Feeling Sad and Irritated...

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How sad.

I think if I saw a child in that condition, I might have to call 911 for an ambulance. Just like I would if I saw anyone in need of medical intervention. Good luck.

the school is mandated to call social services in cases of neglect...so you might explain what you saw when you call.

I would ask for them to call him down to the nurse for an evaluation. If I were the aid or driver, I likely would have tried to walk him into the school and reported then and there that the child was not walking right and seemed to need some first aid. I think sending a child who had a head injury and could not walk straight to school is callous and irresponsible. I am a WAHM and there is no excuse for her not to tend to her sick child. I would err on the side of being a nosy busybody than not speaking up for this child.

Edit: His behavior or physical problems or not, this isn't about wanting a break on a normal day. This is her sending an obviously injured or severely sick child to school. She not only seems not to have a backup plan for him, she doesn't seem to care when it's her JOB to tend to her son and take care of his routine physical health. If my kid is really sick, I call in to take care of her. I don't put her on the bus to be miserable and infect others. I don't send a kid who has a concussion and can't navigate the bus stairs to school. It's not HIS issue that's the problem. It's HERS.

Help him since his mother obviously won't. A head injury isn't something to take lightly. Call the nurse, call the police and/ or social services. Poor guy. Don't let it go. Your mom instinct has kicked in and you can't ignore it. Goof luck and let us know.

Call the school and report what you saw. I'd be concerned about any child who had repeated head injuries. And I'm sorry, but what MOTHER in their right mind would send a child to school with a head injury? The aides are mandated reporters for child services - if this has happened more than once, the mother should be reported. You are right to be concerned.

You sould like you have a good heart/.

This is gross neglect to a minor on both the parents and school authorities' part.

Say something to the school. If they tell you to mind your own business, then ask them if this is how they would handle your son if he was suffering from an obvious physical injury. B/c what you have observed so far is that they will allow a child to attend their school and not seek medical help when they know that child needs it.

And if I was really on fire, I would add if the child ends up in the hospital, I guess the mom won't be getting any work done and the dad won't be getting any sleep anyway.

You can either try and take this child under your wing, or just pray hard that authorities will step in to help that child...and hopefully force the parents to take responsibility.

When your child is sick or injured as a parent your children come first. It doesn't matter if you are a SAHM, WAHM or WOHM. She knew her son had a concussion she should have missed working today and took care of her son.

As a school they have the right to refuse a child to be in school no matter the reasons!! I'm sure ( I hope at least!!) that once the child gets to school the aide or teacher takes the child to the nurse and the nurse will send him home. There is too many things that can happen to the child while at school and Im sure they don't want that liability on thier hands.

Hopefully she thinks ahead and if she HAS to work and cant have her son home with her then she will find a secondary place for her child to go to... as all of us mom's have to do at one point or another... but honestly this is severe enough that there is no way in hell I would have my child under someone else's care. But my kids come first in my life! That poor child, it really makes you wonder what else goes on "behind closed doors" if she will send her son out in this condition! It makes me upset/ angry and I didn't even see it first hand!

Call the local sheriff's non-emergent line and ask that they come out to talk to you. Tell them what you saw and let them know that you are certain the child should be seen by a doctor. Let the police take it from there. They will know which authorities to report to first...and perhaps the mother will make the right choice before they take that choice away from her.

If I can't get things done at home with a child WITHOUT behavioral and mental disabilities, I could not imagine how hard it is to do so when you DO have a child with issues.

I feel bad for the child, but also for the Mother too. What is her recourse? What alternate place can she put her son? Moms need a break too, even if it's for work. Would you prefer she has a cage in her home to lock her son in when he's sick so she can still work and earn a paycheck? Are you upset enough to demand from your county a special disabilities school that caters ONLY to sick children who shouldn't go to the main school?

J.,

Yes, talking to the school is the right thing. This poor kid has no one advocating for him-even his own mother! So, yes---please talk with the school and tell them what you told us. This scenario has many holes to a much bigger story. Maybe they should start an investigation into the family and how he keeps getting these head injuries!!!Sounds like neglegence to me, thats my gut feeling. GL

M

I would call cps... If my kids had a head injury I would risk losing my job by not going to work to stay home with them until I was sure they were ok.

Sounds like you all may be close in terms of location and the fact you have seen this child be sent to school under a variety of circumstances indicates you may even have neighborly acquaintance with her?
If you feel strongly about supporting the family, there is a delicate way to approach her and discuss what is going on - especially if your kids are in school/on the bus together. Offer support, guidance to free services, etc.
If you feel really strongly and are close enough, is there any way you would feel comfortable volunteering to help her and her son out.
I know it is a random act of kindness for a "stranger" but a great way to demonstrate to this mother that others are taking notice.
Best of luck with whatever you choose to do.

If you notice it, and you feel its wrong, you need to do something!

This is very sad indeed. The boy's mother should have treated this as a sick day from work and kept her child home. It's appalling and heartbreaking that she sent him. I wouldn't want my child out of my sight in that condition. I think you should call and report it to the school (even though the bus company already did) or you could call social services yourself and report it. This mom is not putting her child first.

ooh my!! I too would be angry!! My kids would not leave my sight if they had a concussion.

I'm surprised that the transportation department took him on the bus.

I'm not sure who I would call or what I would do - but I know I would try and do something!! A child with a concussion should not be going to school.

Although the school is mandated to report to CPS, I don't think you can guarantee that the driver and aide will tell the school what happened and what's been going on. This child needs protecting. Please don't assume anything. Please call CPS/DCYS and file a report with everything you've posted, and if you happen to recall specific dates make sure to include those. The more information you can share with them the better. You can file anonymously.

Worse things happen when we decide not to get involved and children's lives are at stake.

That IS very sad. I wouldn't interfere, it sounds as though the aid, bus driver, and I'm sure his teacher are well aware of what is happening. They are required by law to report anything they don't feel is right. So I would let the school handle it.

: (

I got sent home because I got a concussion in Gym @ school... They forced me to go home.
I'd had enough head injuries [I was already a teen] to know what the recommendations are... And staying in school certainly isn't one of them!
Poor kid.
I think I may have punched the mom in the eye.

Hi, J.:

It takes a village to raise a child.
You were affected by the child's unusual behavior and
was concerned for his safety and well-being.
This is a natural response to injury.

The mother and father needs to be held accountable for
sending the child to school in an altered sensory condition.

If the mother is in your neighborhood, you can befriend her to
see what it is she needs. Not to be judgmental but to be caring.

Just a thought.
D.

She's putting his life in danger sending him to school with a head injury. Call CPS.

She may need to work from home, but she can get a babysitter to come to her home in an emergency, which this is. I used to work from home and I had a babysitter come to my home for part of the day so I could do it. She and her husband need to work together to make an emergency plan for when son is sick so this child isn't screwed over to make her life easier.

Please, please let us know that you've called Social or child protective services!!! Sometimes ONE person can be a gigantic savior to a child with no voice. Please, please call every single time you have a concern!!