A Sad Little Boy Needs Help

[cattywampus]

What is the name of your state? Washington

Can you help a sad little boy? Andre is four. His mother first abandoned him at two - she sent him to his father for a year - now he's back but his mother's boyfriend is cruel to him. He constantly picks on him and calls him names like "wuss," "Pussy," "Big baby," etc. He yells at Andre, and scares him, and threatens him. This goes on all the time, and the child wears a sad and desperate look. The boyfriend scoffs, denies he's abusing him, says he's going to make a "man" of him. His grandmother and I (his great-grandmother) hate to see our little boy like that. His mother will not defend him.

I believe this kind of abuse is even more hurtful than physical abuse. But what can we do?

 

[ili]

I'm waiting for your advice.......

I am the great-grandmother and my daughter is the grandmother and our
little boy is in a similar situation. CPS doesn't think much of emotional abuse
but I think it is terrible. Our little boy must deal with his mother's girlfriend in
a similar fashion. We are at a loss. Hope someone comes thru for your little one and for ours. God bless us everyone.

 

[stealth2]

Have you contacted his father? Is he in a position to petition for custody?

Unfortunately, being mean (hurtful as it is to a child) isn't against the law, and is incredibly difficult to prove.

 

[snodderly]

Definition of child abuse in Washington

DEFINITIONS Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 26.44.020 (West, WESTLAW through End of 2000 Spec. Sess.) 'Child' or 'children' means any person under the age of 18 years of age. 'Abuse or neglect' means the injury, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, negligent treatment, or maltreatment of a child by any person under circumstances which indicate that the child's health, welfare, and safety is harmed, excluding conduct permitted under law. An abused child is a child who has been subjected to child abuse or neglect as defined in this section. 'Sexual exploitation' includes: § Allowing, permitting, or encouraging a child to engage in prostitution by any person; or § Allowing, permitting, encouraging, or engaging in the obscene or pornographic photographing, filming, or depicting of a child by any person.'Negligent treatment or maltreatment' means an act or omission which evidences a serious disregard of consequences of such magnitude as to constitute a clear and present danger to the child's health, welfare, and safety. The fact that siblings share a bedroom is not, in and of itself, 'negligent treatment or maltreatment.' Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 26.44.030(1)(c) (West Supp. 1999) 'Severe abuse' means any of the following: § Any single act of abuse that causes physical trauma of sufficient severity that, if left untreated, could cause death; § Any single act of sexual abuse that causes significant bleeding, deep bruising, or significant external or internal swelling; or § More than one act of physical abuse, each of which causes bleeding, deep bruising, significant external or internal swelling, bone fracture, or unconsciousness.

 

[snodderly]

http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/ca/safety/prevAbuse.asp?1

A website that might help give you more info on child abuse and reporting it. My suggestion...call local child protection agency, if he is in school or daycare call them. You don't have to say who you are and calling might set in action things that will help the child get out of the situation he is in.
snodderly