Is Mother of Five a Child Abuser

Abusive Mother

It can be seen that the mother of five, in the book, does not abuse them. Typically, child abuse is about intentional detrimental action or inaction of a care giver towards the children under their (caregiver's) care. Further, abuse is such action or inaction that leads to some form of suffering, injury or death of the vulnerable and dependent child. Child mistreatment takes many forms. It may involve physical abuse, exploitation, sexual abuse, emotional abuse or even neglect. When a parent or caregiver metes physical injury that is non-accidental to a child, then it qualifies as physical abuse. Whereas physical abuse also takes various forms, the following signs are common and can be noticed easily. Therefore, when you see them, you should raise an alarm, or notify authorities.

Sexual abuse occurs when an adult uses a child to satisfy their own sexual desires or fantasies or even leads the child to participate in sexual activities. When older and more powerful children force younger ones to engage in sexual acts that seek to gratify the older children, it is also regarded as sexual abuse.

In addition, if a caregiver denies a child their right to social, physical, and mental development, or even makes the child experience severe emotional harm, it is perceived to be emotional abuse. Whereas abuse may occur incidentally, most child abuse cases are systematic and routine. They cause damage over a period of time.

Child neglect involves situations when a caregiver or parent fails to attend to the physical and emotional needs of the child under their care. It entails failure to provide the necessary conditions requisite for a child's normal development. Some highlights of child neglect include

Lack of sufficient supervision

Emotional abandonment

Failure to provide required medical attention

Failure to take children to school (Childhelp, 2016)

It can be deduced from the article that the mother of the five children does not qualify to be labeled a child abuser; judging from the conversation she has with the child welfare officer. Nevertheless, it is evident that the care she provides for her children is not sufficient. Her children are wayward. They move about in an almost naked state and have only one mattress to sleep at night between them. This is evident in the description given in the case file given to Mr. Parent; "mother lives alone with her five children aged 2 to 7 years." The house has no furniture. The siblings patch on the floor to sleep, and they are commonly seen "running wild" in the hallways. The building is dilapidated, and there are drug pushers roaming and occupying spaces on all floors. The children are left alone, and they go about naked without anyone to supervise them. It is not clear whether the homestead has any food but it can be observed that the mother recently had a child who appears lean, thin and weak (Parent, 1996, p. 304)."

The children are brought up in an unsuitable environment for anyone; let alone children. It is unhealthy and unsafe. The structure they inhabit is on the verge of collapse and is largely deserted. It is reported that the building was on its way out. Further, it is noted that on the eighth floor of the structure, apartments are deserted and locked (Parent, 1996, p. 309)." The surrounding area was risky and full of people who could easily mete harm on the children or even serve as negative influence.

The neighborhood was so scary that even the welfare officers had to seek police escort to access the family quarters. The welfare officer expresses the need to move to the scene with "a couple of cops" There is a need to move into the family home with security personnel with guns. The speaker says further that the security officers carrying their radios would help scare away "predatory denizens ... " (Parent, 1996, p. 306).