I feel so bad for the little boy who lives across the hall.

[Julep]

I live in an apt. building. About a week or so ago, I heard a child screaming. These were not bloodcurdling screams but loud enough to get me to go out into the hallway to see if I could tell which apt. they were coming from. Out in the hallway I could hear the sound of a belt snapping and in between the screams a child's voice crying "No, I'm sorry!"

I went back in and called the police and the dispatcher said they'd send someone. Don't know what happened after that.

Just last night, I heard the same little boy (he looks like he's about 9) sobbing out in the hallway and the sound of footsteps going back and forth to the trash chut. I walked closer to my door to see if I could tell what was going on and that was when I heard the little boy repeatedly crying, "Mommy, please don't throw all my toys away. I'm sorry."

This went on for about 10 min., where the whole time I could hear the trash chut opening and closing.

His grandmother, who was really nice, was staying with them for a while but she went home.

I don't have kids in the same age range as him, so no excuse to invite him over to play.

Not sure that there's anything I can do. I am sad.

[4evermom]

Poor kid. 

[waiting2bemommy]

It's not illegal to spank with a belt, fyi.

So I doubt the police will do anything and neither will CPS unless the kid is bruised up or something.

Does this happen all the time or just a one time thing?

I'm sorry, that must be so hard to listen to.

I'm pretty sure the people under us do CIO with their newborn because I hear her crying a LOT. It bugs me too!

[MariesMama]

I saw this on the front page ... I realize that it's not illegal to spank a CHILD with a belt, but why is it that if you call the police and say you hear:

*two people fighting, say, a man and woman, several smacking/hitting noises, and crying, the police will come right away and haul someone off to jail more likely than not.

*but, if you hear an adult and a child fighting, several smacking/hitting noises, and crying, the police do nothing.

[waiting2bemommy]

They didn't do anything for me the many times I called. Honestly the police in most places just suck. Unless you are dying in the middle of the street ime they don't really care. I'm sure there are exceptions but I haven't found any.

I highly HIGHLY doubt they would do anything other than issue a citation for noise.

[kythe]

You can call CPS and make a report on what you have witnessed.  Spanking isn't illegal, but it's been my experience that they look down on physical and other punitive discipline forms.  CPS involvement does not necessarily mean a child is removed from the home.  That is a last resort, not an automatic consequence of an open case.  But they may be able to provide parents with services such as in-home therapy and parenting classes, etc, if they validate the claims. 

[green betty]

Where do you live?  It *is* illegal in Canada.  You can't strike a child with an object, and you can't hit a kid under 2 or over 12 here.

[HappyMommy2]

This thread makes me want to cry.  It keeps going to the top so I keep seeing it in new posts.

[Greenlea]

Maybe you could offer to watch the boy if she ever needs help.  At least then he'd know your house could be safe for him.

[Julep]

I can't figure out how to multi-quote:

I only heard it that one time. They moved in about 6 mns. ago.

I live in New York City. I assumed when I called that they wouldn't do anything unless he had some visible injury when they got there. The belt was snapping loud enough for me to hear it from the hallway so he might've. I don't know.

I have thought of telling the mom I babysit or asking her if he could use a little dog walking job (I have a dog) or something like that.

[Greenlea]

Originally Posted by Julep 

I have thought of telling the mom I babysit or asking her if he could use a little dog walking job (I have a dog) or something like that.

So do it, please.  Before its too late. Remember to offer FREE babysitting services too - as the mom may not be able to or want to pay.

[capretta]

Julep: I'm sorry. That must be hard to listen to.

green betty: How strange. I wonder how they determined that it is wrong to hit under 2 or over 12, but perfectly OK for the 10 years in between.

[crunchy_mommy]

Originally Posted by capretta 

green betty: How strange. I wonder how they determined that it is wrong to hit under 2 or over 12, but perfectly OK for the 10 years in between.

That is so sad.

Julep, I wish I had some advice for you but I don't know what I'd do. Do offer babysitting or the dog-walking job at least, if that's something you can do... Poor kid.

[contactmaya]

Spanking is illegal in New York.

[MusicianDad]

Originally Posted by capretta 


green betty: How strange. I wonder how they determined that it is wrong to hit under 2 or over 12, but perfectly OK for the 10 years in between.

I believe the supreme court determined that you can't even pretend a child under two or over twelve can learn something from a spanking. They actually put enough restrictions on spanking and I do wonder if they were trying to stop it without banning it out right.

[AFWife]

Do you know for sure that he got spanked? I've known parents to threaten with a belt by snapping it...it can be really scary, but not physically harmful. I'm not saying it's okay...

[Julep]

Originally Posted by AFWife 

Do you know for sure that he got spanked? I've known parents to threaten with a belt by snapping it...it can be really scary, but not physically harmful. I'm not saying it's okay...

It went on for too much time.
 

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by Julep 


It went on for too much time.

Ah, ok. It was just a thought.

I really have no suggestions. Unless you can prove abuse there isn't much you can do...

[Greenlea]

I seriously can't stop thinking about this and its been making me cry at work.  I feel so bad for that little boy.  I hope you, or someone (cops, DCFS), anyone, intervines.

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by Julep 

It went on for too much time.

I'm not saying that the boy didn't get hit, but ds2 is capable of screaming and crying - LOUDLY - for as long as half an hour, over having one of us raise our voice at him. He probably sounds as though he's being tortured. (Actually, I know he does, as both dh and I have come running, thinking the other one must have snapped, or there was a horrible accident - like going through a window or something - only to find that he wasn't touched and is "just" upset.)