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AIBU?

to think my niece is being neglected?

238 replies

Carlalala101 · 28/02/2017 22:39

I live very close to my sister and my ten year old niece; I look after her before and after school while my sister works and occasionally during the evenings or weekends if my sister goes out so DN and I are very close. My sister has been a single parent since DN was one and her ex sees DN on alternate weekends and for half of the holidays.

When she is with her dad, he (or someone he knows) collects her from school. She says he's often on his phone and continues this via Bluetooth during the 45 minute journey home. He then gets home and falls asleep as he's tired from his week at work. She then has unlimited access to his phone, ipad, tv and food cupboards. She's watched things which have given her nightmares for weeks before and even if he isn't asleep, he let's/encourages her to watch them. Her dad is morbidly obese and goes through cycles of gorging then surviving on smoothies. DN is naturally very greedy and doesn't know when to stop when it comes to food. He will buy her a large adult meal with milkshake plus an extra burger and ice cream at mcdonalds. When they went to Pizza Hut last week she said she had nine slices plus chips and ice cream. She giggles about eating ten biscuits or half a tube of pringles without him even noticing. She would never think to take food without permission at home or mine so I can only think he does know but doesn't stop her.

She is a soap dodger and hates brushing her teeth. My sister brushes them for her because otherwise she'll just pretend to do it and ended up with fillings last year. My sister chats with her while she showers to make sure she's washing, otherwise she just let's the water run for a bit then gets out. My DN doesn't care about being supervised and my DSIS figures when she does care she'll also care about washing properly. When she's at her dad's, he doesn't check on her tooth brushing or showering despite my sister having mentioned several times to him that DN is coming home smelly and sore. I picked her up from school on Monday and I could smell her breath and sweat immediately. She's on the cusp of puberty and does need to shower daily now. My sister has spoken to her about hygiene but DN doesn't care if she smells but then gets upset when she starts becoming sore down below.

DN says she goes to bed at the same time as her dad (I. E. late) waits for him to start snoring and then goes to get the ipad and snacks for herself. She is always extremely ratty on a Monday from lack of sleep. After she's finished on the ipad she gets into bed with him and he doesn't send her back to her room, despite DSIS having told him that it results in DN being extremely upset at home when DSIS won't let her share her bed.

My DSIS is exasperated with it all but thinks it's all just minor stuff that a court wouldn't be interested in so there's nothing she can do. I think DN is being neglected while with her dad and that my DSIS shouldn't keep letting it continue. DN is too immature to take responsibility for herself so I think DSIS should make sure things change. What do you think?

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LagunaBubbles · 01/03/2017 12:04

What does your sister make of your nieces soreness?

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BeyondUnderthinking · 01/03/2017 12:16

The soreness is a big thing, but I'm surprised that alongside it no one has pointed out that neglect of self care (the showering, teeth and even her weight) is also a sign of sexual abuse.

Bed sharing, boundary issues and uncontrolled Internet would all be "minor" issues usually. But when painting a picture of it all...

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Blinkyblink · 01/03/2017 12:19

Not neglect

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Carlalala101 · 01/03/2017 13:53

I have explained that she gets in the shower at her dad's but doesn't wash. He must know this as she smells and because he regularly uses the bathroom at the same time but he doesn't do anything about it. He does have an alternative toilet in the house he could use.

DSIS hasn't taken her to the GP because the soreness clears up after a shower and occasionally some cream.

DN hasn't made any inferences that sexual abuse could be taking place. The redness does seem to be due to a combination of poor wiping and not showering.

The Thursday activity is Cubs until 9.30, not home until 10 and 10.30 before she settles to sleep so far too late to shower but no, it isn't a strenuous sweaty activity.

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Carlalala101 · 01/03/2017 13:57

Also as stated earlier DSIS has been to court with her ex before and raised the sudden start of bed sharing and was portrayed as twisted for suggesting it's inappropriate. They said the fact she gets upset if she can't shows how much she loves and misses her father and it demonstrates a strong and healthy bond Hmm

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Bluntness100 · 01/03/2017 14:09

Something is very very not right about this thread. She should not be visibly red and sore and if she is, then visibly red and sore simply doesn't clear up after a shower or occassionally some cream. That's not how the human body works.

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BeyondUnderthinking · 01/03/2017 14:11

Inferences like what? As I said, self neglect on its own can be a sign - even without all the other issues.

What would you like to achieve from this thread?
I apologise if that sounds snarky - I can't think how else to word it, I just want to know how you want us to help?

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Carlalala101 · 01/03/2017 14:11

Of course it does Bluntness. What happens with nappy rash?

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ghostspirit · 01/03/2017 14:15

When my baby has nappy rash. It takes a few days or so to clear when using nappy rash cream. Might depend on people skin though

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Rixera · 01/03/2017 14:15

You treat nappy rash repeatedly, and after a while it goes away. Not just a shower and cream.

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Pineappletastic · 01/03/2017 14:26

My baby has only had nappy rash once, but you'd have had to be changing her nappy to see it, not in the same room while she was naked, and that took a few days with cream to clear up. If it were so bad you could spot it by being in the same room I imagine it would take much longer, no?

What wondrous cream is this?

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Carlalala101 · 01/03/2017 14:27

My children have only needed one or two applications for it to go, as does DN which is why DSIS hasn't taken her to the GP.

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Carlalala101 · 01/03/2017 14:29

DN is forever cartwheeling around, naked or not. She doesn't have any inhibitions yet. Just plain old Sudo cream she uses.

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Rixera · 01/03/2017 14:30

Then you have magic children, well done.

Either way I think the risk of abuse is worth at least a doctor's appointment to prevent, and I think if a parent was genuinely concerned about their child they would push for further investigation rather than bow humbly to a court judgment that happened before further symptoms arising.

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Bluntness100 · 01/03/2017 14:35

Nappy rash doesn't just disappear after a wash or sometimes an occasional cream application.

I'm actually typeless for the first time. 😯

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FrenchLavender · 01/03/2017 14:38

Something is very very not right about this thread. She should not be visibly red and sore and if she is, then visibly red and sore simply doesn't clear up after a shower or occassionally some cream. That's not how the human body works.

I totally agree and that comment made me go Hmm as well.

Nappy rash is totally different. It is caused by the area being constantly damp and the high acidity of urine and poo. Just missing a few days of showering alone would not do this to a child every other week and then miraculously clear up after a wash and a dollop of Sudocreme, only to happen again the next weekend at her dads. That JUST WOULD NOT HAPPEN.

I assume he isn' doing her washing for her in a powder she's sensitive to? It may be as simple as he buys scented wet wipes for use on the loo and they don't agree with her but lack of showering alone will not do this.

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Bluntness100 · 01/03/2017 14:41

That JUST WOULD NOT HAPPEN

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Carlalala101 · 01/03/2017 14:47

There's really no point in me saying yes it happens only to be told no it doesn't. Fact is it feels better after a shower and cream, and while the redness may not disappear immediately it feels more comfortable for DN so that's the important thing.

I wouldn't have thought washing powder would only affect her in that area?

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ghostspirit · 01/03/2017 14:55

Would there be any harm in taking her to the gp?

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SookiesSocks · 01/03/2017 14:55

DSIS hasn't taken her to the GP because the soreness clears up after a shower and occasionally some cream.

No it doesnt.

If this is happening regular and only when she returns home to mum then isnt your sister neglecting her by not taking her to the GP?

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Pineappletastic · 01/03/2017 14:55

Is your DN NT? I don't have DCs that age yet, but surely if she feels better after a shower and some cream, but is repeatedly getting sore from not washing she'd have made the connection by now.

I really don't want to ask this as I fear I'm feeding the trolls, but does she apply it herself?

Does she have any personal boundaries at all. Would she know if something inappropriate was happening to her?

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Maudlinmaud · 01/03/2017 14:59

Honestly op you have a lot going on at the moment in your own life, probably best to voice your concerns to your sister and then offer support with whatever she decides to do. This thread really cannot give you answers.

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FrenchLavender · 01/03/2017 15:00

Considering how much detail you claim to know about this and how invested you are in it, I am surprised you haven't seriously considered for other explanations (both of the mundane and very concerning variety) to explain her regular redness and soreness.

You seem to want to demonise her father and have gone to great pains to explain the sleeping arrangements there, mentioned her post-visit soreness MANY times and yet you say you have no concerns about sexual abuse. Confused

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FrenchLavender · 01/03/2017 15:01

Yet I get the impression you want us to think that might be happening even though you aren't directly saying it.

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Carlalala101 · 01/03/2017 15:02

She is NT but extremely naive for her age.

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