I live in a pretty, suburban co-op apartment complex. I live in the lovely corner apartment on the first floor. I share ahallway with only one other neighbor. This is where the idyll comes apart.
My neighbor is a single mother of a (as far as I can see) quiet, well-mannered boy. He is about 8 or 9. H ealways says “Hello” in the halls and ont he sidewalks and I never hear him outside with his frineds nor inside playing music, making noise, etc.
My concern is that his mother screams at him almost every day. I do not mean that I can hear muffled voices from somewhere near their apartment. I mean I can clearly hear her deriding him at the top of her God-forasken lungs. A frequent fight is over homework. This morning, she screamed so loud and so long (about how he was a stupid moron for forgetting to put his pencil in his bookbag) that she woke me up! This is not an easy feat when you’re in the room with me, let alone across a whole apartment and across another hall through two metal doors!
So here’s the question. Is this child abuse? If so what do I do next time it happens? I don’t foresee moving in the near future and I don’t want this woman hating me for calling the cops, but I can’t stand idly by while this kid gets the bejeezus yelled out of him.
Any advice or insights most welcome.