abuse
child endangerment
children
children
family
neglect
parenting
parents
right vs wrong
to give one a vioce
To be or not to be that tis the question.....
By bellaofchaos
@bellaofchaos (11538)
United States
February 20, 2009 8:37am CST
Yah, yah, why am I quoting shakespear in a discussion? Because I'm going to ask many of something that has been on my mind for the last couple days. Ok many questions that have been on my mind for the last couple days.
One is Do you have a moral compass? By asking that I'm actually asking, what is your limit before you report anyone to the authorities for child endangerment?
What do you consider child endangerment?
Do you go by the laws that a person breaks or do you give them leeway on some Sh!t???
What is your definition of child endangerment?
Ok Ok I know I have asked a million and one questions and I still have more in my head but I will leave that for another discussion... What brought this on in my head is for the last couple of days i have answered and debated in anohter discussion about wether a mother should have been turned in to CYS or CPS depending on where you live. My answer was yes. I don't care if I'm viewed as wrong but I have strong feelings about how a child should be taken care of... I have five kids and child endangerment/abuse really really sets me off on an tangent. Being a mother I guess tends to make me more involved with making sure that the child is spoken for and taken care of correctly.. I'm sorry but not all adults listen to children when they are told something or asked for help by them.. Children are only as strong as their protectors. Meaning if they have no one their thinking about them and taking a stand for them, then sometime it happens that they are not heard and fall to the waste side and left to fend and take care of themselves. I understand that people do make mistakes but some can not be overlooked.. If we do not speak for those who aren't spoken for and have no one to speak for them , Then how do they get justice and taken care of properly and loved. A child never asks to be brought into toil of life. They have no say in being brought into this world..
So they are innocent and therefore need to be protected. So who are you would be the voice for those who haven't got one or is in need of one?
Who of you would stand up for right no matter the cost?
Who of you would defend a child that isn't yours but so very much needs a voice?
Who amoung you are brave enough to stand up and say enough is enough?
To many kids in this day and age go unnoticed and abused either by friends, family, or strangers..It saddens me that many do not have a voice and end up broken and shattered due to the lack of those who have a voice and chose not to..
Sorry this concludes the end of my rant.. Thanks ahead of time.
3 people like this
5 responses
@Darkwing (21583)
•
20 Feb 09
I'm one of those who will stand up for the kids, because I love kids dearly and have spent a lot of my time working with them. However... and this is a big HOWEVER!!! You have to know when a kid is leading you on. I don't call it lying because sometimes, it's not, exactly. It's more storytelling... imagination, call it what you will. I would have to be very sure that the child was telling me the truth as situations of abuse and ill-treatment can be well covered up by adults participating in these atrocities. I think in most cases, I would first speak to any other children in the family, and if they all said the same thing, then I would definitely take further steps. Even so, if the offences aren't of a REALLY serious nature to my mind, then I would approach the parents first. If the parents denied it, then it's time to move, and report them, but it they gave you an explanation and reasoned, then I would be inclined to leave it longer, and perhaps encourage the person to allow me to visit their home and invite them to visit mine, from time to time, in order that I could perhaps get better insight into the matter.
If the offending parent was a close friend, I would definitely talk with them and relay to them how I felt about what they were doing. If you're unsure of whether the child is telling you the exact truth, it's not a bad thing to have them present either because they WILL give the game away if things are being covered. I don't like to "interfere" in other people's home lives but if I feel they're hurting their children, then I will certainly make inquiries, and if not satisfied with the answers, or not sure, then report them, I will.
Brightest Blessings, my friend.
@bellaofchaos (11538)
• United States
20 Feb 09
Thank you very much for the response and you're absolutely correct a child can embelish on a little thing so if you are hearing this from a child it's best to get the story looked into and straight before you go making mountains out of molehills. But if you have seen neglect happen and you know it's true neglect and that the child can be seriously hurt .. Say you know for certian that a parent left a sick child with an infant to take care and both children were under 10 how long would you wait til you took action?
3 people like this
@Darkwing (21583)
•
20 Feb 09
Funnily enough, I responded to a discussion about that. A definite no-no. It's a very irresponsible thing to do, to leave a ten year old in bed, running a fever, and in charge of a three-year-old whilst you go out to work. Or that was the discussion I answered to. This person is leaving her children in very dangerous conditions. Anything could happen and will, if somebody doesn't report it. If you know of it going on, you must surely report the incident because if anything happens that those children die through some accident which happened whilst the mother was away from the home, then you would never forgive yourself.
There's no reason on earth why the mum couldn't get a sitter to mind the kids, especially when the older boy is sick. Nothing in my book is worth putting your kids or anybody else's kids' lives at risk. She's neglecting these children badly, and what's the point of going to work to earn money to keep them if they're not going to be there tomorrow. The woman has a serious problem with her head and yes... I would have reported her by now! The only other alternative is to offer her "sitting" duties first, but I doubt she would entertain the idea.
Brightest Blessings.
2 people like this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
21 Feb 09
I have a strong moral compass and it always stays on true north........that means that I firmly believe I should always be true to myself. In doing so, I treat others as best I can, they way I would want to be treated. And that means that the welfare of children especially comes first and foremost in ANY situation.
3 people like this
@rusty2rusty (6763)
• Defiance, Ohio
21 Feb 09
I think any child who is in danger needs to have protection. I don't care if there is a law against what ever the abuse happens to be at the time. I have turned in several people for child abuse or neglect. Children are only little once. They all should have a happy childhood. I have three kids of my own. There is no way I would allow anyone to hurt them.
2 people like this
@AnnieOakley1 (5596)
• Canada
20 Feb 09
*Annie puts hand up*
Moral compass...yes, I do. It's very strong. I don't only do this for kids either. I am always defending the underdog that just isn't being backed up or represented correctly.
I kinda go by the laws, yes, they are the guideline, but sometimes you have to read between the lines, and the decision just has to be made, "What is best for them".
Definition? Well, um give me an example and I'll tell you my thoughts. Can't think of a definite hard and fast definition. Do you have one in mind? So share, then.
@bellaofchaos (11538)
• United States
20 Feb 09
Yeah I read a discussion about a sick child left to be taking care of their 3 yr old sister. It got me to thinking and I was wondering where everyone's moral compass is. Now if this were to happen I'd call the police and have them come along with CYS at the time the children where alone. Call me a b!tch but I don't care if it was 10 minutes or 3 hours it doesn't matter what matters is the safety of the child.
2 people like this
@AnnieOakley1 (5596)
• Canada
20 Feb 09
Yeah, unfortunately the fellow who made the discussion, did it after the fact, so I suggested that he not get out of her good graces just yet, but wait until she does it again, then report her while they were alone.
We think the same. 
1 person likes this
@AnnieOakley1 (5596)
• Canada
20 Feb 09
Say you know for certian that a parent left a sick child with an infant to take care and both children were under 10 how long would you wait til you took action?
I think I read that discussion.
Anyway, she should be reported for such neglect. No doubt. But I would make sure she got caught redhanded, so to speak, so that it wasn't just heresay. That's my legal mind at work. I don't go after someone unless I can prove it.
2 people like this
@hotsummer (13837)
• Philippines
21 Feb 09
i have not personally witness any case of child abuse in my place or neighborhood. but i don't know though if i will be able to report it when i see one. but i think that we should report it. but here in my country there are so many case of child abuse unreported. And neighbors usually don't learn of them till the child has been abused for quite some time.
1 person likes this
