To question friends parenting and wonder if I should do anything?

[Opal93]

One of my less close friends has a 13 year old daughter who she says she “can’t stand” because she reminds her too much of her ex. The poor girl tries everything to win her love but she just puts her down, humiliates her and allows her son to openly bully her. She is a very hands off parent, isn’t particularly interested in the son either and doesn’t like taking them to any hobbies or interests and she just sort of expects them to entertain themselves all day. Both kids desperately need to go to the dentist but she refuses as according to her “dentists creates problems to make money” ! So I do feel desperately sorry for her kids and a few things show red flags of neglect, but she spends an insane amount of money on birthdays and Christmas and she would argue that her kids don’t do without anything. Is there anything at all I can do? Social services feels a bit much

Refusing them dental treatment is neglect.
Social services could give her some parenting advice, and support. Rather than anything bad.

Do something please, for that poor girl.

That’s Awful. Yes please report. That poor girl

Please do contact social services. What she is doing to the child is neglect and emotional abuse. That girl will grow up and feel bitter towards all the adults who could have done something to improve her situation but sat idly by.
This is exactly what SS are there for. I know if it was Ireland SS will support the mother in her parenting and get the child dental treatment. Please make the call, you can do it anonymously.

Yes please report.
Also she’s under 18 which means she’s entitled to free dentistry under the NHS, so the money ‘excuse’ isn’t even valid.

Please refer this , even if it is to the schools. My teenage best friend's mum was like this and my friend was ripe for grooming by a predatory arsehole in his 40's when she was barely 15

It sounds like neglectful and emotionally abusive parenting. If not for SS ( I am a retired SW and it is probably under the threshold for intervention) then maybe the NSPCC to see if they can maybe raise it with whoever they think is best to help?

That’s terrible. Poor girl.

The children are being neglected and the daughter is being abused so no, social services isn’t “a bit much”.

You need to report this, this friend not taking care of her DCs’ teeth is neglect. And that poor girl needs you to speak up for her.