetic and a retard b/c he triped and dropped his books. and she does that type of thing to all her kids everday.standing out there makes me very uncomfortable.can some1 plz tell me something i can do?

im at the bus stop with just me and them and we dont go to the same school b/c we're in this magnet program we get on the same first bus but then we go to a terminal and get on a diffrent second bus

Answer 1

Talk to the school about it, if you feel the need invovle the police or CPS. There could be more abuse going on. Trust your instincts.

Answer 2

Confronting her isn't going to do anything to help the situation. This sounds drastic, but call the Children's Aid Society, and report her. Tell them exactly when and where this takes place so they can observe, if they wish.
Chances are, if she behaves this way toward them in public, she is being equally harsh or even more harsh, within the confines of her home where no one else sees her. You have to figure she's on her best behavior when she's out in public, and if that's the best she has, then pity the kids!
If you enter a complaint with CAS, they can do an interview with her, and that will put her on notice that someone is paying attention to the way she treats her kids. You will not be involved, and she will not know where the complaint came from.
You can't force someone to be a good mom, but you can prevent them from being an abusive parent.
Good on you for being concerned. Too many people would just ignore a problem like this.

Answer 3

I agree that you may want to bring it to the school's attention, at the very least so these kids' teachers know what they have to go through before class starts.

Or yes, get some other parents (or just you) and tell her you don't appreciate the example she is setting for the children that are present. You might be however many years old but you can tell right from wrong and being a supportive parent from a spiteful one. She might just give you a ration of **** but at least SOMEONE stood up to her and let all the kids know as well as hers that that is not a reasonable way to act.

Answer 4

I would suggest telling your parents and asking for their advice. If advice you to ignore the situation and you are not comfortable with doing that, I would tell a counselor at your school.

Its not a good idea that your approach their mother about this. Even though your feelings about this situation are very valuable she wont see it that way and may lash out at you in the same manner she does her children. If you talk to a school counselor, your identity will stay anoumous and the city can choose to investigate the household if they see fit. Mental abuse (which these kids are enduring) is just as severe as physical abuse (which they may be enduring behind closed doors) and should not be ignored.

After reading your additional facts... I would confide in your parents and let them handle it. Thats what we are here for. Maybe they can come to the stop with you one day and see if they witness anything (chances are the woman will behave with other adults around though). If you dont feel your parents handled did all they can do.... look in the phone book it will have a a number to a child abuse hotline. It is admirable that you want to do something about this and the situation should be looked into.

Answer 5

I would speak to the councilors at the children's school. express your concern over her children's welfare and happiness. Explain that although you don't want to be nosy, or pushy, but that the councilor might want to ask the kids about their home-life, to ensure that they were safe. Also express how her words were distasteful, and possibly mention to the principal that she makes you uncomfortable and you view her as a bad influence. Or just confront the mother one morning after you put the children on the bus, ask her politely to refrain from using such language near a bus full of children. Make sure to mention that it makes you and/or you child uncomfortable.

Keep in mind that if you do any of the advised things while angry or flustered, you're less likely to get results. remain calm, cool, collected and professional.

best of luck with the "crazy mom"
wickedmadrachic

Answer 6

If they go to the same school you go to, maybe it might be best to talk to someone in authority at your school, like the principal. Calling your child a retard in front of other students is just not appropriate and maybe that mom is having such a hard time with things that she needs some counseling or some kind of extra help to get through what she is going through so that her kids don't get hurt anymore. Talk to your parents, your principal, your teacher. I will keep the situation in my prayers =)

Answer 7

Is there something about the child that you can compliment? As a way to boost his/her self esteem. Like saying, "You have a really great shirt on today". Or maybe you could make it less awkward by saying, "You know, I sometimes get klutsy and I feel real dumb when it happens, but after awhile it's ok." Showing you care can be a real morale booster to the other person.

Answer 8

You didn't mention how old you are- whether you're another concerned mom or a uncomfortable kid. But checking out your previous questions, I assume you're a kid, so... if you're a kid, not much you can do.
You could try NICELY asking her something along the lines of- "Ma'am, do you mind keepng it down? it's very disruptive. If you're going to yell at your kids, could you do it somewhere where the rest of us won't have to listen to it?" However, I don't think that'd help very much. So instead, go to your mom/dad for some advice; perhaps they can talk to the lady themselves.

Answer 9

I would not go as far to report it to the authorites... but since her kids go to the same school as yours I would go up to the school... speak with the principal or the guidance councelor.. just let them know what you have heard her say to her children... and their reaction.. The school will handle it from there... talk to the kids.. their mother.... etc...
Jumping the gun and reporting things like that to "authorites" is not always the best solution... even more so for kids that age...

Answer 10

Let the principal know first of all. It you have to get a tape recording of her yelling at her kids. That is mental abuse and very damaging to her kids. The principal can call her and let her know her actions are wrong. You can also let the department of child safety know. Keep documentation about everything she does and then get the department a call and let them know. They will enforce good behavior or else her kids will be taken from her.

Answer 11

I would get a couple of people together to ridicule her the next time she comes to the bus stop, she might be able to "parent" her kids but if she lays a finger on you, she's going to jail.

Call her a geriatric, retard, pathetic mom etc.