I Can’t Care For Him
I’m a little sad tonight for a 5 year old boy in Ethan’s pre-k class. I spent the morning at his school and accompanied them on a field trip to a play. This little guy came to school, but didn’t end up going on the outing. During morning circle time he was sitting in a crunched up position rocking and appeared to be in pain. The teachers all attended to him and decided to call in the principal to assess the situation.
What I didn’t know is that the little guy had been seriously injured a week ago and was just returning to school. He and his older brother had been playing with matches, and he received second and third degree burns on his stomach.
It was obvious that there was no way he would be able to participate in this field trip. The bus ride alone would have been terribly painful. He could barely move. They decided to have the mother return to pick him up immediately and I heard the principal explain that they would need a doctors release before he could come back to school.
The mother was very put out with the situation and remarked, “I have things to do and can’t care for him at home. He’ll be fine in a few days. Just let him sit and watch.”
I’ve been around this little guy before and honestly always found him disruptive and needy. The more interaction I’ve had with his mother (and father) I’m beginning to see that his outward behavior is probably a result of his home life. She is a stay-at-home mom and anytime I’ve seen her outside of the classroom she hasn’t been friendly. In fact she can be pretty rude.
His parents never remember to dress him in the field trip t-shirt, so the little guy always looks like the odd kid out when everyone has on a red shirt and he’s wearing something else. They never remember when it’s his snack day. If it’s 40 degrees outside he’ll be dressed in shorts. If it’s 90 degrees outside he’ll be dressed in long pants and long sleeves. It’s just the way they roll.
Those things alone do not make them bad parents. Letting your child hear that you don’t care if they are hurting however, is cruel. The teachers have all dealt with this family for several years and have a way of handling them. I think I’d have a hard time keeping my mouth shut if I were in that role. She can’t or won’t care for her own child?
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My name is Emily. I’m 30 years old. I have often been told that I ask a lot of questions, but I think I have more to say than ask.
Perfect catagory for this one and I’m going to go with a resounding YES! She should be reported.
Oh so sad. Poor little boy. These are the kinds of things that really make me want to be a foster parent.
And then my hubby got in trouble at school today for having taken some of his students to a Magic convention a few weeks ago. Students who already have issues at school and he was reaching out to. This world sucks.
oh wow. oh, this is so painful, knowing these little people need so much more than they are getting, so much less than they deserve.
oof, my heart.
Makes me *SO* mad. Some people don’t deserve to be parents. I would *NOT* be able to keep my mouth shut if I were dealing with the parents either. But I would want to take the little boy under my wing so to speak. Shame. It’s so sad.
Poor little guy. I feel so bad for kids like this who have to deal with shitty parenting.
This is just so sad. I don’t understand how parents can say and do those sorts of things to their own children. It just breaks my heart.
Oh my God - that’s so sick and so sad and far too common. I have had limited children like that in my classroom over the years but one is too many. I’d call CPS.
Playing with matches? 3rd degree burns? and back to school in a week because she has things to do? Umm…. I agree with Perri.. an anonymous complaint needs to be filed against them for neglect. If nothing else, maybe it will wake them up before something worse happens to their children.
Ugh. That makes my heart hurt. Poor little guy. I don’t want to get preachy or judgy, but yow. Somethin’ ain’t right there.
The school needs to call CPS. Who was watching these children when they got burned with matches?
Just as an update - the little guy did not attend school today and I did express some concerns to the teachers (in private) about the family situation. They stated that intervention has already been established with outside services and they have the same concerns and it has been reported. So, that makes me feel a little better…but still sad for this little guy.
I’m glad I just read that last comment.
It seems like a case of neglect.
Sure we’ve all dressed our kid in the wrong thing and been surprised by the weather. But sending him to school in terrible pain is awful.
I have told my kids to ’suck it up’ before, but not for something serious like burns or another injury. I am more likely to keep them home ‘just to be safe’.
Shoot, I felt horrible because I had my 11 year old wait two days to see the doctor when she was complaining about her chest hurting. Now, in my own defense..hehe…I did rule out other issues first and this was over the weekend. She wasn’t in danger so I decided to wait until Monday morning, took her to the doctors and found out the cartilage around her sternum (breast bone) is inf lammed. Ugh, I felt so bad.
I am glad someone is looking into those parents and their behavior.
So very sad, my heart is hurting for him too.
How sad…
How very, very sad….
It breaks my heart to think what cards have been dealt his way…
That just breaks my heart. What a heartless attitude. I hope that through the schools the family can get the help that they need.
clearly his playing with matches says SOMETHING about how attentive they are.