Child Abuse - What would you do?

[Ben]

My wife took my daughter to an open house at her school a few weeks ago and when they pulled up they say this big lady with about a 6 year old boy. The lady was screaming in the kids face in front of the school and then punches the kid close fisted in the head/face a few times. My wife followed the lady and told the principle about it. The already had a lot of trouble with the family so I guess its just getting added to the file.

I've been thinking a lot about it ever since she told me about it and what I would have done had I been there. I would have had to confront the woman because as soon as she started punching the kid I don't think I could just watch. I think I would do what I needed to to stop the danger to the child and get the cops on the way. Of course, "what I need to" would depend on how the lady reacts.


So, what would you do?

[klonk]

Your wife did the right thing.

You could not have intervened usefully before the event was over.

Slow justice is just as good as fast, only it takes longer. Forever, sometimes.

[bruce]

remember that your intervention could get the kid beat even more if there is no followup ... that is a tough question.

[fuga]

Your wife did the right thing.

[qiphlow]

agree with what the other guys said. but seeing a woman punching her SIX YEAR OLD CHILD with a CLOSED FIST...
...man, i'd be REALLY fucking angry at seeing that.

[Dmitri]

I think I would walk over and talk to her -- that would at least stop the immediate "activities." Nothing threatening or intimidating or "stop it!" or "you shouldn't do that!" -- I'd just ask her if she needed any help, and take it from there, staying away from engaging in an open verbal confrontation as much as possible.

She obviously needs psychiatric help (and the poor kid will probably need it too, when he grows up... )
I HATE the idea of involving "social services", because of how frequently they abuse their power, but this seems to be one of those cases when they might be the best course of action for everyone.

[Michael]

Don't know where Ben lives, but in Texas or Florida, it's difficult for me to imagine circumstances where I'd call Child Protective Services.

[Dmitri]

I don't think I would ever call them myself, I hate them too much. I just figured that school authorities would probably do that.

But what would you do though? She's got a problem, and it may be so severe that no amount of talking or other forms of "convincing" would do anything. So the "caring neighborhood militia" solution may not work. What then, just let the kid suffer and be possibly messed up as an adult? The "live and let live" idea goes only so far, for me; there's a line in the sand there...

[MikeC]

Well if she starts to cut the kids head off with a knife then just run away...

[TaoJoannes]

Hmm,

At this point, I'd probably just go punch her and take my chances with the jury.

[Darthwing Teorist]

Well if she starts to cut the kids head off with a knife then just run away...

MikeC, the Caped Crusader, lol!

[Steve James]

My wife took my daughter to an open house at her school a few weeks ago and when they pulled up they say this big lady with about a 6 year old boy. The lady was screaming in the kids face in front of the school and then punches the kid close fisted in the head/face a few times. My wife followed the lady and told the principle about it. The already had a lot of trouble with the family so I guess its just getting added to the file.

I've been thinking a lot about it ever since she told me about it and what I would have done had I been there. I would have had to confront the woman because as soon as she started punching the kid I don't think I could just watch. I think I would do what I needed to to stop the danger to the child and get the cops on the way. Of course, "what I need to" would depend on how the lady reacts.


So, what would you do?

A punch in the face to a 6 year-old deserves at least a call to the cops. Smacks, I'd think about. Punches, I wouldn't hesitate. The mother might have good reason, too; but, it's just too dangerous to let go. If it were her 16 or 26 year-old, I wouldn't say a word (for a punch).

[Mike Strong]

A six year old ?

I'd walk right up and deck her with a big right hand, ( in fanstasy land).

But Steve is right, - if he was a teenager, - I'd say, "hit him agine, - (I don't know what he did), but hit him agine; no wait, you hold his arms behind his back, and I'll knock his ass out".

[Ben]

I definetly wouldn't go up and punch the lady but I would have to at least say something to stop the imeddiate beating. But if she started hitting the kid again I don't think I could stand there do nothing.

Its really just a messed up situation.

Dmitri, Love the "do you need any help". That could be taken another way.

[Ben]

Don't know where Ben lives, but in Texas or Florida, it's difficult for me to imagine circumstances where I'd call Child Protective Services.

I live in Georgia.

I asked my brother in law whos a cop and he said its probably better for the kid to stay in an abusive home than to become a warden of the state. I don't think I agree with that one.

Whats CPS like in Florida and Texas?