A friend told me in confidence, her husband back handed their 7 year old daughter, making her fly across the room. The friend then told me, she herself had smacked the daughter across her face. They also condone their daughter having "special time" to herself, so she can sexually satisfy herself. The mother laughs about it to me, and says she has also watched her daughter do this. My friend leaves the daughter at home with the father, and tells the father to "let her go and play with herself'. The father is watching pornography in the other room while this is going on, so says my friend. I find this very disturbing, but none of my business either. It embarrassed me when my friend was telling me. Is this cause to report over to CPS? Not sure what to do, if I need to do anything at all. Please help as I am having mixed emotions as to report or not.

Hi there, I am also quite concerned about this child, as she definitely isn't experiencing a normal childhood. I think that we have to assume the worst, and believe that everything your friend has told you is true. I think the best you can do is repeat everything your friend told you to CPS, just so they are aware that this is happening. They will be the judge of whether it is abuse or not and whether it needs to be dealt with.
Best wishes, God bless x

While some of this seems odd or alarming, I see nothing to warrant a CPS call except for the backhanding that hard. Does physical harm happen a lot? Or was it just that one time?

When in doubt, I would call, and it would be looked into.

As a teacher, I report all suspicious behavior. The role of CPS is to decide if abuse is taking place, not me. I would rather report and have it investigated, rather than allow harm to come to a child. I would be very concerned about this child.

I agree with teacherjenn4 100%. I would rather call CPS and be wrong, then not call and be right. Is the child being abused? From what your friend told you I would say she definitely is. But it's not your judgement that matters. You can only call and hope that if this child is in danger, she's helped.

I do believe that your call is anonymous, or you can request not to be named in the complaint.

You know deep down that this is the right thing to do, otherwise it wouldn't be weighing on your mind so heavily.

Alty, CPS will never reveal the source of the complaint, but you must provide your name, details of suspected abuse, etc. They also will not tell you the result of the complaint. It is hard to do, and I get very upset, but I would never want a suspicion of abuse to be ignored. The child abuse classes I have taken all say to report and when in doubt, REPORT!

A friend told me in confidence, her husband back handed their 7 year old daughter, making her fly across the room. The friend then told me, she herself had smacked the daughter across her face. They also condone their daughter having "special time" to herself, so she can sexually satisfy herself. The mother laughs about it to me, and says she has also watched her daughter do this. My friend leaves the daughter at home with the father, and tells the father to "let her go and play with herself'. The father is watching pornography in the other room while this is going on, so says my friend. I find this very disturbing, but none of my business either. It embarrassed me when my friend was telling me. Is this cause to report over to CPS? Not sure what to do, if I need to do anything at all. Please help as I am having mixed emotions as to report or not.


I'd like to know what the OP says to the friend - does she listen, express shock, express concern for the child, state this is inappropriate, laugh along with her friend, do nothing?

That is inappropriate behavior for a 7 year old. REPORT IT AT ONCE!