I just got back from a sleepover at my friend's house over the weekend. We had a lot of fun, except most of the time I felt very uncomfortable with her mother and the way she ran the household. My friend's sister was CONSTANTLY verbally abused, being called stupid, being told she had no brain, and even called ugly and fat and useless. Plus, she was smacked on the head numerous times in front of me, and I think she was spanked in the bathroom way too much or too hard (I heard crying and slight yelling). My friend she punched on the hand, and pulled on the hair and also verbally abused. The mother was arguing with the father a lot also. Now, this is my friend's stepmother. My friend's father seemed all right, he didn't seem abusive in any way. But the stepmother was absolutely horrible, and I don't know what to do... is it normal for parents to treat their kids like this, so strict and abusive? Or am I just lucky to have parents that don't lay a hand on me and constantly tell me they love me and hug me? Please answer, because if my friend is in danger, I'd like to know what to do ASAP. Thanks! :)

No that is not normal. I would confide in your parents about what happened and see what they think should be done. If this is the US, typically someone can make an anonymous call to Child Protective Services and the household would be investigated for abuse.

Your friends Stepmother is wrong in the way she treats her stepchildren and you are a very good, caring girl for trying to find out how to help. Please talk to a trusted adult and get some help for your friend.

Talk to a trusted adult ; one of your own parents, one of your teachers (preferably one that also has your friend and/or her sister as students), a counselor at school, your clergyman. Any one of them will be able to guide you as to the proper course of action. It sounds like an abusive situation that should be addressed at once.

I think you should tell your parents or maybe someone at school. That is not normal and my family use to take in Kids like that a while back. And we took in Kids like that that had the same problem. At first they are really angry and don't want to be in the new place then they come to find out what a real home is with parents who treat you great. You should tell someone asap so your friend gets help and not hurt.

My two children were constantly abused by their father's and step-mother when they would go to their house and no one would listen to me (I was just labeled an emotional mother) but if a neutral person would have reported it then it would have made it easier for my kids to get out of that situation a lot sooner. Thanks to a courageous teacher who kept records and reported it they were finally taken away from the abuse. ALWAYS, ALWAYS REPORT IT! The sooner the better.

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Originally Posted by tammyris123

My two children were constanly abused by their father's and step-mother when they would go to their house and no one would listen to me (I was just labled an emotional mother) but if a neutral person would have reported it then it would have made it easier for my kids to get out of that situation a lot sooner. thanks to a courageous teacher who kept records and reported it they were finally taken away from the abuse. ALWAYS, ALWAYS REPORT IT! The sooner the better.

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