I've posted in IABU because I don't really know where else to put this. I could do with a "what would you do....?" section.
There is a dad of three boys at our school, he brings them in and collects them most days as the mum works, parents are no longer together. Only relevant because the mum is not around at school times so doesn't know what happens iyswim?
Mum is lovely and friendly, dad is quiet, doesn't speak, I have tried to strike up conversations with him, not got very far.
In the all the many years I have passed him with his children, I realise I have never ever heard him chatting to them, you know the banter that usually goes on. The only time he speaks is to tell them off. I have never seen him smile, ever.
Ok, so that's a bit sad, but no great parenting crime. There is ,however, something that bothers me. His middle son age 6 always seems to get the brunt of the telling off/ cross words. This child is very timid, hardly speaks, but is a lovely boy. The father is very strict with him in particular.
Yesterday close to school in the morning, I could hear someone really laying into their child. I thought something really serious must have happened. Then there was this dad, he's a BIG man, shouting and shouting at this little boy and it quickly became apparent that this was because the had boy complained that his little brother had pushed into him.
The dad was accusing him of lying, really yelling at him.
Well this has been niggling me.
If you were me would you say something to anyone.
I have wrestled with the morals of this. Is it my duty to mention concerns to the school for the boy's sake. Should I get my hoooter out of the situation?
I have never had the misfortune to worry about the welfare of a child ( outside teaching that is) and I don't know what to do
If I were that child's mother I would want to know.
So if you were me what would you do?
God we really need a WWYD? section here.