Is this considered child abuse?

Question

My 15 year old daughter has a friend who is 14. Her mother has been acting very crazy lately, swearing at her and her brother (11yrs) and screaming and breaking furniture in a rage etc. Well last week, the mom actually punched the 11 yr old brother in the mouth and made him bleed. The kids left the house and called me and I picked them up & took them to my house. Later I went to talk to the mom. The police took the kids into protective custody but didnt arrest the mom. She maintains that its legal in 52 states to punch or hit your kids. She feels no remorse and says she would do it again. The police will do nothing. DCFS is involved and only removed the kids for a couple days and then gave them back to mom. The kids are scared. Does anyone know if this is true that you can punch or hit your kids. This is the state of Illinois. Is there anything I can do to help these kids without gettin myself in trouble?

Answer 1

well it is considered child abuse if there is no good reason for hitting your children. I mean if she hadn't made him bleed or hurted him as badly maybe not. But for example my parents used to hit my siblings and me but not enough to hurt us badly or make us bleed. So they will not be considered child abusers.because that's the way they were raised ; strict and rough. But if the mom just started to hit for no reason basically leading to the children to get severely hurt then it might be called abuse but it also depends if she is doing it on purpose. that's because many times one will have some sort of medical condition that will force then not to have control of their action.
Well anyway if you want to help you will still get yourself into trouble. So you have to ask yourself what you need to do. But also you have to be careful in not starting a fight between you and the mom.You can also tell the children to call you if that happens again as badly or worse so you can instantly come and pick them up and show them to the police BUT keep them at your house it might be safer for them and they will also not feel so sorrounded by strangers which is what i will do.
So if you want to help you will have to eventually get in trouble with someone So ask yourself will you rather gat in trouble and help them or do nothing

Answer 2

First of all there are only Fifty states, not 52

Second, I won't speak for Illinois, but I know in the State of New York parents have a limited right to physically chastise their kids as a means of discpline.

However, punching her 11 year old son in the mouth so hard that it made him bleed is way over the line. Especially in the context of her reguarly verbally abusing the kids and breaking furniture in the home.

I don't know why DCFS didn't do anything

But YOU can do something!

Call the Illinois Child Abuse Hotline

800-25-ABUSE

or

217-524-4020

And file a report.

If DCFS does not take you seriously, keep calling them, and keep careful records of everything you see and hear. Keep a diary of the abuse you've witnessed (this may be necessary at trial)

Those kids are depending on YOU to save them - so do your best.

And thank you for caring!

Answer 3

Yes it is abusive behavior. Unfortunatley, the only thing you can do is report the mom to the police or child protective services so she can be investigated. It is so sad that this happens in so many families. And these kids get lost in the system until something really terrible happens. Perhaps you can befriend the mom and help her with a time out once in a while and encourage her to get some help . It is so hard being a kid these days in some cases. Financial problems,behavior problems with kids and parents.Nobody gives us instructions on how to be a perfect parent. I know as a mom, I have lost patience with my kids,but i know to walk away and count to ten too and maintain my anger.It is ok to get upset but it is NOT ok to hit our kids. They don't owe us a darned thingexcept respect,and respect must be earned. After all they did not ask to be brought into this world. Right? Just be as supportive as you can and if you see the abuse,just keep reporting it. Good Luck...

Answer 4

The mother has real problems and needs help sorting them out, if they can be. The kids are in danger. Investigate the laws in Ill and see how these kids might be protected. This kinda crap happens all over and your tale is the same as millions of other's sadly. The authorities are not doing their jobs far too much of the time and kids and spouses suffer for it. Though women are more often the victems, far too many guys are abused physically and psychologically by wives and girlfriends. I've seen the STARK TERROR in an abused wif's eyes (Ex still out to get her) and I've heard women talking about the unspeakable things their Ex husbands and BFs did. I've also heard it and seen it froim the guys. One frined only didn't kill himself, because if he had, the kids would have been entirely at thier demented mother's mercy.
I eventually won custody! No one seems to believe it, but, if there were an organization for abused spouses and "significant others" that was meant to help both mean and women, they'd find those of the opposite sex powerful allies. By men fighting women and women men in groups, it accomplishes very little, except getting by.

Answer 5

Punching kids is extreme...least in this day and age it IS child abuse. I mean my dad would whoop my *ss with a belt or i'll get popped in the mouth with an open hand...but never punched or put in a position where i bled n stuff....and if she's been breakin furniture and cussin out her kids that lady needs help.

As far as help, kinda hard when they're not your children...only thing i can think of is getting evidence of abuse through pictures and tape recordings.....both video and cassette....course that's something concealment or whatever....but then at least you accomplished what you meant to do..which is save the children from abuse.

Answer 6

I don't know what your state regulations are regarding this matter. What I can tell you is it will most likely get worse. My friend and her daughter had similar problems. I do believe the mother has some sort of psychological problems like maybe depression or even bipolar disorder. Probably the best thing for you to do is not get involved any further unless you are prepared to turn her in when the next episode happens.

Answer 7

In all 52 states...I guess the other two are the "State of Confusion" and "the State of Denial". I can't wait to get the statehood quarters for those two states...real collectors items.


What does child services say about hitting kids...oops...DCFS says "Don't Hit Kids!" Contact the Attorney General Of Illinois. See what he says.

Answer 8

been there done that but unlike mom i didnt punch my kids it was hear say just pray for those kids because you really dont know what the inside is really like you are only looking on the outside kids tend to play parents with that child abuse system thing so just pray mind your own and whatever you feel you can do just do it but i would say pray

Answer 9

Get pictures of the mom punching the kids. If you can't then get pictures of the kids with bruises. Call your local TV station.

Government agencies usually can't be bothered to help until there is publicity involved. Then they will fall all over themselves to be on the news.

Answer 10

********YEAH!!!DOOOOOOO SOMETHING!!!!! YOU will NOT get into trouble unless you are doing something yourself illegal. This lady could be on illegal drugs which the kids could find and end up dead, or by her physical abuse!! You had enough brains and guts to pick them up and call the police and talk to the so-called mom, and you QUIT there?IT IS TOTALLY ILLEGAL IN ALL 50 STATES TO ABUSE,in any way even verbally, hit etc., I am getting so upset!! I cannot think. You call a lawyer, judge, mayor, everyone that is in the phone book!!ASAP You do not want this to continue until someone dies.