I would start by sitting in front of my house every time the boy mows. If the man starts shouting, ask him to tone it down.

If he's aggressive or continues to shout at his son, you call the police, because a visit might scare this dysfunctional family into behaving better, at least in public. You can ask other neighbors whether they've witnessed this. You can film discreetly and post it on the listserve so people know. You can knock on the door and complain that there is too much shouting and it's disturbing the neighborhood.

I agree with calling CPS. And call the police when it happens. Maybe a cruiser coming by with a noise complaint will shut him up next to your house. Anyone could have called.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You call the police. I can’t even believe this is a question. Every single time, you call the police. I was that little boy and it only stopped when someone called. Please. Call the police.

+1

If you're afraid of him retaliating against you, what do you think it's like for the kid?

Please record the verbal abuse we well.

^^ I should add that the police can respond more quickly. They may or may not refer to CPS (idk what protocols are, but these things also depend on the particular officers regardless of protocol).
Also, CPS might fail to respond or screen out the case--but CPS also looks at patterns of calls and you may not be the only one to call attention to this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If he’s that bad in public he’s much worse at home. I would tape him every time and send it to CPS and to the police. There may be an open file in him already.
That poor kid.

I’m worried about getting that personally involved for fear he will find out it’s me and retaliate.

What are you afraid of exactly? If he comes after you then you call the police. If you’re afraid imagine how the kid feels. You can tape him secretly from your door or window.

Anonymous wrote:You call the police. I can’t even believe this is a question. Every single time, you call the police. I was that little boy and it only stopped when someone called. Please. Call the police.

+1

If you're afraid of him retaliating against you, what do you think it's like for the kid?

Please record the verbal abuse we well.

You call the police. I can’t even believe this is a question. Every single time, you call the police. I was that little boy and it only stopped when someone called. Please. Call the police.

CPS will do nothing.

Insulting a child is awful, but legal.

-Mandated reporter who has had far worse reports go nowhere

Anonymous wrote:If he’s that bad in public he’s much worse at home. I would tape him every time and send it to CPS and to the police. There may be an open file in him already.
That poor kid.

I’m worried about getting that personally involved for fear he will find out it’s me and retaliate.

Anonymous wrote:Do u ever sit outside where the step father can see you? (You could wash your car or pull weeds). Maybe he would tone it down..

I will definitely do this next Sunday (it’s usually on Sunday)

Anonymous wrote:Call CPS

Because the kid will be soooooo much better off in foster care or a group home.


JFC, you people.

Anonymous wrote:I prefer and recommend staying out of people's business but there has to be a solution here to anonymously help this kid.

OP here. I feel the same, which is why I didn’t get involved last year. But today was just too much. I don’t know that I can do this for 6ish more months without doing something. But I have no idea what that something could be.

If he’s that bad in public he’s much worse at home. I would tape him every time and send it to CPS and to the police. There may be an open file in him already.
That poor kid.

Do u ever sit outside where the step father can see you? (You could wash your car or pull weeds). Maybe he would tone it down..

My fear would be for kid to get into hands of worse foster dad.

And one more thing. For all of you saying this is not a big deal, you have no idea what this person does behind closed doors.

Call CPS