The next door children have just lit a fire to your shrubs and in the past have broken windows sprayed paint on your siding etc. The parents have always paid for the damage but you fear what these kids might do to your animals ,children or home. These children are 11 and 12 and both are boys. What would you do as a concerned neighbor?
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.Oh for the days when you could give kids like those a swift kick in their arses.
About 10 years or so ago we had 2 such 'children' in our neighborhood and every home copped stones throw on their roofs, graffiti sprayed on fences, mail stolen from mailboxes, etc, and even car tyres let down or spiked.
The mother of these 'sweet, little darlings' was less than useless as a parent so we all contacted a well respected, retired Policeman.
He spoke to the Magistrate on our behalf and quite unexpectedly go an Exemption from Prosecution Under the Child Abuse Act, presented a copy to the mother whilst accompanied by 2 uniformed Officers, then proceeded with giving each 'child' as swift boot up their arse and then informing them that they WILL BE working in every yard of EVERY house in the neighborhood for a minimum of 20 hours per house cleaning gardens, removing weeds and ANYTHING the Homeowner deemed they should, they would receive 1 cup of cool water for every hour of work, 1 slice of bread and 1 piece of fruit SHOULD they be working at lunchtime and they WOULD be required to carry with them a notebook that each homeowner would sign WHEN they started and WHEN they finished each day.
Failure to do so would mean that the 'child/children' WOULD be placed for 12 hours per day, every weekend for 4 months in Juvenile Detention.
The 'mother' also got written Court notice to 'Clean' up her act as a parent, seek help with her drinking, etc, and that a Court appointed Inspector would be checking on progress BUT at irregular times and dates.
Within 12 months we all went from a neighborhood of almost absolute chaos to a very nice, peaceful, friendly one with those 2 children becoming model citizens.
Triphid
Level 9
Jan 3, 2019
1
Yes. Call the cops every time so these things are documented.
It is likely that the criminal acts will become more serious as they grow older.
BufftonBeotch
Level 8
Jan 3, 2019
3
I would warn the parents that if the boys do any more malicious damage that you are aware of, you will report them to the police. Maybe the parents will then get serious about controlling the boys.
wordywalt
Level 9
Jan 3, 2019
2
Nice idea BUT, in my experiences some parents just don't a shit what their kids do.
Call the Police - call Child Protective Services (CPS). (Gender has nothing to do with my answer btw).
Unless you know the parents well and can have a sit down with them and discuss it. This is well out of hand.
These kids need some handling now. Community service at the very least to understand consequences for their actions.
Sounds like they need something constructive to occupy their time?
And maybe some therapy? Cause gees.
RavenCT
Level 9
Jan 3, 2019
3
do you know any 14 year olds tougher than them that can lean on them?
LeighShelton
Level 8
Jan 3, 2019
1
This is the kind of situation that our society has decided not to act on. Parents are giving broad latitude with children. Even in cases of physical or sexual abuse, the child's life has to be in danger before a government agency will intervene. I wish you well, but have no suggestion of a solution.
schwinnrider
Level 6
Jan 3, 2019
2
We have reported these kids to the police without any solution to the problem. We finally have reported them to child services. We just heard that they were expelled from school and must attend a school for "challenged" children. This still requires them to live at home.
Marine
Level 8
Jan 3, 2019
3
What kind of people raise children who act like this? They are pretty young to be so destructive. I would say someone needs to do some looking into the parents. My heart goes out to you having to deal with this every day.
There is something seriously wrong with the parenting there. Try Dr Phill, he always looks for fresh cases and you may end up being famous. I feel sorry for the kids, unless they are mentally ill, it must be the parenting.
Keep calling cops, every day if necessary. Why won't they do anything? That is vandalism at the least.
@Redheadedgammy We have two children, Mike, who is 90% devil, and Michelle, who is 90% angel. People, including children, have a mind of their own. Sometimes it's not possible to influence a child to lead a good life. Or, if it is, we do not know how. We feel like we failed him. We love him, he is ours, but we don't like some things that he does.
@EdEarl So sorry to hear this. We parents do the best we can with what skills we got from our own up bringing, but sometimes we still have a failure. You're right, sometimes it's not possible to influence our children to do good in life and toward others. All we can do is keep trying with them, and show them through our own behavior what they should strive to become. I'm not sure if it's peer pressure in some instances or something in the child's physical health, but we must keep trying to help them grow up to be kind, honest and empathetic people.
@Redheadedgammy Yes, of course we must try, but we are limited if they just don't listen and won't visit. It's a balancing act.
@EdEarl it sounds like your children are older? If so, yes, it is much more difficult to reach them because they are adults and believe they "know it all".....
@Redheadedgammy Yep, in their 40s.
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