My little cousin just turned 4 years old, and like most 4 year olds he an be spastic at times. They live in a different state than us, but my aunt and my mother are still very close. it seems like everytime my mom gets off the phone with my aunt, she tells me about a harsh punishment that she has given her son (my cousin). i have heard of her trapping him in a carseat in the basement, closing the door, and then turning out the light (he is very afraid of the dark). i have heard of her trapping him in the basement MANY times, and if she EVER cathes him spitting she washes him moth out with sope, which has lye in it, which could potentially make him very sick . She is also liberal with spankings. She was never like this with her other child when she was that age, and she was equally as high strung. Do you think that this is borderline abusive, harsh, or just over the top? i want to know if i am overreating. is it really no big deal?
2007-07-08 11:30:09 · 18 answers · asked by la_dmarma_lyd 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Adolescent
Even if it is borderline physical abuse, it is 100% MENTAL ABUSE. I know a friend that went through this growing up, and if she is not stopped her child may have a lot of issuses to overcome when he is older. You need to confront her.
2007-07-08 11:38:45 · answer #1 · answered by Lindsey 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well it may not be physical abuse but it is emotional abuse. That is enough to traumatized a child that age. What will happen if there is ever a fire and he is trapped in the basement? And I do think that it is a big deal, cause it will just get worse as time goes by. You are not over reacting I don't understand why your mom has not stepped in. Talk to someone that can help. I really don't know what goes on in that house, but I would try to help. Hope everything gets better.
2007-07-08 18:50:01 · answer #2 · answered by flaca 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The soap & spanking - no big deal. The locking in a basement strapped to a car seat w/ the lights out is so aweful - that is abuse. No wonder the poor kid has fears of the dark & probably fears of other things too. That is going to affect that kid for the rest of his life, he'll probably grow up & abuse his own children. This mother needs a wake up call.
2007-07-08 18:38:56 · answer #3 · answered by tanner 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Locking him in the dark is mental abuse. He's going to grow up with strange fears of the darkness. To make it worse, he's a guy, and guys aren't "cool" if they're afraid of the dark, thus affecting him in other ways besides his mental state; it will affect his social life. Also, the fear of dark will lead to other fears, possibly even major superstition.
The spanking is a good thing, if not in anger. If it is done on the spur of the moment because you're furious with a child, that teaches the him that it's okay to let your anger out in hitting. He will become abusive.
You need to at least confront her about it. If she doesn't respond, perhaps get a police officer or somebody to talk to her. Not for the spanking, but for the locking him in the dark. That needs to stop. Now.
2007-07-08 18:48:49 · answer #4 · answered by darlinscowgirl 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow, she needs to be reported. It seems like she has something against this little boy. If it keeps going on like this, she might really hurt him. Spankings are one thing, but locking a child in a basement is extremely uncalled for.
2007-07-08 18:34:13 · answer #5 · answered by ejd8206 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
sounds abusive 2 me especailly with him being only 4 yea spankin or perhaps give him a corner if he is bad but locking him in darkness that is pure evil i would tell someone in ur family 2 over look the sitution or if not then get someone else involved
2007-07-08 18:37:20 · answer #6 · answered by mummy of 2gorgeous boys 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is not just physical abusive, it's worse. It's mentally and psychologically abusive. You and your mom needs to tell her that what she's doing is very detrimental to her son. If she continues doing that to her son, somebody has to report her to social service.
2007-07-08 18:43:07 · answer #7 · answered by Myn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like abuse. To lock a child up like that is very cruel. If there is a way you can report that...do it!
2007-07-08 21:30:13 · answer #8 · answered by omorris1978 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
REPORT THAT ****!!!! whoopins are whatever as long as she ain't leavin' a bruise but trapping him in a basement in a carseat and washing his mouth out with soap with lye [whatever that is, but u said he could get sick!]!!! report that that ain't nowhere near right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2007-07-08 18:49:41 · answer #9 · answered by Louisiana Boy™ - Go Baylor! 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She has to form a "I am your friend and you are mine" bond with that child to get his co-operation. Instead she is breaking every rule on raising kids in the book.
She is abusing him. She needs help.
2007-07-09 05:15:22 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋