my dad was a cop, and they really have soooo much on their plate.

not to mention, what happens to that little boy if i DO bring the law there? i'm afraid HE will suffer the consequences. the switch she brought out...was supposedly the one that she whips HIM with.

yea good point- social services ?

My Mom was just in here, I rub her neck with mineral ice before she goes to bed..
So I'm tellin her what I'm typing she said what a differnt world we live in huh!!

First...call the police! Keep restraining order in the back of your mind while youre at it.

Second...dont let your kids leave their stuff out front. You obviously have a theif in the neighborhood.

Its not the schools job to take responsability for what goes on at your home.

I'd never put up with that. Youre teaching your kids to let others take advantage of them. Stop it!

I'd have called the law on her ass mighty fast!

Def have the law involved, and maybe the psych ward.

i don't expect the school to step in...my intention in writing them was to allow my child an extra day to complete her homework.

i did explain to the kids that a natural consequence of leaving your stuff lying around...is to lose it.

i'm trying to teach my children that there are far more important issues that "stuff". that this poor boy has nothing...that he has to deal with a nut for a mom...and that fighting is wrong. i refuse to allow another person to manipulate ME into acting badly.

i considered social services, but there'd need to be proof, right? and i just don't know enough about the family...maybe something was really stressing the mother, maybe there's been a death in the family and she's taking it out on others. the kids said she had several bruises all over her, and a terrible black eye...maybe she was in an accident? on meds?

i'm not sure what the law could do...i mean, i have no PROOF that anthony took the stuff. there's no marks on my child. all it would do is piss her off and put HER kid in jeopardy. that's my reasoning, anyway...

i doubt a restraining order is in need, i'm not afraid in any way, and i dislike drama. AND i don't have the time to deal with court issues.

*than stuff*, not THAT stuff.

I would have called Johnny law at least to get it on record because when she becomes a multiple offender..it will carry more clout when the police finally do something about her. Write your kids names all over the books so that you have evidence that it is your property. INSIDE the books..They will tear the covers off. Write on the edges so that every page has the marks too. Use an odd color so that it is spotted easily.
ALWAYS approach her with a live movie cam in your hand and record the whole thing or get someone else to record it. Don't teach your kids to be stomped on. Get them self defense lessons like karate or similar. It's fun for them and it could save them some day.

You know I feel it would be different if they lived across town and the kid went to a different school, but, (unless she goes back to jail or moves) you will be neighbors for awhile, so in the one respect you don't want to make enemies who might retaliate against you or the children, because you can't be with them every second.
I like the idea of putting supplies together and asking the school nurse to deliver them to the boy. Meanwhile, Just reiterate to your own children the wrongness of stealing and let them know that you have compassion for this young boy. Unfortunately you can't replace the expensive items, but that is not all bad as she will learn to protect her things better in the future.

lakeman, if i could afford a movie cam, would i be worried about school supplies? i do like the name thing...we're writing them on everything tomorrow.

my children have been taught martial arts since they could walk. literally. they have the mental discipline to walk away...that's NOT the same thing as being stomped on.

hotandspicey, i like the idea, too. except...he now HAS said supplies, hehe...

other than crayons and markers. i did think about dropping some off with a little note. jordan did say that he doesn't have anything at school as of yet.

COOL lulu..I just hate to see the bad ones get the upper hand. It sucks that you have to live that way. I am glad that you have taught your kids well. Restraint is good to a point. Self preservation is a must. Just report what happened and hope that the little brats don't do it any more but I will bet money that they do it again because they have been shown that it is ok. There mother probably gave them a cookie when they went inside. Those gtypes survive that way. It's like survival of the fittest in a damn jungle. Who knows...she might like prison the way she talked. No worries and free food. She may as well be in a cage.

lol, she told them it didn't scare her...she might just like it!

she only has the one child, that i know of. he's really pretty sweet, generally. comes over quite a bit to play with the kids. always very respectful to me.

he was in the house, at the door...bawling the whole time his mother was throwing her little tantrum.

i would not be surprised if he mysteriously returns the stuff, who knows why he took them, since they are girly, could he have a secret crush on your daughter and was hoping she would chase him, and give him a chance to be alone with her(puppy love thing)??

Like I said...its not the childs fault. He has been led wrongly. One thing you might do if you feel brave is have a nice talk with the little one if he comes over and explain that it is wrong to steal ..just like you would talk with your own...he may bring the stuff right back to you. Then you can reward him for being good by giving him a little something.

ooh...i sure hope that happens. i'd much rather give positive reinforcement than negative.

spice, he just might. he's NOT a bad kid...but apparently he NEEDS stuff. i bet it's embarrassing being in school and not having what he needs.

hehe...and he just MIGHT have a crush on jordan...they're about the same age, and he looooves being around her.

Well, you are a sensible woman and I feel things will work out in the end. I would have the kids be nice to him and wait and see what happens.

Being taught matial arts....and actually using it are two different things. Other than you saying fighting is wrong, i agree with you on your decision.

It seems if you take this any farther, the child of the crazy lady will get the repercussions. And like you said, it teaches your children not to be so trusting of society. The cops wont be able to do anything cause there is no proof. Sometimes you just gotta brush your shoulder off. There are just people out there that are just plain rude.

my children are only allowed to physically defend themselves if they are in true danger.

i don't believe in allowing another to manipulate my emotions to the point of violence. most people just aren't that important.