I Know This Shouldn't Bother Me

[GOOFY4DONALD]

...but it does. There are these kids at my kiddos school...one of which is in my DS's kindergarten class. The little girl shows up in socks and sandals when it is 20 degrees and snowing. She never has a coat on and the people in the office have a box of donated stuff for kids that forgot their items and all of the kids wear gloves and hats from the box. The kids always dress in stained/ripped clothes and the fit very poorly. The office has given them some winter items but frankly the parents and the kids are pretty nasty/ rude people (the parents actually were hitting and cussing each other out at a school function) and the other parents don't have much to do with them.

Anyway flash forward to yesterday. I was at my local Hastings store renting some movies and I happened to be behind them in line. The were talking and joking about their tax return and hopefully they would have enough money after Hastings to get some lunch. I really didn't pay much attention until I saw how many things they had in their cart. Video games, movies, boxed sets...not to mention a lot of adult movies. It totaled 2700.
Normally I wouldn't care how people spend their money but when a school has to supply winter clothes for their kids or the kids would literally freeze and you spend that kind of money on yourself I just want to slap the you know what out of them. Anyway this was bothering me all night and now I feel better since I got it off my chest. Thanks

 

[NY Disney fan]

Its a shame children have to grow up in families like that.

 

[luvmy3]

How do you know the school has to supply those things to the kids. Maybe they do have all that stuff at home, but because its there (and free for them) they just like to take advantage?
I know people like this, their kids look like hobos but the parents have all the latest and greatest tech gadgets. They take any and all hand me downs and that gives them the excuse that they can spend their money on other non necessities for themselves (and the family).Take away the hand-outs and then they would be forced to spend their money on clothes. The behavior you describe makes me think that these people are trash, not much be can done for that.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

How do you know the school has to supply those things to the kids. Maybe they do have all that stuff at home, but because its there (and free for them) they just like to take advantage?
I know people like this, their kids look like hobos but the parents have all the latest and greatest tech gadgets. They take any and all hand me downs and that gives them the excuse that they can spend their money on other non necessities for themselves (and the family).Take away the hand-outs and then they would be forced to spend their money on clothes. The behavior you describe makes me think that these people are trash, not much be can done for that.

There are a few reasons that I know the school is supplying their items. First of all I have donated a ton to the 'forgot box' and I see the kids wearing the stuff I brought. That part didn't bother me that is why I donated. I would hate for any child to be without gloves and such on a cold day. And I have seen this family for 5 years..take away the hand me downs and the kids go without. It just makes me sick. I have gone without before so my kids wouldn't ever go without and I just don't get why other parents just don't get it. I wasn't looking to do anything about it there is nothing to do. I was just venting.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

There are a few reasons that I know the school is supplying their items. First of all I have donated a ton to the 'forgot box' and I see the kids wearing the stuff I brought. That part didn't bother me that is why I donated. I would hate for any child to be without gloves and such on a cold day. And I have seen this family for 5 years..take away the hand me downs and the kids go without. It just makes me sick. I have gone without before so my kids wouldn't ever go without and I just don't get why other parents just don't get it. I wasn't looking to do anything about it there is nothing to do. I was just venting.

I completely understand. The only thing you can do is vent here and say a prayer for the kids.

 

[glitterkittyy]

Sending your child to school without a coat or without the proper footwear repeatedly is neglect. I might consider doing something about it.

 

[luvmy3]

There are a few reasons that I know the school is supplying their items. First of all I have donated a ton to the 'forgot box' and I see the kids wearing the stuff I brought. That part didn't bother me that is why I donated. I would hate for any child to be without gloves and such on a cold day. And I have seen this family for 5 years..take away the hand me downs and the kids go without. It just makes me sick. I have gone without before so my kids wouldn't ever go without and I just don't get why other parents just don't get it. I wasn't looking to do anything about it there is nothing to do. I was just venting.

I know, I didn't mean to imply that you were looking to do something. I just meant that some people are like that, and unfortunately its just how they will always be. Its a shame some parents won't put their kids first, but those kids are lucky to have people at the school like you who donate so that they have something, at least somebody is thinking of them.

 

[dislaney]

I hate to see kids doing without because of the poor choices their parents make.

 

[luvmy3]

Sending your child to school without a coat or without the proper footwear repeatedly is neglect. I might consider doing something about it.

The school has the legal obligation to report that, so if it is true, something was most likely already done. I think the OP is doing what she can.

 

[glitterkittyy]

The school has the legal obligation to report that, so if it is true, something was most likely already done. I think the OP is doing what she can.

Sorry, I should've been clear. I wasn't implying that the OP should. I was saying what I would do. I can be somewhat of something that rhymes with witch when it comes to neglect (whether it be children, the elderly, animals, etc.). I understand that the OP wishes there was something she could do. Unfortunately there is no magical cure for stupid.

 

[GoofyGoober]

People have really asinine priorities. That might even be a child services issue.

 

[AprilShowers]

Wow, that makes me sad. When we were little, we didn't kow we were poor. Always had a winter coat & shoes, gloves, hats, mittens etc. We didn't know till years later that our Mother went without many of those things (and more) so that we would be taken care of.

 

[Luvmy4boys]

Wow, that makes me sad. When we were little, we didn't kow we were poor. Always had a winter coat & shoes, gloves, hats, mittens etc. We didn't know till years later that our Mother went without many of those things (and more) so that we would be taken care of.

Yup, that's what Moms do. Just because you are able to give birth to children doesn't mean you should have children.

 

[HM]

I remember when my kids were in elementary school, and there were a couple really young children waiting outside school an hour before it started just about every day. I asked the principal why they weren't in the before school program. She said that they'd offered it to the family and they wouldn't accept it (even free). The parents had jobs that started early and so left the kids at school. I just was so mad about it. To drop off your kids before the teachers are even there, to stand in the cold until school starts, is just not right.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

That breaks my heart. I don't like the term hate for people but I really hate parents like that. Those poor kids.

And you are right, if you take away the hands outs or the help, the parents will not do anything for the kids. They will just spend the less they have on themselves, not the kids.
This is a really sore subject for me due to some family members like that so I hear you OP.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

This would have made my blood boil to see something like that. Those poor kids. It just breaks my heart to hear of things like that happening. Me? I would want to contact someone, even though I sould stay out of it.

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

Wow, that makes me sad. When we were little, we didn't kow we were poor. Always had a winter coat & shoes, gloves, hats, mittens etc. We didn't know till years later that our Mother went without many of those things (and more) so that we would be taken care of.

You are so right! Gosh, I'm a sap...that brought tears to my eyes. My Mom was the same. She struggled..but we never went without. She had only1 pair of pants and 1 skirt to wear to work but we always had food and warm clothes. Gosh what a jerk I was to her when I was 15....I'm going to call her and tell her I love her....I must be hormonal today

OP...Selfish people make selfish parents....it's a horrible fact of life.

 

[DizBelle]

OP - you are wrong. This should ABSOLUTELY bother you. I'm extremely annoyed by people who have children and then refuse to take care of them. It's absolutely shameful.

 

[Handbag Lady]

It bothers me too and of course, you can't say anything.

The thing that gets me is that these kids will probably do the same when they grow up and have kids. They would be just doing what they've learned.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

Thanks for the replies. These are the same kind of people that have music booming out of their car and smoking with the windows rolled up (it is cold you know) while yelling at their infant, in the back seat, to stop crying.