Bm threatened to call CPS
Dh and I have been working with the skids on responsibility and things they can do to show responsibility. We live near the downtown of a city in a historic neighborhood filled with small locally owned shops. About 3-4 blocks away, on our street is an artisan bread bakery and an upscale corner market. We shop at one or the other almost daily, frequently with the kids in tow. The owners and staff know us and the kids. We feel that the 3-4 blocks is a safe distance for the kids to go by themselves, especially since we can still see them from the sidewalk in front of our house as far as 2-3 blocks away.
So, the other day we let the kids take a few bucks (of their money) to go buy a drink at the store. As they were leaving the store some bigger kids tried to bully them (verbally) into giving them some money and were basically just mean. No one was hurt, in fact, the skids loudly said "no" got on their bikes and booked it home. They have been so sheltered esp at bm's and grand parents that they had never had any older kids be mean to them before! So, they were a little scared but very proud of themselves that they accomplished what they set out to do. They were so excited that they told bm over the phone.
She called Dh to tell him that she was reporting him to CPS - she implied that I wasn't watching the kids and that I gave them permission without him knowing. He straightened her out and said that he gave them permission, not me and that we were on the front proch watching for them to come back. She claims that CPS will do something about this, and threatened him again with CPS action.
I don't think we have anything to be worried about, but DH is flipping out. Skids are 7 and 9.
- Mary Louise's blog
- Log in or register to post comments
Comments
let her call
seriously, i know it might be scary, but theres nothing going on and no reason to call CPS. shes bluffing. and if not, let them come out and investigate. once they see this is just another case of a BM being nutso, she will really have to think twice next time she threatens. and i doubt she'll do it again.
Stepparenting
OH I am SO glad I found this site! I have a blog of my own that is all about life within a blended family and dealing with all of the antics that come with it. I would love to join this site and have mine added to the links. How do I do it? Bless this site!
http://lifewithour9.blogspot.com
Luckily, she's not a CPS
Luckily, she's not a CPS worker. I am not too worried.
Compare to walking to school
in our school district and many like ours, busing is not provided for children living within a one mile radius of their school. So you get within 5-10 blocks of a school and you see tons of elementary and middle school children riding bikes and walking to and from school. If a parent allowing their child to bike a couple of blocks is considered negligent, what is CPS doing about all the parents who allow there children to walk and bike to and from school every day? I don't think you have a thing to worry about! CPS has been around the block and they would probably just tell her to call back if she ever has anything more substantial then that to report.
Let her call them!
I am sick to death of parents not teaching their children responsibilities, rules, ways of life that it isn't even funny. They shelter a kid to death and then the kid gets out in the real world and has no coping skills because they were never taught any. It's pathetic, really pathetic.
Don't sweat it, even if she calls what are they going to say....well, I suggest you do this? Explain what you are trying to teach them to do, I am sure they won't critize too badly for this. Or at least they shouldn't!!
corie
let her call
I let my BD7 walk or ride her bike about 4 blocks to a little mom and pop store in our neighborhood. She went numerous times last year when she was 6 with her older sister so she knows the way and the store owners know her and where she lives if there is a problem. Some kids walk even farther to school and back daily so let BM call CPS. I think CPS would be hard pressed to consider this a problem or a neglect issue. Kids need to learn how to get around and to do it safely so going to the store and buying themself something teaches them responsibility and boosts their self esteem and self worth. WOW, I can do this myself, just like potty training and learning to ride a bike. CPS has better things to do and kids who are actually in need of their services, so BM will just to a pain in the butt to them.