With a side of Insurance Company making your life easier instead of harder-ma.

Not!son decided to go back to his car last night. I don't think it got into the negative temperatures last night, but it's still well below freezing. But, you know, his choice. We fed him dinner and then Tim took him back to his car. As far as I know, he didn't freeze to death overnight.

And speaking of freezing, our Horrible Abusive Neighbor Mom who lives across the street just screamed profanity and insults at her 8-year-old son and scared him so badly that he ran down the street in a short-sleeved shirt and pants (no coat) in 25-degree weather to get away from her.

I feel like I need to call Child Protective Services about her. Considering what she's willing to do in front of her neighbors, and the lengths I've witnessed her son go to in order to stay out of arm's reach of her, I think the assumption that she is much worse behind closed doors isn't wrong.

And this shit triggers me so badly. In the actual meaning of the word, not "oh, it bums me out to hear her yell," but actual flashbacks and panic attacks.

Please do so. Your reports from the neighbor are really heart breaking.

I've been keeping an ear out to see if he's come back yet (where I sit, I can see out the front window, but can't see their house directly, so I can't see if he's come back). He could get really hurt in this weather. And the fact that that's preferable to being in the house with her is terrifying.

And my fucking childhood has broken my calibration, because I keep second-guessing myself and thinking "Well, it's not *that* bad, right? I'm overreacting." It literally takes you calling it heartbreaking for me to realize that it's actually pretty awful and not okay.

I'm so sorry, Steph.

Steph, from what you describe, it sounds like somebody needs to intervene in that situation. My detector of emotional abuse doesn't work very well. But that child needs help. If he's so upset as to run out the door when so inadequately dressed for the weather, something is terribly wrong.

If he's so upset as to run out the door when so inadequately dressed for the weather, something is terribly wrong.

This. Can you call CPS and say you're not sure if they should be involved but describe what you saw?

Steph, Carolyn Hax often recommends people who don't quite know what to do call Childhelp, 1-800-4-A-CHILD; she says, "it's a child-abuse-prevention nonprofit and a good source of guidance on getting involved."

Here's one column where she recommends it: [link]