Need some advice, please

[YB85]

Yes, I see your point. The protestants took the same route when they nailed kids ears to a board in the center of the town for not knowing the bible well enough. Salem drowned witches. Captain Pratt knew he could "Killed the Savage, and Save the Man".

The point I'm making is society's ideas on rearing others' children aren't right. I think if you're going to draw a line in the sand then it should be very well thought out, and err on the side of the parents [who I believe God sent those children to].

Yeah, err on the side of the parents. God wouldn't send them to someone who would do them harm, right?

 

[Archie Moses]

When it comes to a child, I would rather err on the side of being too cautious than kick myself for the rest of my life that maybe I should have done something.

This.

 

[Surely]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. To be honest, I didn't sleep all that well last night. As I said in my op, I usually stay out of how people raise their kids, but something about the whole situation rubbed me wrong. A little more of the story is that the father is his step dad. His mom remarried last year (they met online and had a quick wedding) and about 6 months ago they moved to the Logan area from Texas. The real dad is Samoan and was pretty abusive. So you mix all of this together and you get one big mess. My only thoughts right now are for what is best for this kid. The step father mentioned last night that they are at wits end of how to curb his behavior at home. I asked what kind of stuff he does and was basically told that he teased his sisters (12 and 16) and was obnoxious (to be fair, I don't know how he defines obnoxious, but he is an older guy so maybe his tolerance for younger kids isn't what others' would be). I have no idea what he did to lose his "bed privileges" or what he does to lose his meals. I will do some more asking, but it really bothered me that the dad was so forthcoming with what he did tell me. Is there stuff going on that he isn't telling?

My son is in his class at school and says that he talks all the time, perhaps trying to earn the attention he lacks for good chunks of the day. Thanks again for everyone's advice.

 

[moevillini]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. To be honest, I didn't sleep all that well last night. As I said in my op, I usually stay out of how people raise their kids, but something about the whole situation rubbed me wrong. A little more of the story is that the father is his step dad. His mom remarried last year (they met online and had a quick wedding) and about 6 months ago they moved to the Logan area from Texas. The real dad is Samoan and was pretty abusive. So you mix all of this together and you get one big mess. My only thoughts right now are for what is best for this kid. The step father mentioned last night that they are at wits end of how to curb his behavior at home. I asked what kind of stuff he does and was basically told that he teased his sisters (12 and 16) and was obnoxious (to be fair, I don't know how he defines obnoxious, but he is an older guy so maybe his tolerance for younger kids isn't what others' would be). I have no idea what he did to lose his "bed privileges" or what he does to lose his meals. I will do some more asking, but it really bothered me that the dad was so forthcoming with what he did tell me. Is there stuff going on that he isn't telling?

My son is in his class at school and says that he talks all the time, perhaps trying to earn the attention he lacks for good chunks of the day. Thanks again for everyone's advice.

Thanks for the follow-up, and I think it's good that you're in communication with the parents, and that your son sees the boy in school, so their lines of communication are open too. Regarding the father's use of the term "prison" - - maybe he just meant it as sort of a joke, but really meant it more like the kid is/was grounded? You were there so you'll have to use your judgment. Good luck.

 

[Boondocksaint27]

If it is bothering you to the point you are not sleeping...and this is just a suggestion. Call your local PD as an anonymous complainant, give them the details and request what is known as a welfare check, which is exactly what it sounds like. Patrol Officers will request to see the child and his living conditions and everything will be documented. Child Protective Services is extremely back-logged no matter what state you are in.