This happened last Wed 7/1. I was paying ($175 per week) a teachers aide from my kids school (who OFFERED) to watch the 2 kids for me this summer since she was going to be home with her 2 kids already (she doesn't watch any other kids). She is in her 30's, married, has 2 kids of her own that also attend my kids school, and her mom lives with her. She lives in an apartment a couple blocks from my home. Long story short, last Wednesday my son aparently was not listening very well. The grandma started yelling at him, my daughter jumped to his aid (she's very protective of him) and then the mom started yelling at both of them as well. It escalated to the point that the grandma told my kids she was going to call the police on them. This scared them, they LEFT the apartment and WALKED home in the middle of the day! Now, my fiance and I just HAPPENED to have been home, we were moving from a home office into office space. The kids knocked on the door and were crying saying they ran away because they were scared!
I checked my cell phone and 8 minutes earlier, the grandma called saying I needed to call the mom right away. I called, and some other woman answered the phone (her friend was visiting). I heard the mom crying in the background and when the friend said it was me on the phone, the mom whispered "where are the kids??!!!" WHAT THE HECK!!! She didn't even KNOW they were GONE!!! I told the friend on the phone that when the mom stopped crying to call me, the kids WALKED home and I had them. I still have not heard from her!
Needless to say I was absolutlely livid as well as freaking out at what "could" have happened! I waited a couple hours and then just ended up texting her saying something like "thanks for watching the kids, it apparently was too much for you, please return all of our items, thanks". I am now paying my mom the rest of the summer to watch them for me.
My question is, I now feel I was sort of too easy on her and wonder what you all would have done. I still feel sick to my stomach about the whole thing and still think about it. I'm sure I could have had her arrested for Child Abandonment or Endangerment or something. She clearly has her own issues (I know now but didn't then) and I didn't feel like I wanted to do that but also feel she needs to know how serious this could have been. I still get choked up thinking MY KIDS MAY NOT HAVE CAME HOME THAT DAY...
Sorry this is so long...what do you think???
Holy cow!! I'm so glad everything worked out okay!! Yes, I would definately file a complaint with the school. I would have been beside myself if that happened to me...
I think you should report this to CPS. I am sorry but if the woman is yell at your children and not paying attention that they left then they ashould be notified. You may also want to call the school and report it to them as well. We dont need teachers like that in the school systems.
I just read this today. What a horrible experience to think of! I don't know if the police would get involved or not, but CPS will just ask if the kids are in immediate danger, which of course they aren't anymore.
My husband and I feel you should inform the school though. A person who can't get pass her issues to simply watch kids, should NOT be around and responsible for children.
Despite what your son may have been acting like, they are adults, they shouldn't have yelled at your kids and threatened them with the police. It is a shame to see that the Grandma acted so juvenile.
Let the school know. I am glad that your children are safe.
Yes, I agree to let the school know. Let someone know. It would be terrible for that, or something worse, to happen again to some other child because nothing was said. Sounds like this woman doesn't need to care for other children, much less hers. Sorry you had to go through that! But do say something to someone!
Whatever the fight was about it obviously got out of comtrol and he should not have been threatened with the police. Does she watch other children??I think I would definately have to file a complaint against her. YES your kids made it home okay, BUT she should not be caring for children in school or out. And then to not even know they were gone, I would be heart broken and not trust anyone with my children again. What an awful situation. Thank God they are okay and in good care now!!!
