It’s been said that every kid deserves a parent, but not every parent deserves a kid. Whether they’re being cruel, condescending, or careless, some people refuse to do right by their children and it’s shameful, really, considering they’re the ones who chose to have them in the first place.
One couple was shocked to arrive home on a cold Christmas Eve to find their neighbor’s teen asleep on their porch. Apparently, the teen’s mom had banished him from the house. Concerned, the woman called CPS, but now she’s asking an online community if that was a jerk move.
More info: Reddit
Child neglect can be a touchy subject, as this woman found out the hard way
Image credits: Get Lost Mike / Pexels (not the actual photo)
She arrived home one icy night to find her neighbor's teen asleep on her porch wearing nothing but a hoodie and sweatpants
Image credits: EyeEm / Freepik (not the actual photo)
The teen told the woman that his mom had banished him from the house because he hadn’t done his chores
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Concerned for the freezing teen’s wellbeing, she got on the phone to report her neighbor to CPS
Image credits: CallingCPSneighbour
The next morning her nasty neighbor was on her doorstep having a meltdown, so now she’s asking netizens if getting CPS involved makes her a jerk
OP says she’d lived next to her frosty neighbor for three years. While the single mom always seemed cold and standoffish, her two kids were always polite and kind. Over time, it became clear that the mom’s icy attitude extended beyond neighbors, though - she often spoke harshly to her own children, too. Still, OP tried to keep the peace.
Everything changed on Christmas Eve. OP and her fiancé returned home around 1:30 a.m. when they heard what sounded like snoring outside. Then they spotted the teenage son from next door sleeping on their porch. Temperatures were dangerously cold that night, and the teen was wearing nothing but a hoodie and sweatpants.
When they gently woke him up and asked what was going on, the boy said his mom kicked him out for not making his bed and doing the dishes. Horrified, OP immediately called CPS, knowing full well this situation wasn’t just strict parenting - it was neglect.
The next morning, her nasty neighbor stormed over, furious. She accused OP of trying to destroy her family on Christmas and claimed she was a “monster” for involving authorities.
Now OP’s left wondering: was it the right move? Should she have talked to the mother first? Possibly, but her instincts were clear in the moment. When a child is out in the cold, maintaining neighborly harmony becomes far less important than making sure the kid is safe.
Image credits: krakenimages.com / Freepik (not the actual photo)
From what OP tells us in her post, the mom next door obviously has a sadistic streak, and her kids clearly bear the brunt of it. So, what should you do if you suspect child neglect in your neighborhood? We went looking for answers.
According to the JWB Family Law website, CPS is not an entity to be called lightly. It’s reserved for situations where a child is in danger, harm, or experiencing a difficult circumstance that requires intervention.
One common scenario where CPS might be necessary is when a parent is struggling with addiction, whether it be narcotics or alcohol. If a parent is under the influence while responsible for caring for their children, leaving them unmonitored or in unsafe conditions, CPS intervention may be necessary.
In her article for LifeHacker, Meghan Moravcik Walbert writes that just because you call doesn’t automatically mean there will be an investigation. A social worker will likely ask you several questions to determine whether intervention is warranted. If you’re afraid of retaliation, you can ask to give the information anonymously.
We think the neighbor’s punishment was a bit OTT, don’t you? Perhaps she’ll think twice about pulling that stunt again now that OP intervened, at least.
What would you have done if you’d found yourself in OP’s shoes? Do you think she should have tried talking to her neighbor first, or was calling CPS the right move in the moment? Let us know your opinion in the comments!
In the comments, readers swiftly concluded that the woman was not the jerk in the sticky situation and slammed the nasty neighbor for being the actual monster
