Should children be taken away

Well if you honestly believe the child was in trouble then yes I think you should have called the police rather then the mother. No child should be left unattended like that let alone not being watched at home from where he took off. Some people should'nt be allowed to have kids and from the sounds of it, this woman is definitly one of these people who should'nt be allowed.

A child will take off as soon as a parent has their eyes turned but in that case i think i would of been concerned especially if the child has done it repeatidly .Keep an eye out for him the next time you see him out by your self and then i would contact the police .take note the day the shop you phoned from and the time as to be able to inform the police that this child is continually running away there has to be a reason .As you said in this day and age a young child like this one can eaisly fall prey to those horrid people

I most definately would have called the police and let them deal with her. The mere fact hat he went with you showed how vulnerable he wuld be to any pervert or crazy out there. In my opinion she does not deserve custody of this little boy. Any mother who could allow that to happen and to have been drinking on top of that needs help. Until she gets that help her son should be in the custody of responsible family or the state. I know the state can be just as neglectful in there placement of children sometimes due to the massive amounts of children they have to place so people are leary of calling them. They usually try to find family first though. I am like you, I would be worried every day about that little boy.

I do think that you did the right thing. Phoning the police may have been overkill in this situation - I'm not sure they could have done any more than you did. Sometimes kids just get out without us even realizing it. It doesn't make a bad parent. Although I guess that depends how often it happens. "All the time" coming from a kid doesn't really mean to much. I've had my daughter brought home by the police one morning myself. She was just over 2. We'd gotten up in the morning to get my older one and a stepchild I had at the time off to school. And somehow in all the bustle my daughter got out the kitchen door. Right away she headed to the park down the road. One of our neighbours just happened to be a cop on his way to work, so he picked her up and brought her home to me. She hadn't been out of the house for more than 5 minutes but I hadn't even realized she was gone. I had assumed that she was still in the kitchen eating her breakfast. I guess it depends on the type of city you live in too though. I live in a very small town where everyone knows everyone. And even our busy streets aren't all that busy so there isn't too much to worry about. I really think that you did the right thing. Although if it happens again and again then it might be time to get children's aid involved.

I think you did the best thing you could have done in tricky circumstances. You didn't know what the home conditions were like, and still don't although judging by the fact that the mother had been drinking, you could probably hazard a guess. I would suggest that if you continue to see this child out on his own that you call child services. He shouldn't be allowed to wander out on his own at that age, and his mom should be doing a much better job of keeping an eye on him. So what if she was on the phone? I manage perfectly well to keep an eye on my kids when I'm on the phone, and I always make it a point to know where they're going, and who they're going with.

it is sad. but unfortunately i doubt the cops could or would do much. i see it everyday where i live kids as young as 4 years old hanging out by themselves walking up and down the streets playing with no adult supervision

I feel sorry for children like these. I think that you were just trying to help and that these situations happen every day. Perhaps you should have called the police. I think that if you run across this child again...I would call the police. I don't know how you feel..but maybe you could give him your number in case he needs someone to help him....

Well you did the right thing, thats what I would have did. You did not know the mother was like that untl you saw her. It is a horrible thing that happens everyday where I live and I also feel bad but sometimes calling the police dont even help. I ask God every night to look after them children. If I was you I would have did the same thing you did.

Well I don't know what impression did you get when she picked him up. Did you think that she was the type to neglect him. It can happen that a child gets out no noticed. My Daughter did it and there was 3 Adults about at the time. I think you did the right thing in calling her and not the Police as it could have been a one of.

That's a hard descision to make, because with the limited information you had, I think you made the best descion you could. I think I would have done the same thing. I pray to God, someone discovers that this mother is obviously incomptent and the child is taken care of before it's too late.

Well this is a crazy situation I think you did the best you could do. However, if I saw the boy wondering again I would for sure call the police and tell them that you found him out once before. It is sad for this little boy that he just wonders around all alone and his mother is too careless to even notice he isn't home.

You did a good thing by calling the mother. KEEP THE stupid cops out of it. If this turns out to a chronic situation, then other steps should be taken. People drink. IT'S LEGAL! No one should take the word of a 5 year old kid.

I guess what you did was fine, at the moment. But I still think I would have called the police also, just becase then there would be someone out there that knew this child was not being cared for properly and if a pattern established with the child being out on his own, then the correct autorities could be brought in to have the child removed from his neglectful mother. As it stands, you and the store owner are the only ones who know that the boy was out, alone on a busy street in a very large city, there is no official record of him being there and its your word against hers if something happens. Next time, make sure the police are called first, let them deal with the mother and then there is official record of the incident, and the boy will be much safer if it continues to happen. I just don't understand some people, how can you not know your child is gone.

I think that you did the best thing in tricky circumstances. The police could not have done more. I share your concerns but it is neither a crime for a child to walk on the street, nor a tort for an adult to have a drink. Perhaps you could call the mother and offer further help by way of advice on parenting.

well, you did do the right thing in getting him off the streets. if you do feel worried, i would just drive by or maybe even call every once in a while to check on how he's doing. i would be going balistic if my children left the house without me knowing. the police wouldn't have done much, just return the child home. but you did a good thing and you should be proud of yourself.

There was no way you could have known the extent of the home situation that little boy is in. You thought this was a random occurence of a boy losing his way from home. If you are really worried that the boy is endangered because of his mother's irresponsibility, give social services a call and tell them what you saw. Stress that you are worried about the kid's safety and that you suspect that this wasn't an isolated incident. They can take care of investigating the case from hereon.

I used to work for a community agency where if I saw anything of the such I was required to call it in. However one friday night after a long day I went to get some movies to relax with at home. I saw a child around 2 or 3 in the car in a carseat alone. My first thought was mom went in to take back the movies and only would be gone a second. This store was off a very busy highway. I found mom clear on the other end of the store looking for movies. Not really wanting to get the police involved I went up to the mom and asked her to go get the chlid out of the car. The mom went nuts. She started yelling in the middle of the store. All I could think of was I should have called the police because this must be a norm for mom and I would have avoided the ranting and raving she was doing now. I stopped her yelling and explained if she did not go get the child I would have to call the authorities. Mom must have realized by the look on my face I was not joking so off she went to get the child. Upon her return she continued to rant and rave. I got my movies and went to check out. The poor gal at the check out had the widest eyes. I smiled at her and said next time I saw something like that I would call the authorites before coming in the store. The girl said you won't have to I will. We both chuckled a bit and I went home to take asprin. It amazes me how mothers react to these things and why on earth would you leave a small child alone? At 5 my children weren't even allowed to cross the street without me yet this seemed to be the norm for this little boy you found. I just find it very very sad for the children.

You said that the mom was drinking and didnt know that he had left, unfit is the word , call the police at least it would be in the system and proof that it did happen before, But as a parent it is very scary to think that a five year old is walking the street all alone, without anyone there he could have gotten hit by a car... hopefully there is a solution to this madness.

from where i live you cant save them all. i see them everyday when i go to school, work, mall. if the authorities will take them they'll end at streets again the next day. but im talking about street children. maybe u should call for the child services. it always hurts to see kids being neglected by their parents. you did what u had to do to do, u didnt knw what kind of a mother he had. maybe ul see him again walking on that street..

I think that you did fine. I'm Just glad that it was you that stopped and helped him and not some sicko going to take the child for a joy ride. It's kinda sad that the mother was drinking. I wonder how long it wouldn't have taken her to realize that her son was missing.