If you hit a child who hits your child...

[Anonymous]

What the hell is wrong with you? Guess how you can keep you 6 year old from being hit by a car? Keep her out of the street!

Keep away from the stupid bully and see a therapist for your inner demons.

[Anonymous]

OP here, he is 8, his mother thinks he is cute and spirited. He stuck a stick in someone's eye last year and that person had to have surgery. He punched his sister and knocked out a tooth. He rode his bike up to my son's heel and took some skin off, in hindsight, he seemed to be intentionally trying to draw blood. Father CRAZY, mother distracted. He is often out on the loose. I tell my kids to run away, but somehow he keeps getting to them. He ALWAYS has a stick (weapon) of some type in his hands.

[Anonymous]

Yes, pushing is an assault.

[Anonymous]

Can you call Child Protective Services, since the child is wandering around unsupervised and assaulting other kids? This unfortunate child sounds neglected to me.

[Anonymous]

If he attack your children call the police.
You'll get your hands dirty if you touch him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:can you be charged?

Lawyers please weigh in.
There is a neighborhood bully who has attacked just about every kid. I warned him if he hits my dd, 6, I will hit him back.

I do not want to hear any philosophy, just the legalities.

Not a lawyer. But yes, that is considered assault and an adult hitting a child is illegal and would look very bad.

The better option may be to give permission for your DD to defend herself, including using physical force if necessary. And if you can, contact the parents of the bully to tell them what's going on and complain.

[Anonymous]

21:33 here. Should have read down more before responding.

I second the idea to call CPS. Allowing an 8 year old to run around unsupervised, and the kid is terrorizing and causing physical harm to other children is unacceptable.

[Anonymous]

I would walk up to his house and tell his parents that if he physically assaults your children again, you will be filing civil charges against the parents. There are various civil remedies available to you depending on your jurisdiction. Do NOT touch this child, though. Don't even breathe on him unless you're in the act of defending your children.

[Anonymous]

http://www.selfdefenseresource.com/children/articles/bullies.php

I posted in the first page about trying to keep the kid off of your property.

We had a neighborhood bully that tormented my sister and I. It was terrible. One day after it he started more of the same crap, my sister went into the house and got something and gave it to him, telling him it was candy. It was actually crushed red peppers and ran home crying and never returned.

[Anonymous]

PP here. Pardon the many typos.

[Anonymous]

Yell and scream and tell him to stay away from your kids, but don't touch him.

[Anonymous]

Have you ever had a conversation with the parents where you told them that if their child were ever to do anything to your child you would take them to court/have a child protection agency evaluate the home/etc?

I am concerned that your mind flies to hitting a bully before it goes to resolution. If you posted that the parents have blatently told you that they don't care if their kid sticks a poker in your kid's eyes, I say, "Okay, you are dealing with total crazies"...in which case my reaction would be to move. But why are you talking about just hitting an eight year old? This child is obviously troubled, find out what you can do to protect your child (ps, hitting the kid does NOTHING to protect your kid the next time, as you have no idea how this kid will internalize it and take it out on your daughter the next time he's alone with her), and find out what you can do to rally others to confront the bully's parents.

[Anonymous]

You absolutely cannot hit or shove this kid. You will get into trouble.

You should write the parents a letter stating all of your concerns and documenting all of the prior incidents and all of his behavior that has given rise to your concerns. Put them well on notice of their kid's dangerous behavior and the risk that he poses to other kids, including yours. Send it via e-mail if you know his parents' e-mail; otherwise, send it via certified mail, signature receipt requested. Then, if there is some incident involving your kid, report them to CPS and consult an attorney about filing civil charges against the parents and/or their kid. I agree with the PPs who have said to equip your child to deal with any violence, either through karate classes or discussing strategies of retreat, self-defense, etc.

I don't blame you for how mad you sound. This kid sounds like a puke. But don't let him push your buttons to where you are in trouble with the law. That would be terrible for you and for your family. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

i would pinch him when nobody is watching

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, he is 8, his mother thinks he is cute and spirited. He stuck a stick in someone's eye last year and that person had to have surgery. He punched his sister and knocked out a tooth. He rode his bike up to my son's heel and took some skin off, in hindsight, he seemed to be intentionally trying to draw blood. Father CRAZY, mother distracted. He is often out on the loose. I tell my kids to run away, but somehow he keeps getting to them. He ALWAYS has a stick (weapon) of some type in his hands.

Now that's a 'hot mess'!