There is a woman who visits my place of employment (toy store) who has SERIOUS problems. She NEVER signs her five year old son up for our play days, and then when the day arrives, and they are filled, she INSISTS that he won’t be any trouble. (He is, and we don’t have enough materials for him). And it’s not like we can just sign him up “in case”. That’s not fair to other parents.
Last time we had a Lego playday, we were having contests about building the best boat, or whatever, and the girl next to her son built a great one, which she proceeded to break before the judging, so that her boy would have a “better chance” at a prize (her words).
One time when we wouldn’t let her kid participate, she proceeded to call my manager all the words in the book in front of a group of seven-year-olds
We don’t order toys. Yet every time she comes in, she asks us why our selection isn’t better, and can we please order toys for her?
Our old manager banned her from the store. Our manager went on to bigger and better things. Guess who is back.
My GD: should emotionally disturbed parents be allowed to parent? It’s obvious that this very nice and cute little boy is being emotionally and physically abused (we have a whole list of evidence)
IANA parent, but my question to you NotWithoutRage, is if this parent, or any other is not fit to be a parent, what do you suggest happen? I don’t mean to sound insensitive to that poor child, but there are thousands of children in the same predicament and there are the same amount of kids that are orphans already. The best thing to do IMO is to be the best friend, role model you can be to that child and hope that you can make a difference in their life. If you can, respectfully, talk to the parents about what bothers you. You never know what they are going through in their own life.
If you have a reasonable suspicion of genuine abuse, you should be calling your county Children’s Protective Services NOW.
If you simply feel that she is a poor parent but suspect that she may be unfit, you should still call CPS, at least to talk with someone to discover the guidelines for reporting.
CPS has a sporadically poor record, in many cases–on a county-by-county basis across the country–both of neglecting the obvious and of overreacting to the trivial. However, they are still the front line for protecting children.
And dreamer what I’d like to see happen (presuming that she is as disturbed as is implied) is that such a filed report results in the mother/family getting hooked into mental health services and obligatory parenting skills classes. Does the system usually work that well? Not usually.
I agree if you think she is causing harm to the child to call the CPC. Tell them everything (including your list of evidence) and see if they can help. Tell them you went as far as banning her from your store but she continuously returns.