Swearing parent...

[toptigger]

Hi, our garden backs onto a neighbour who is a single parent with a young teenager (girl) and a toddler 2 or 3 (boy). We constantly day in day out hear her shouting and swearing at her kids, mostly "what the f..k is wrong with you" at the toddler very often "shut up", when he's crying/screaming (which is often). other comments are "are you a f.....g moron" etc etc. occasionally we hear calm kind words but mostly just angry annoyed comments towards the children......is this something to report to NSPCC...it sounds like she needs help with coping...
Its becoming very difficult to hear how she interacts with the kids.
The toddler does have a bit of a throwing himself on the floor and have a tantrum habit. Any thoughts advice is welcome...

This is a hard one, unless you suspect she miss-treats them then I would tread carefully. Language & the way people speak to their kids is different for everyone, my parents were swearers, but were also very loving. But if you think she is emotionally abusing the kids then of course its your duty to report.

In the first instance I would try approaching her all smiles and disarming her with your friendliness. Ask if she needs anything because you understand how difficult parenting can be in this situation. (You could knock on her door and say you heard her in her garden without reference to the sweary bits). Hopefully she will get the message. If she is rude to you/carries on I might take it further .

We did think we might let her know that noise travels very easily around the houses, terraced with small gardens, and indeed see what response we get......I did think if she doesn't worry about swearing at her kids she won't worry too much as to what says to us...although you never know.
We have never heard any indication of physical abuse...it is the (seamingly) constant demeaning, shouting and swearing that we worry is emotional abuse....

That is emotional abuse and just as damaging, if not more so than physical abuse. Please report it, she may not realise the damage that she’s doing or may not be coping well, this could ensure she gets help if she needs it.

Report this please.