Post by sugarbear1 on Jun 29, 2023 15:59:07 GMT -5
Is this CPS worthy? Don't come at me. I'm a teacher / mandated reporter so I call when I have any kind of doubts. This seems like such an unsafe situation that occurs with some frequency (?).
There could be reasonable explanations for this and maybe a one time thing, but it’s not our job (mandated reporters) to investigate and determine that.
Is this CPS worthy? Don't come at me. I'm a teacher / mandated reporter so I call when I have any kind of doubts. This seems like such an unsafe situation that occurs with some frequency (?).
I'm here, but also a mandated reporter. It's for CPS, not GBCN to determine whether the kids are safe. I've called the police for less.
ETA: I've called the police only with solid proof/suspicion of child neglect/harm on a handful of occasions. I'm not the neighbor that calls for every little thing. Don't come at me either.
I think you have gone above and beyond. Do the brother or Dad have FB or IG? What about the Mom? Even if you find them, the dad/bro they have likely left them alone before and will continue to do so. I'd be concerned in this day and age about having kids in my home without permission/consent. If you call the non emergency line hopefully they just get the kids to their mom.
This. I don't have kids, so I would be very uncomfortable keeping some neighbor kids in my house - I think it's a little different where you're a mom.
I had to bring the neighbor boy to my house a couple months ago because he had a half day at school and his parents forgot. He was standing out in the rain and cold, how could I not? I don't have kids and it never occurred to me not to help. I don't know his parents other than saying hi. Managed to track his dad down on Facebook and messaged him that way.
This. I don't have kids, so I would be very uncomfortable keeping some neighbor kids in my house - I think it's a little different where you're a mom.
I had to bring the neighbor boy to my house a couple months ago because he had a half day at school and his parents forgot. He was standing out in the rain and cold, how could I not? I don't have kids and it never occurred to me not to help. I don't know his parents other than saying hi. Managed to track his dad down on Facebook and messaged him that way.
I would absolutely shrivel into a spot if I got Facebook message from a random neighbor who had my kid because I forgot their schedule and they were standing in the rain. Thank you for taking that kid in!
My mom forgot me once as a kid. Once. I got home from soccer practice early and the doors were locked. My mom was out with my sister and came home about 30 min later. I was curled in a ball on our back deck crying. My mom felt AWFUL.
Dad came over to talk and apologize. I told him what happened, and what the girls had told me.
He said that yes, brother and him had a fight and that brother had left for a while and then came back. (Didn't clarify if he [dad] had left.) That brother was to watch the girls today, but had left to mow someone's lawn before the girls woke up and didn't tell them that he was leaving.
I can see how the girls then thought that he'd been gone all night and now no one was there to watch them today. I can also see why they were worried about him.
I don't think I'll ever get the full story about what happened, but I did stress to Dad about making sure they knew phone numbers or had a piece of paper with the phone numbers somewhere that they could access.
ETA: And good luck to him if Mom ever sees my FB message.
This. I don't have kids, so I would be very uncomfortable keeping some neighbor kids in my house - I think it's a little different where you're a mom.
I had to bring the neighbor boy to my house a couple months ago because he had a half day at school and his parents forgot. He was standing out in the rain and cold, how could I not? I don't have kids and it never occurred to me not to help. I don't know his parents other than saying hi. Managed to track his dad down on Facebook and messaged him that way.
I feel like this is way more common than people realize because the school sends an email, a robocall, a text, and posts on SM about half days because kids have been left at the end of pick up. This is on top of the county reminding people in emails, newsletters, and SM.
How long were the kids at your house before their brother came over to pick them up? It seemed like it was a long time. Longer than it takes to mow a lawn. And if that was the case why didn't he leave them a note?
Also, if you have to go somewhere else to do something, then you can't watch the kids. What bullshit.
How long were the kids at your house before their brother came over to pick them up? It seemed like it was a long time. Longer than it takes to mow a lawn. And if that was the case why didn't he leave them a note?
Also, if you have to go somewhere else to do something, then you can't watch the kids. What bullshit.
They were here from 10-12. I'm guessing it took them a while to come up with the plan to ring doorbells in the neighborhood, so who knows.
I’m so glad they found a trustworthy and kind adult to help them. Without all of the other information, I don’t know whether or not I buy his story. I’ve heard too many stories where people have attempted to excuse away inexcusable behavior.
Before I had kids, we had a neighbor girl who was left alone or with her teenage brother a lot. She came over one day & was locked out, so I called her mom (who I didn’t know). After that, she showed up semi-frequently because she was “locked out” again. She just wanted a snack and to wait for her brother. Come to find out, other than the first time, she was never locked out. She was lonely and bored and knew I’d keep her company. (I never really did meet her mom, aside from her saying hello that first time.) All that to say that you might have visitors again!
As far as CPS, I’d still call (with the caveat that there might be information I don’t have in the post that might change my mind). Give CPS all of the information, including dad’s response and explanation. They’ve seen/heard it all and can usually spot holey stories from a mile away. And if it was truly just a miscommunication/not leaving a message for the girls, they will talk to the family and move on.
My girls are 14 and 10.5. They are very independent and responsible kids. My girls would be absolutely terrified in this situation. Please consider a friendly call to CPS.
I had to bring the neighbor boy to my house a couple months ago because he had a half day at school and his parents forgot. He was standing out in the rain and cold, how could I not? I don't have kids and it never occurred to me not to help. I don't know his parents other than saying hi. Managed to track his dad down on Facebook and messaged him that way.
I feel like this is way more common than people realize because the school sends an email, a robocall, a text, and posts on SM about half days because kids have been left at the end of pick up. This is on top of the county reminding people in emails, newsletters, and SM.
Oh definitely! I felt so bad for the parents too! It was a genuine mistake. The dad called me right away after I messaged him and said he was leaving work that second and he would be there in 30 minutes. Then the mom called me and she was in tears and extremely apologetic. I told her that everything was fine and not to worry, but I'm sure she was worried and probably embarrassed.
I feel like this is way more common than people realize because the school sends an email, a robocall, a text, and posts on SM about half days because kids have been left at the end of pick up. This is on top of the county reminding people in emails, newsletters, and SM.
Oh definitely! I felt so bad for the parents too! It was a genuine mistake. The dad called me right away after I messaged him and said he was leaving work that second and he would be there in 30 minutes. Then the mom called me and she was in tears and extremely apologetic. I told her that everything was fine and not to worry, but I'm sure she was worried and probably embarrassed.
i would be driving as fast as i could while having a full meltdown. i can see how this can happen. i would want to give you a million dollars for this.
I had to bring the neighbor boy to my house a couple months ago because he had a half day at school and his parents forgot. He was standing out in the rain and cold, how could I not? I don't have kids and it never occurred to me not to help. I don't know his parents other than saying hi. Managed to track his dad down on Facebook and messaged him that way.
I feel like this is way more common than people realize because the school sends an email, a robocall, a text, and posts on SM about half days because kids have been left at the end of pick up. This is on top of the county reminding people in emails, newsletters, and SM.
Our school sends nothing anymore, it's bizarre! I put it all in my calendar at the start of the school year, but this past year there was a half day and I didn't see it until I got the 15 minute reminder. Thankfully DD can let herself in through the garage and she was ok until I got home 30 minutes later.
I feel like this is way more common than people realize because the school sends an email, a robocall, a text, and posts on SM about half days because kids have been left at the end of pick up. This is on top of the county reminding people in emails, newsletters, and SM.
Oh definitely! I felt so bad for the parents too! It was a genuine mistake. The dad called me right away after I messaged him and said he was leaving work that second and he would be there in 30 minutes. Then the mom called me and she was in tears and extremely apologetic. I told her that everything was fine and not to worry, but I'm sure she was worried and probably embarrassed.
I remember your original post, and I remember that until you found the parents and found out what had actually happened, there was a lot of speculation and doubt about this situation as well, but it seems like this was a genuine mistake and the parents had a truly appropriate response, so in your case, you were awesome to be neighborly and help the kid, and there was absolutely no need to get authorities or CPS involved over the kind of mistake that it would be SO easy for so many of us to make.
As for this OP, it seems like there is still a lot more gray area unfortunately. The brother might not be the most responsible person to watch the girls, and should not be leaving them alone to cut grass, certainly not without their knowledge and without preparing them to be on their own. But as to whether this is something that has happened before or is going to continue to happen...I don't know if that's a call to make at this point. I'd be tempted to butt out unless I knew for a fact the girls were left alone again, but I would def. call CPS if it happened again. But since OP did message the mom and the story from the dad is potentially plausible enough, I'd be tempted to at least give them the benefit of the doubt for now.