Witnessing child abuse

[Camden]

This hasn't sat well with me since I saw it happen yesterday.

I was at an auction and when I was leaving I saw a couple with a 2-3 year old son. He was putting up a fuss in his stroller and his mother laid the smack down on him. A couple slaps right across the face. I was blown away.

I was spanked as a kid and I always had it coming but this kid got beat on. If his mother is willing to strike him like that in public how bad is it in their home?

I took down their license plate # but do you think I should act on it or is it none of my business? I honestly wish I hadn't seen anything because I'd rather be out of it but there's something inside me that says I should at least report it.

I know the difference between discipline and abuse and what I saw was definitely abuse.

What would you guys do?

 

[prowrench]

do the right thing, you know what it is.

 

[H2SNOW]

mind your own business.....the single most thing that is destroying North America ....everybody has an opinion and wants to push it on others .....maybe she had a bad day ...wtf knows..but you are willing to **** a family over that ...

the crap that will fall out over being reported will be far greater than letting it slide

jmho

was there any other evidence that this kid was beat before ...like big welts and bruises ???? think it out very carefully ...and don't hide behind anyone .....

 

[Nate]

Tough one, really tough. part of me agree's with Mike.

 

[Ollie]

YOu do what I did in a similar situation.
Confront the parents right then and there.

Found out the boy (who was 2) had been told by his parents to behave and stop cussing. He was warned that he would get smacked if he didn't behave. He pushed it, they smacked him.

He got what they told him would happen. Just so happens the only part I saw was him getting slapped in the face. Upon finding this out, I let it go. Their buisness.

 

[AkMike]

If it was with an open hand.,.It's not abuse IMO. If she used a fist or a 2X4 it's abuse..
At one point or other your folks probably slapped you or maybe a spanking... Right?
Did you survive? Were they the nasty abusers? Or just parents?
You're trying to be too politically correct from being brainwashed.

 

[Without A Trace]

Don't do anything and maybe nothing will happen, but if you do descide to do something, you might save a kids life.
Mom prolly went home and cooked up some meth, because a mom that would be home baking cookies won't punch a kid in the face. What's the number you have? I'll do something, at least to have someone check it out. They won't go and "distrupt a family because mom was just having a bad day" but they will save a kid if they need to! I'm all for that little kids well being, hopefully he is in a good home, but what if he was just being babysat and his actual parents have no idea what is going on???!!! Now what would you do?
If that was my kid, please call it to someones attention!

 

[Estevahn]

Discipline is one thing. Smacking a young child on the head or face is wrong.
It's too bad you didn't ask her if that was necessary. Her response toward you would have determined your next move.

 

[sldgy]

Best not beat your kid in front of me, I am legally obligated to report abuse. My license would be revoked if I were not compliant. Yes guys, there is a difference between discipline and abuse and sometimes it is a very fine line. Would have had to be there to give an opinion as to what I would have done. Be good to each other and especially those who are counting on you to keep them safe until they are old enough to protect themselves.

 

[sleddin junky]

This is from mrs sleddin junky!! YES report it!!!! If you do nothing it could be bad for the child and you personally have nothing to lose by at least reporting what you saw just in case something bad IS happenign at home.

 

[Fosgate]

I remember when I was a kid in the 70's my mother had taken us to K-mart. I was like 4 or 5 and my brother was like 9 or 10. We instantly went back to the toy section and generally we were mellow kids out in public. Mom was in the sewing department so we knew that would take forever. We got bored quickly, so we played the game that you try to find and watch someone without being seen. Pretty much like hide and seek or Mall security guard. Anyway unknownst to us my mother was is a frantic looking for us. She had store employees looking for us. We found her and we came out when we saw her starting to cry. One the way out the door we passed a police officer that didn't take a report or anything. But we really didn't know how serious it was and my brother made the comment that he can't wait to come back again and play or some other smart remark. This earned him a red pattern outlining my mothers fingers across the face. Some guy saw this in the parking lot and came over and lectured my mother further, not realizing what we had just put her though. She got in the car and broke down when she got in the car. It was the moment few kids see when one of their parent figures just emotionally crashes. I remember it was a quite ride home with my brother and I apologizing up and down. We deseerved to get the whooping of our lives for putting my mother through that day. She didn't deserve the one sided lecture of a stranger after what we did. Some people just need to either mind their business and let people take charge of thier kids like everyone in America claims parents don't do anymore. Or if you think it is abuse go talk to them about it and counsel them. Don't use the cell phone and make the "anonimous citizen" tip because you may just be making things worse.

 

[mtn_extreme]

I too would have to say let it go this time, but learn from it and in the future confront the situation right then and there to get an honest feeling about what direction to take.

 

[racingpit]

We all have a duty to help those who cannot help themselves- it this child is found to be abused at home, I know that I would feel better knowing that I had reported it.

 

[formula600]

Myob

 

[mtn_extreme]

Formula600,

Pretty opinionated first post eh?

 

[Good to Go]

I'm going to side with Mike on this one.. with the understanding that it was open handed.

Having worked side by side with CPS for many many years, I will be the first one to tell you they can't make a consistantly good decision if they had to. Never did understand that.

With that statement, I strongly suggest one refrain from jumping the gun unless what you witness is truely out of control, not what you imagine might be happening behind closed doors. Assumption has caused catastrophic damage to more than one family. Just the accusation and follow up interviews wreck havoc on parents.

There is a HUGE difference between seeing serious abuse and a lack of perfect judgement. Be very, very careful.

 

[formula600]

Formula600,

Pretty opinionated first post eh?

Only first post on new forum.

 

[AkMike]

Formula600,

Pretty opinionated first post eh?

Does it make it less valid than than your's newbie?

 

[formula600]

I think a slap across the face may have been a little extreme, but as Ollie said, we don't know the whole story. Maybe if this happened more often, the youths of today may have more respect for authority.

 

[XXL]

If he got that in public I wonder what he gets at home? Only one way to find out. You don't want to beat your kid or your dog around me.