So my niece (12) has mentioned a boy she wants to be her "boyfriend". He does not go to school with her friends and lives in a kinda rough nearby neighbourhood. I agreed but told her I would have to meet his mom first. So we went to his "house" after school on friday to see if he could come over for a while to paly video games. We found him living in literal squalor. There were no adults there & he did not know where they were as the had been gone "a few days" there was no food anywhere any everything was dirty. I asked him to come over for dinner & then sent him for a "sleepover" at my brother's house. We washed his existing clothes & got a few cheap sweaters & a warm coat from the local shop for him. Now what??
When another kid is in trouble...
- Thread starter Aunt
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He seems sweet. Very quiet. I am actually more concerned for his welfare than anything. I have strcit ground rule about how much alone time my niece gets with any boy & he is no exception but am concerned about sending him home. Should we call the authorities, or wait & speak to his parents first. I have never really agreed with interfering in the way others raise their kids but I also cant concieve of a 12 year old left in a house for an indefinite period of time with no money or food.
Did he say when his parents are coming back? Are they coming back? I would give it a few more days and if they arent back call child services.
He doesnt know but told me "its cool I can usually take care of myself" which indicates this happens a lot. This kid i discovered feeds himself when mom is "away" by paying the pizza guy in grass. So OK time to call the authorities i think. Father of 6 your a cop right? I have been hesitant because I have heard some pretty horrendous things about the foster system. Are the rumors well founded? I am wondering if I should try and find out if he has any stable relatives & go down that road first.
it sounds like you should call the cps. but if there's anyway possible--then maybe put yourself out there for him like ya did with the clothes but on a larger scale. that way he maybe doesn't end up in the system and possibly worse off than he already may be...
Call child services, they will find out if he has any responsible relatives.
Foster care can be hell but he doesnt need to be where he is right now. From what it sounds like, he needs to be taken away from his parents until they can actually be good parents.
Foster care can be hell but he doesnt need to be where he is right now. From what it sounds like, he needs to be taken away from his parents until they can actually be good parents.
we called cps, they located a Grandmother who lives locally but is estranged. The cps lady agreed to let my brother keep him for now until something gets sorted out. The Grandma is coming for dinner tomorrow night. His parents are not in the state & plan to get back sometime next week. The poor kid does not get what all the fuss is about. i guess the poor little guy doesnt see this abandonment as out of the ordinary.
that's good. and good that ya'll are so willing to help this boy out. sometimes people are too afraid to do that and it just ends up in disaster. so that's good--what ya'll done...
You are doing an admirable thing taking in a stranger and investing the time to do right. Too many people would have turned the other cheek than do what you have done. Its people like you that do good for the world and for that I commend you for that. You are setting an excellent example for your daughter and she well be better for it.
I think anyone would do the same thing for a kid all alone. The grandmother is the boy's long gone father's mother. She tried to keep in contact but lost contact with the boy & his mother soon after dad left. SHe appeared really relieved to see the boy
The mum and her latest partner have turned up. The mother actually seems OK with the boy staying with Grandma. I hope this is the beginning of a better life for this boy
The mum and her latest partner have turned up. The mother actually seems OK with the boy staying with Grandma. I hope this is the beginning of a better life for this boy