Friend Over Limit, Leaves Her 2 Kids At Home

[rosieteddy]

When I took my kids for walks we always used "safety straps"small velcro straps around wrist tied to the stroller.Every child looked forward to the day they could walk holding on with their strap. I think I would have a talk with her about leaving children home alone.Based on how that conversation went I would think about reporting her. It always amazes me to think what are the parents thinking leaving that many children.

[originalkat]

I am usually ALWAYS on the side of, "Mind your own business, and stay out of it." But with this situation- NO. From the moment I read the post I was fearful of what could happen here. I would report this immediately.

[e.j.]

I am usually ALWAYS on the side of, "Mind your own business, and stay out of it." But with this situation- NO. From the moment I read the post I was fearful of what could happen here. I would report this immediately.

I was thinking the same thing...ordinarily, I would say, "Live and let live" but this woman needs to be stopped before something happens to one of those kids. It may not be an easy thing for you to do but you really should report her.

[Unregistered]

this could be a life or death situation
Call
or least talk to you and say if she doesnt make the changes Call
take your time and use words gently mabe a few sugestions like hire some help ??
and do fast
again life or death !!!!!!

[Crystal]

I am usually ALWAYS on the side of, "Mind your own business, and stay out of it." But with this situation- NO. From the moment I read the post I was fearful of what could happen here. I would report this immediately.

Agreed. I do not believe this case a warrants "talking to her" or "maybe" reporting. As a mandated reporter it is the OP's mandated obligation to report this immediately. I feel the OP KNOWS this is the right thing to do and may just be seeking validation

[Unregistered]

You could request a "welfare check". I would specify the times.

[MyAngels]

Agreed. I do not believe this case a warrants "talking to her" or "maybe" reporting. As a mandated reporter it is the OP's mandated obligation to report this immediately. I feel the OP KNOWS this is the right thing to do and may just be seeking validation

It's very likely that "talking to her" may very well just lead her to leave even more children at home alone.

I would report her. I would not do it anonymously. I would hold my head high after I did it, too. Doing the right thing is nothing to be ashamed of.

[Gemma]

I would hold my head high after I did it, too. Doing the right thing is nothing to be ashamed of.

[jenboo]

I am not saying she is right, I am saying she is wrong.

I meant how does SHE expect to stop a child if they dart off into a busy road? I get stressed on my quiet street going 2 houses down. All these visions are going through my head of a child running off into the busy road and she can not stop them because her hands are full.

Oh ::
I thought you meant that kids are hard to control on a walk so you don't blame her for that aspect ::::
Oops

[CraftyMom]

Oh ::
I thought you meant that kids are hard to control on a walk so you don't blame her for that aspect ::::
Oops

When I reread it I see that it sounded that way oops

[CraftyMom]

We are all mandated reporters...I've always taken that to mean in terms of our own daycare kids and parents. While I do think this woman should be turned in, is the OP a mandated reporter in this case? If it had to do with her own daycare kids then absolutely she would be a mandated reporter, but in a case where it has nothing to do with her own daycare is she still a mandated reporter?

[Crystal]

We are all mandated reporters...I've always taken that to mean in terms of our own daycare kids and parents. While I do think this woman should be turned in, is the OP a mandated reporter in this case? If it had to do with her own daycare kids then absolutely she would be a mandated reporter, but in a case where it has nothing to do with her own daycare is she still a mandated reporter?

Yes. She is mandated to report it.

[Unregistered]

Always thought we were mandated to report ANY suspected abuse or neglect but was just told at a class put on by child protection and dc licensing that it relates ONLY to children in our care.
Which does not mean that it can't be reported. It seems appropriate and necessary to report this case. There may be no one else who realizes those children are alone.

[jenboo]

Always thought we were mandated to report ANY suspected abuse or neglect but was just told at a class put on by child protection and dc licensing that it relates ONLY to children in our care.
Which does not mean that it can't be reported. It seems appropriate and necessary to report this case. There may be no one else who realizes those children are alone.

I've always been taught that it's any child regardless if they are in our care or not.

[Play Care]

Always thought we were mandated to report ANY suspected abuse or neglect but was just told at a class put on by child protection and dc licensing that it relates ONLY to children in our care.
Which does not mean that it can't be reported. It seems appropriate and necessary to report this case. There may be no one else who realizes those children are alone.

I've been told a similar thing - we are mandated to report what happens during our business hours to our dc kids. Our presenter (A NYSP investigator) even gave an example of seeing a client on a weekend behave toward their child in an abusive fashion - and NOT being mandated to report that. He did point out that we had a moral obligation though.

But I do cringe when the mandated reporter card is played, because often it's made to seem as though it's like a 007 - anytime, anywhere, with implied threats to the OP that "if you don't..." In our state there are two numbers to call, one is IF you are a mandated reporter in THAT case and the second is for the general public. We were told we can only call the mandated reporter line when we were actually "on" as a mandated reporter.

And honestly, leaving YOUR OWN kids home to pop to the bus stop (while STUPID considering the ages) wouldn't be considered abuse or neglect in most states - especially if they don't have laws regarding the ages kids could be home alone. We had a woman leave her sleeping kids home while she supposedly ran to a neighbors to borrow sugar, while she was gone the home caught fire, killing her kids. She was NOT charged for leaving the kids home alone. Even though popular opinion wanted her to hang, there is no law in my state about ages of kids being left alone, so there is some precedence here.

I would be more inclined to turn her into licensing for operating illegally. That IS something she will get in trouble for.