Why I like finches, and when people make you go OOOM!!

[Babs _Owner]

So, Im lounging in my livingroom watching my finches, I hear this ear-piercing SCREAMING outside!!

I jump over the couch, I can hear the screaming coming from the back of my property (of which a walking trail runs behind it).

Quickly, I check the dogs, they are inside the office and on their way to the back door in all-alert status!

I run to the back door, open it and a woman is DRAGGING her 5-6yr old child (who's wearing thin shorts), along the CEMENT trail........and yes it gets worse.

She is pulling him up while he screams "NO!! NO!!" and full PUNCHING him in the back of the head everytime he stands up. And I mean FULL -THOTTLE. So if he stands up shes punching him in the back of the head, of he relaxes she is DRAGGING HIM ON THE CEMENT, this kid has no way of getting out of it.

I squeeze past the dogs locking them inside the house and in bare feet I run out of my yard as she continues to punch him as she walks past my house

I may be a short redhead, but I have quite a temper when necessary....as she "thinks" noone is looking she lays this poor child flat on the ground, punches him some more..........thats when all heck and celtic-fire lit up my tiny body and I went after her, about 100 feet behind.

I screamed, "YOU PUNCH THAT CHILD ONE MORE TIME AND I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO GET PUNCHED!! PICK THAT BABY UP AND CARRY HIM HOME!!!"

She denied what I had saw ans suddenly scooped him up and put him on her hip. The poor kid collapsed into her arms holding on to her and sobbing.

I was left heaving, full of adrenaline and ready to just lose it. I walked away, hoping this child didnt get it WORSE at home out of my sight. Then she was gone, in between houses, she slipped away. I walk into the house and burst into tears, try to find her in the front streets .....shes gone. Im still wondering about that little beautiful black haired boy, so terrified and bruised.

Sometimes I feel the world has gone crazy, and the only SANE place is with my finches. My world gets smaller as I watch people around me lose their minds, I turn to my birds.

Is THIS why I love my finches so much? Anyone feel the same? Im still shaking, and the Celt in me is FURIOUS!

[Arama]

Babs oh my gosh as a mother I am absolutely horrified. Your really should report it to the police with a full description as if she does that in public what does she do behind a closed door. If you see her again I would try to figure out where she lives because that child is clearly in danger.

Edit: I am glad you stepped up and went out after her

[Kelly]

Babs
That poor child..I would have beat her!..No excuse to abuse a child ever! I would bet this is a daily assault for that poor little guy.

Trisha is right you should still call the police!!

My animals are my sanity savers sometimes..Having 2 disabled kids can be stressful sometimes and just setting down and watching my birds or petting the dogs helps keeps me sane. I like my pets more than most people..

[Babs _Owner]

Kelly@Arama

I am still sitting here, angry, shaking, frustrated that she dissapeared. I wish I had the forethought to grab my cellphone camera and take a video, but he was screaming and she was pounding him (my cellphone was in the office).......and there was no time....I could not BEAR to see her land one more punch!

I feel almost as guilty feeling that primitive urge to just lay her into the dirt and make her feel what that little helpless human was feeling, so now I am just feeling as primitive as she was.

The police....I would have to have her "in sight" by time they arrived. I looked everywhere in between the 4 houses she slipped between, but she dissapeared.....Im sick to my stomach.

[Kelly]

Babs

At least you did something..most people wouldn't..You're a good person!

[Babs _Owner]

Kelly Arama

Im still shaking, .........what scares me the most is, sadley noone but me came outside to help him.

And all our houses face to the back of this cement walking trail. someone else HAD to hear his earsplitting cries!!!

What will happen to ALL of us when noone cares anymore???

I wasnt raised that way and it's.......Im coming down off my adrenaline rush, Im just exhausted.

[Babs _Owner]

Kelly

Kelly, I wish I could run faster, when she was coming across my backyard, and not past it. I would have scooped that little guy into my arms and DARED her to punch ME!!! , pulled him into the house and called the police!

[Babs _Owner]

oh for petes sake,

My foot is bleeding. I must have hit a branch on the way out of my back gate.

Sigh........I didnt even feel it.

[Arama]

Babs

I just glad you were there to intercede. Hopefully with luck someone else will have a chance to intervene at some point. I sincerely hope that woman gets exactly what she deserves because that's not something someone randomly starts doing all of a sudden. Poor little man.

[Babs _Owner]

Arama

As I'm sitting here trying to calm down STILL...I made a sketch of the back of her head, her hair. She must have been in her 20's, still slim and athletic.

Ill keep watching the back trail for her, and especially the morning when the elementary bus catches the kids right off my block.

I drive my son into work before I start my shift at home. If I see her and that li guy at that bus stop I will call the police.

She lives out here somewhere, or she wouldn't be on our trail, and hes about kindergarten age, so hes got to be on the bus stop in the morning. Its right around the block. I will just have to get up early.

Please Universe give me the strength to not get out of my car if I see her again

[lovezebs]

Babs

It's a cruel world sometimes, honey..... but then you already know that.
Sad thing is, is that she was probably raised that way too, and so the cycle continues.

What I try to comfort myself with, is the thought, that even though there is a lot of badness out there, there is also a lot of goodness as well, and I truly hope that the goodness still tips the scales. I know it's tempting to run out there and let her have some of her own medicine, but would it really solve anything.

Perhaps a better approach might be, to strike up a conversation, saying that you'd noticed how upset both she and the child were when you last saw them, and you were wondering if perhaps she needed some help, or someone to talk to when life gets too frustrating. You might be told where to go, and what to do with yourself when you get there, but maybe, just maybe, you'd get a favorable response, and be able to help both the Mother and the child.

If all else fails, you could go to the Elementary school in your neighborhood, have a word with the Principal, perhaps being able to point out the child and gives the school a heads up on what you saw, and that you are extremely concerned about the child's safety and well being.

[wildbird]

I would still report this to the police with a description of both. This child may not even be hers. He could be a missing child and your sighting may help find him. They may not be from your neighborhood. I know exactly how you feel. The things some people do get on my nerves, and I turn to my birds for some peace and common sense. The world is upside down and everything at times seems backwards. What would we do without our pets?

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs

Im usually very diplomatic, upbeat and silly. The rage I felt when I saw that...rarely felt anything like it. Im not a good person to approach her. I like your idea about notifying the school. If I can identify her at the bus stop, I'll go up the the elementary school. Then the teachers can question the child and the mother. Good thinking Elana.

@wildbird

The mother and child had the same likeness, so thank goodness, it wasnt an abduction. And you are right, in an upside down world our finches really make a LOT of sense. Except maybe ........zebras hahaha

[Madcat]

Smh......smh....smh.... I dread going to run errands. I see and experience awful treatment as well. Can't wait to get back home to my birds. Pray for humanity.

[slwatson]

Babs

My heart goes out to you and that little boy. I've seen way too many horrible things to describe in the jobs where I've dealt with children. Situations where kids were starving, over medicated, neglected, abused....the one job I could never do would be that of a child protective services case worker. Now I find myself getting very attached to the students at my elementary school, and it breaks my heart anytime they're in a bad situation. I absolutely don't understand people sometimes, and how they can be so cruel to innocent children. I thinks it's awesome that you confronted her. I actually have a pretty bad temper myself, and I have a feeling some one would have been calling the police on me after I was through with her. You were very brave to go after her. There are too many people out there who would have just looked the other way.