I have an unusual problem. I am sooooo tired of parents not parenting. I have
adopted all 4 of my grandkids and this may be the straw on a camel's back thingy.
We have new neighbors. They seem nice enough. I don' t want to make the call but the gut thing inside of me tells me that I might should. I am tired of having to parent
other people's kids. At least babysit them. Let me first say I have NEVER called DCF in my life to report anyone but the time is coming and I see it.
There is a young mother about 27 or so who lives across the road with either her husband or boyfriend.. ( none of my business) BUT from day one...since they moved in their little 3 year old crosses the street alone and knocks on our door. Sometimes she just wanders in. She is constantly playing in the street. She is constantly going unsupervised. The other night around 9 PM I heard a bunch of giggling and my 7 year old had opened the door and let her in. That child's Mama had no idea where she was.
She doesn't know US. I gathered up her toy bear and walked her across the street.
The next night around 9:30 I find her again sitting on my porch playing. Now....I am a bit perturbed when the young woman states, " I have been looking for you everywhere" and takes her by the hand to walk back across the street. She says, " Sorry, she wanders off. I shrug my shoulders thinking, "Has she never heard of locks up high"....Oh well none of my business.
Three days ago I walked to the mailbox on the edge of the street when a car turned the corner and I looked to my left and here is this child barefooted ( cool that day) 40 something, heading right towards me.. I jump in the street as she is too little to be seen. ( We don't live on a busy street but busy enough no kid of that age should be in it.) I knock on the door and no answer. I am very frustrated. Finally she comes to the door and starts yelling at the child. I glared and turned away. I keep delivering this child home.
A new neighbor directly left across the street sent the baby home more than 4 times during a yard sale two weeks ago. Now when my child comes home she has supervision playing the yard. Us, or her 17 year old sister. Today, was the last straw.
I had talked to my neighbor who had the yard sale about some pressure washing on their way out of town and knew they were not home. I am visiting with a terminal veteran in our home when I glance outside the window and see this child again in the neighbor's yard...sitting near the road but in her yard and I had to excuse myself from the veteran and now I am mad. Very mad ! I squatted down and said, " Does your Mama know where you are"? She shook her head no. I took her by the hand and told her please do not leave her yard as it is scary out here.. Please don't go off like that.
I knew she understood but would not retain it. I know kids. I knock on her door and finally told my neighbor.." Look..she was not where she should have been". This is getting real old and I am not a babysitter. You need to watch your kids because we other neighbors do not want anything to happen to this child". She calmly says, " Well she wanders off." I calmly said, " I won't be the one calling on you again"...
Ten minutes later the kid is wandering the neighborhood.
I know I should call DCF.. I just hate going through all that crap. What is wrong with this woman and why can't she understand this is neglect and child endangerment and she will get investigated? I know I can call anonomously. I hate CPS. This is stressing me out.
If that child gets killed I feel if I don't call, it will be my fault.
If it is a young mother with three other kids....maybe she is overwhelmed.
I just don't want to feel obligated to look after that little girl.
Is calling DCF the only answer? This is Florida afterall. This county had the case of
the little Haley child who was kidnapped from her own home. Kids come up missing in this state. I know they do in every state but Florida seems to have some real doozies.
It really worries me. I tried talking to the Mother...she don't get it.
Now I won't let the little girl come over at all because I think it best if the Mother gets the message I am not the babysitter and this is " Come over anytime" section . I just grounded my 17 year old for coming in and saying, " That's not fair..she like to come over.." I looked up from typing this post and said, " I'll tell you what's not fair, your opinion right now and you just opined yourself out of your social date this weekend.
Now how you like that for fair? Hmmmmm. had to get that off my chest.
Any suggestions.