What would you do in this situation?

Question

Let me start out by saying that my nephew has never been spanked.

My sister in law and her family went camping. On their way home they stopped at a Walmart to stretch their legs. My youngest nephew, (James, 4 years old) was screaming and misbehaving in the car. My sister in law stayed in the car with him while her husband took her older son into walmart. She opened the door of the car and stood outside while her son was throwing a fit. She wasn't looking at him or talking to him or anything. All of a sudden, he punched her in the face (remember, he was NEVER spanked). Her first reaction was to push his hand away. As she did this, she heard a HUMPH from a young couple two cars away. James immediately appologized and stopped screaming. My sister in law brought James into Walmart and realized the young couple was still watching her. She met up with her husband, told him what happened and jokingly said, "If the police are outside waiting for us, you'll know why."

When they got outside, the police were their parked near their car. They didn't say anything to them, in fact they didn't even get out of their car. They even followed them out of town for 10 miles. Are police really that bored or do they have to respond to every little call? My sister in law is a teacher and her husband is a doctor. This could have hurt them professionally if charges would have been pressed.

Edited to add: After James punched my sister in law (she was standing outside of the car with the door open) he immediately appologized. He said he knew what he did was wrong and he was very sorry! There was no punishment (other than pushing his hand away). The only other piece of the story I left out was, when they returned to their car, the young couple was still there waiting for them with smirks on their faces. I didn't feel it was relevant to the story so I didn't add it. Geesh people, lighten up.

Answer 1

It's a shame that the people that are good parents and hold respectful jobs always have to look over their shoulder for fear that one simple reaction can land them in jail. Doesn't that just make you sick? It is always the law-abiding people that pay for the idiots of our society. Think about it for a moment. When you walk of of a Wal*Mart and hear the "inventory control" message go off do you stop to see if it's your stuff or do you continue to walk through? Most of the time it is the honest paying customer that stops...the thief knows to keep on walking.
Just like the lady in PA that slapped her young teen-aged boy in a grocery store because he said a foul word to her...the sheriff's were waiting on her at the door...and took her away in hand-cuffs! Never mind the mal-nourished child that comes to school everyday with new bruises...When will the maddness end?

Answer 2

Yes, police officers have to respond to ANY call involving children.

However, I don't understand what possible charge could have been given. You don't describe anything that the young couple could have seen that would have been even remotely construed as child abuse, unless your sister-in-law was worried about how she pushed his hand away. Still, if she punched him, I don't see why simply pushing his hand away was a problem. Was she somehow afraid that she would be reported for spanking him, even though she didn't, or even give an indication that she intended to?

Personally, I think your sister was overreacting over the police showing up. If they had gotten a call, then simply watching you wouldn't have sufficed. They would have stopped you and talked to you. It was probably just coincidence that they were there to begin with.

Either that, or you're leaving parts of the story out.

Answer 3

well, if she was just standing outside the car, not even looking at him or anything than how all of a sudden did he reach all the way to her face and punch her?

well, if the child behaves that way and hasn't been spanked for it, what is her method of disipline. it sounds to me that this behavior has been building and that your nephew is being raised without proper and consistant disipline. i'm not saying that she should spank him. i am not an anti-spanking parent. my daughter is your nephews age and i assure you she gets a swat on the behind when needed! it seems as if your sister in law has created an monster and now must deal with such!

next he'll be in school and feel that this behavior is ok.

other than pushing his hand, how did she deal with her child punching her in the face. i'd have to agree with the first answer, you are leaving out relevant detail.

Answer 4

Unfortunately police have to respond. Remember they weren't there, they just get a call from some (mentally challenged) people saying they witnessed child abuse. That sucks that in today's day and age, people are so quick to scream "ABUSE!!" I hope those people who reported it never have children. I am sure the police just kept an eye on them for a while, just to reassure themselves that the parents were no harm to anyone.

note: most of the children I see that hit are the ones who DON'T get spanked. Whats that tell ya.