I am steamed. A little boy (we're talking tiny kindergartner) had

[ScreamingMeemie]

a nose bleed on the bus stop this morning. It's really cold here today (8 degrees again), so I am sure that had something to do with it. Anyway, there were about 5 of us moms on the stop. The bus was pulling up and his sister (about 8) was asking someone to help. I looked for a kleenex in my pocket...nothing. So I pulled off my glove and held it to his nose,tipping his head back. All the while, these chocolate brown eyes are looking up and me and he's saying, "I wanna go home"...

I told his sister to take him to the office the minute he got off the bus, and sent them on their way with my glove to the poor guy's nose. :(

Anyway, the other moms just stood there...watching. No help...nothing. As we're walking home, one of the neighbors said,"I hope you don't have any cuts on your hands." "WHAT?"

"Well, in this day of AIDS...you can never be too careful." What the hell ever happened to the concept of neighborhood moms helping each other out with the kids. It made me sick...but then I'm tired, so maybe I overreacted. But still...poor little boy. :(

[malta blue]

1. You are a good woman Mrs. Grumpy!

I can't believe none of the other moms helped.

[ScreamingMeemie]

9. I was stunned...and pissed.

It reinforces that I will never send my little one off to the stop by himself.

[malta blue]

12. I drop my 1st grader off at a neighbor's house everyday.

She rides the HIGH SCHOOL bus because she goes to a private school, and everyday I worry. My neighbor has two girls who ride the bus with her, and they watch over her, but damn. What if that happened to my little one? She catches flak on the bus over her My Little Pony umbrella. Would any of those kids help her?

You did a very good deed today. I hope you are around if little Malta Blue ever needed someone.

[ScreamingMeemie]

22. I'm sure they would. And you know I would.

I just see things like this and know why so many of our kids have troubles and grow up to be selfish. They're learning it at the knee.

I mean AIDS? Even if the kid had AIDS :eyes:, this woman should know enough in this day and age to know the slim risk of contracting it by casual contact. This poor baby's face is going to be in my head all day.

[malta blue]

23. People are just so friggin ignorant.

I sometimes wonder how they get through life unscathed.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

40. Afraid of AIDS from a 5-year-old?

Geez, these are probably the same types of mothers who voted for Bush because the Russian school hostage incident scared them. :eyes:

[peacefreak]

2. Mrs. Grumpy

What a kind thing you did. That little boy with big brown eyes will always remember the lady who helped him. The other "ladies"? I hope they remember with no small discomfort the day they turned their backs on a little kid. How would they feel if it were their kid?

[ScreamingMeemie]

10. That's what was going through my mind. We are too compartmentalized

in our thinking these days. I remember other moms bandaging my boo boos when I was a child. Our kids have nobody to rely on but us anymore. and it's sad. :(

[cmd]

3. Thank you, Mrs. Grumpy

It's good to know that you are around to help out. Shame on the other women. If they were so terrified, they could have at least handed the little boy something and told him to hold it on his nose. They disgust me.

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. In my mind, it should have been second nature to want to help.

This little boy had blood all over his face, and they just stood there. :(

[DanCa]

4. See Animals are better than human beings.

I seen dogs and cats adopt young that aren't thiers. Wolves dont inbreed. World gets worse and worse dont it? Mrs G thank you for giving this child the attention he needs and didn't get from others.

[ScreamingMeemie]

13. I always had hoped that someone would care for my son or daughter

if they ever needed it, but now I'm not so assured of that. :(

[ikojo]

86. Republican and capitalist family values

at work. I got mine and will do NOTHING to help you in a time of need. A pug would say the child's mom should have been there or the kid should have had the foresight to know he was going to have a bloody nose and carry tissue with him.

Self centered people raise self centered kids who care only about those in their own little family.

[matcom]

5. i bet he had a Cocaine problem

:hide:

[ScreamingMeemie]

14. I'm sure one of the other mom's probably thought that.

:) matcom, you always make me smile.

[JVS]

42. I bet he was an intravenous drug user without access to clean needles

Snot/Blood-nosed punk!

[matcom]

48. probably got punched trying to lift an old lady's purse

lil' bastard!

[JVS]

60. Mrs Grumpy should have tasered him! It's the only way he'll learn

[matcom]

71. he probably had so much SMACK in his system

wouldn't have even phased him :eyes:

[Thtwudbeme]

6. I hope they remember that

when someone refuses to help their bleeding child.

How sad.

[ScreamingMeemie]

15. They'll probably pitch a fit, call the school....sue.

Grrrr. It makes me mad. :(

[ThatsMyBarack]

31. Maybe the other moms' kids....

....are too perfect to ever have nosebleeds, so they will never have to worry....

:sarcasm:

[Fleshdancer]

7. what the hell???!!!

people suck! cuts on your hands? AIDS? wtf?? Sounds like you don't have much of a village Mrs. Grumpy. :(

So far the moms at my daughter's bus stop seem good but your experience makes me wonder. You probably thought the same before this morning. How does one see blood on a child and NOT want to do something? wow.

[ScreamingMeemie]

17. The parents of middle schoolers in this district think nothing of parkin

at the end of my driveway after school to pick up their kids (the catwalk through the neighborhood from the school is across the street), blocking off my car. The times I say something to them, you should hear the nastiness. These are the parents in my district. And they should be ashamed of themselves. :(

[kick-ass-bob]

20. Just take a cordless drill out to the street.

and start squeezing the trigger.

[ScreamingMeemie]

21. Hey now....great idea!

The one woman has a Jag...hmmmmmm...Thanks kab! :)

[kick-ass-bob]

24. that's me for ya, always finding ways to get DUers arrested!

:P

[lakemonster11]

59. I saw a guy idling his car the other day

waiting for the high school bus to arrive. His daughters got off the bus, walked ten feet, and got into his car.

I really hoped they were going on some sort of planned outing and that he didn't always pick them up to spare them an afternoon walk in our incredibly safe suburban neighborhood. I also suppose it's possible that they lived far away, but it seems like in that case, he could have just as easily picked them up at school.

[ScreamingMeemie]

74. I would doubt it. These people park up and down the street in front

of our house. this school is centrally located in the neighborhood....longest walk home would be 10 minutes, and they still pick them up.But not in the parking lot, because that takes TOO much time and is too crowded so they'll just inconvenience the people who pay to live on a quiet residential street. Oh grrrr. :hi:

[ikojo]

87. I have a friend who lives in a very affluent

suburb of St Louis. His kid is 15 years old and they went to a hockey game the other day. My friend said he was glad they had a suite because that way if his son wanted to use the bathroom he wouldn't have to worry. I asked what did he have to worry about, his son is 15. He actually said he would worry about someone taking him. If a 15 year old has not been taught how to ward off an attacker (SCREAM as loudly as possible).

I don't know how these kids are going to fare when in college. After all most of their time has been planned by their parents. They have very little time to imagine and play.

[kick-ass-bob]

8. Jesus Fucking Christ.

I don't have any words for those fucking idiots.

You are a doll, MrsG.
:loveya:

[ScreamingMeemie]

18. Those are perfect words for them.

and it takes one to know one. :hug: :loveya:

[Callalily]

16. I'm proud of you MrsGrumpy

I can't believe any of those other moms didn't want to help because of an imagined health risk. For that very reason I embrace my naiveté. You are a good person MrsGrumpy!

[ScreamingMeemie]

19. It never even crossed my mind. And it shouldn't have crossed the

minds of the other moms. :( He was just a baby needing help.

I called the school to let them know what happened and the secretary sighed and said,"I'm sure he's fine." I told her, "That's not what I called for, I called to tell you to take care of him. He was frightened." :grr:

I have a bone to pick with school offices as well. So many times I've been in my son's school and have seen them treat children who come asking to go home as if they are lying. Yes, sometimes kids just want to go home. Sometimes they really ARE sick. All the time they are looking for someone to care about them, and these secretaries are so unsympathetic I want to smack them. I absolutely adore the secretary at my daughter's high school. She treats them all as if they are her own. Is proud of them and their accomplishments...and even calls to check on Nikki when I call her in sick. More people should be like her. :hi:


You are a good person too, SF.

[Midlodemocrat]

29. You are a good person, Mrs. G.

And as far as the school personnel go....:eyes:

At my daughter's school, I have a reputation as a bit of a hard ass because I called people on how they were treating these little kids, so if my daughter needs to use the clinic or the phone or anything, they let her. Which is good for us, but not good for the little one who doesn't have such a pain in the ass mom.

Squeaky wheel does get the grease.

[johnnie]

25. Things sure have changed

First, I never got a bus to school when I was in Kindergarten, I walked alone. And secondly, I had nosebleeds so much that year that they had a clothespin in the office for me and I would just go in there, grab the pin, clip it to my nose and lay down.

What's up with these 5-year-olds these days?

[Brewman_Jax]

26. That was very kind of you

Those moms just standing around and doing nothing? I can't think of any instance where any mom would just do nothing. That's a sad commentary to what we've become. :(

[ScreamingMeemie]

50. Moms don't seem to be moms anymore.

I thought this kind of stuff would tug at anybody's heartstrings, but I guess I was mistaken. :(

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

27. I'm going to go out on a limb and make a guess

The boy was not white. Right or wrong?

[kick-ass-bob]

28. well, he could have been poorer, too.

Not dressing in clothing from the Gap or some such.

[Beausoir]

30. As a mom of little boys with chocolate brown eyes...

let me just say "Thank You" Mrs. G.

I would have done the same thing. The poor little fella.

Sometimes...I despair..I really do.

[ScreamingMeemie]

51. His little face was just so sad...and saying "I wanna go home..." it

just broke my heart. :hi:

[miss_american_pie]

32. Some people

Should really fear karma.

I don't think you're overreacting.

[ScreamingMeemie]

52. I'm really hoping for karma to zap this crew. The more I thought about

it, the angrier I got. When I let my son go to a neighbor's house to play, I trust they will care for him as I would. Now, I'm not so sure.

[Spacemom]

33. I bet they probably call themselves Christians too

Whatever happened to "whatsoever you do to the least of these?"

I'm so sick of all the self righteous bullshit, and so thankful there are still people like you out there.

I always make it a point to treat all the kids in our neighborhood just like I would my own. If they're hungry I feed them, if they're hurt, I tend them.

What happened to the time when most neighborhoods were like that? :(

[ScreamingMeemie]

53. I thought so too.

Yes, I am sure these people see them selves as perfect. Or die trying to be. :( Never fear, there are still some neighbors who care...there has to be.

[Blue Diadem]

34. Awww Mrs. Grumpy you are such a good kind person

People like you give me hope that goodness can still overcome in our country. I sit here with tears in my eyes thinking of that child needing help and those other mothers ignoring that. He's so lucky you were there..you made a lasting impression upon his little heart.

[ScreamingMeemie]

54. It turned my stomach to see that not one other mom rushed up to

help. I remember moms crowding around sick kids, and getting in each other's way. Thanks OurVotes. I just sit here hoping his day went better after that.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

35. They ARE having unprotected sex and sharing needles rather young nowadays

:hide: :yoiks: :evilgrin:

[ComerPerro]

38. That's probably how he got the nosebleed - cocaine

[ProfessorGAC]

36. Sheesh! I Don't Blame Ya, Grumpy

"I hope you don't have any cuts on your hands!"

What a dimwit. Unless it's an open wound, it would hardly matter. And, what are the odds a kindergartener would have the HIV virus. her compassion was oozing out of every pore.
The Professor

[ScreamingMeemie]

55. It was a stunningly stupid comment to make. I wish I had thought of

a snappy comeback, but I just turned up my drive and kept walking. Would this woman drive by a kid who got hit by a car because of the blood?

[ET Awful]

37. Good for you Mrs. G.

I can never quite comprehend the uncaring bullshit people like that display. :(

Thanks for helping out the poor guy.

[ScreamingMeemie]

56. He could have been my son. And those kids were all learning a

powerful lesson by watching those women just stand there. :(

[ET Awful]

61. Well, you certainly learned which neighbors NOT to have babysit

in a pinch eh?

[ScreamingMeemie]

62. Definitely!

So I am sending my son to your house tonight while we Christmas shop. He's good with cats. Quinn will love him! :)

[ET Awful]

66. Hehehe, believe it or not

Quinn is actually pretty good with kids . . . he'll take swipes at my hand and nip at me (not hard, but like he would another cat/litter mate), but with toddlers who've come to visit, he's just laid back and tolerant :) It's funny.

[ScreamingMeemie]

72. Something about his face makes me not doubt you one bit.

He's such a sweet looking boy.

[nini]

39. Do they use condoms with their husbands?

Because you know in the day of AIDS you can never be too careful..


:evilgrin:


on edit: btw: you did the right thing - kudos to you. :hi:

[ScreamingMeemie]

58. They probably practice Bush's "Abstinence Only"

:grr: thanks nini!

[elfrangel]

41. I can't imagine

being in a place like that. It's sad that those parents were thinking more of AIDS than a kid in need.

I'm so glad that you helped him....poor munchkin.

I don't think you overreacted. I think you underreacted. I would have given those moms a piece of my mind.

[ScreamingMeemie]

63. If I wasn't so sick about it, and quicker thinking I would have.

I've been irritated by it all day. That and the school's reaction when I called. :(

[bertha katzenengel]

43. Jesus Fucking Christ. I would like to THROTTLE the nitwit who

said that to you. :eyes:

:hug: for a good woman. :loveya:

[ScreamingMeemie]

64. Nitwit is the name. And I wanted to.

Thanks bv. :hug: :loveya:

[XemaSab]

44. Little boys carry cooties!

You'd better get yourself to the doctor for a cootie shot, STAT!

[ScreamingMeemie]

65. I am immune to cooties...having a boy of my own.

When you carry them in your body you become naturally immune. :hi:

[ucmike]

45. reminds me of a car ride with my dad

i was maybe 4 yrs old, i know i wasn't in school yet. we were driving down the main street in our trailer park (okay, i said it) and saw a kid on the side of the street crying, all tangled in his bicycle. dad pulled over immediately, and i remember he had to wait a second to get out because other cars were driving by. turns out the kid's shoelaces were caught in the chain and sprocket which had cause him to wreck his bike and trapped him because the laces had pulled tight when they wrapped around the crank. dad whipped out his trusty pocket knife, cut the kid free and then relaced his shoe so the kid could make it home safely.

30 years later i remember that little bit of kindness as clearly as i remember the other cars driving by.

anyway, good for you for helping out and i hope those other moms get the flu.

[ScreamingMeemie]

67. What a great memory to have of your dad.

I remember when people used to respond to children in need. :hi: Thanks for sharing that.

[davsand]

46. It takes a village...

I share your disgust, Laura. They are all our kids and the diffusion of responsibility that some folks have is just revolting.

This last September a kid in my daughter's class was hit by a car and killed while he was skateboarding. We all cried together because it is a very small school. We all knew that kid, we all know that family and we all were hurting. That kind of thing absolutely makes you realize that we all are in this parenting thing together. The loss of a child is so overwhelming that you need that support if you are gonna survive it.

Kevsand and I coach the girl's softball team every summer and I am horrified at the number of parents that refuse to be even involved, let alone help out.

Last summer I had a kid get nailed with a line drive and it gave her a bloody nose (WHAT IS it with kids and bloody noses?) Anyhow, I was dealing with that because the parents were off someplace, and this poor kid was scared to death. She was 7 years old and she wanted somebody other than me--but there WAS nobody else. She sat in my lap in the dugout crying and bleeding. THAT is part of it, and I did it freely and willingly.

As a regular course of the coaching thing I take care of the scrapes and bruises. It just goes with the turf. I carry a first aid bag to the games and I even visit the other team's dugout if they have somebody get nailed. THAT is how it works. (Hell, I even take treats and drinks for the other team that we play because I think it is important that the kids and coaches feel good when the game is over!)

When kids are at my house to play (a regular thing--my house seems to be the meeting place for the neighborhood) they get treats and drinks and band aids and all the adoration they can stand. I dispense treats, band aids and first aid and never even consider that it isn't my job. I wish more Moms and Dads would. It would make life a lot better for us all.

I dunno--maybe I'm just a sucker, but I agree with you all that we have to do that for the kids and for each other. Mrs G, you did the right thing in my book. Good for you!




The other Laura

[ScreamingMeemie]

68. Kids cannot always take care of themselves, so there should be adults

to help care for them. Moms at the bus stop should look out for other children. Nine times out of ten they sit and bitch about how this one is late and always keeps the bus waiting, or that ones parents are having their home foreclosed upon...

I am grateful for coaches like you. Luckily, both of my children had coaches who were involved and actually appeared to care about more than just the game. This today, and then the school repsonse..well, it doesn't make me wonder where kids learn lack of empathy anymore. :(

[rbnyc]

47. OMG!!

I don't know what I would have said in your situation. That's awful! I'm glad you were there to help.

:hugs:

[ScreamingMeemie]

69. You would have said it much better than I...

:hug: Thanks.

[taught_me_patience]

49. you did the right thing...

but that is the worst way to stop a nosebleed. Next time... pinch the nostrils shut from the outside and tilt the head forward. That way, blood doesn't drip down the back of the throat.

taught.

[redqueen]

57. No, you didn't overreact.

Good on ya for doing what you could, AND expecting that others should as well.

:hug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

70. Thanks redqueen. Maybe next time....

...but sadly, I doubt it. :hug:

[MissB]

73. The other mothers were stupid.

Or they all had cuts on their hands.

Good for you for going the extra mile in giving up a glove and calling the school. :applause:

[philosophie_en_rose]

75. How dangerous is helping a little boy with a nosebleed?

They didn't even have to touch him, but how about offering a tissue or a napkin or something. Or at least trying to look for one.

Sheesh. Even if their stupid comments about AIDS were true, wouldn't they be spreading the risk by not helping him contain the blood?



You're a good person, Mrs. Grumpy. I bet the worst thing about the nosebleed wasn't the blood. It was probably riding with people who treat him as if he has AIDS. Feeling weird and judged is terrible. Poor kid. It's people like you that make a difference.

I'm sure he'll remember you.

[Metta]

76. You were sickened in the disconnect

with the neighbors and your expectations.

[BlueIris]

77. Holy shit. While I agree you can never be too careful...

are these the kind of "mothers" who believe you can get HIV from teardrops or from hugging HIV + people?

[tjdee]

78. What should the other parents have done?

Mrs. G, you know I think you're awesome, and obviously getting your glove all bloodied up deserves a :hug: . There's no reason the neighbor had to say that dopey comment about cuts on your hands.

But what could they have done while you were dealing with his nose? Are you saying no one else tried to find a tissue? It was early, it was cold, the blood wasn't coming from his head, it was being taken care of. That's how they probably saw it.

Of course, kind comments would have been nice, I assume there were none.
And then to make stupid comments after that, *that's* the kicker, that's what would piss me off.

[BlueIris]

80. "Of course, kind comments would have been nice"

Not being ignorant assholes who actually gave a shit about anyone other than themselves and didn't feel the need to heartlessly criticize the kindness of others would have also been nice.

[ScreamingMeemie]

95. It was early and cold for me too. I asked if anyone had a tissue

and they just stood there blinking at me. I usually always have tissue, but we just got through the sniffles at our house. No one bothered to check pockets for errant tissues...nothing. :(

[KitchenWitch]

79. Un Fucking Real

:eyes:

You did the right thing...

Gee, should we all just carry a pocket full of latex free exam gloves in our pockets for such situations? :sarcasm:

I hope the boy is okay.

[GreenPartyVoter]

81. Poor baby man!! I can't imagine that happening here in our tiny town

[WindRavenX]

82. Bravo, Mrs.Grumpy

:hug:

It should disgusts me what a selfish, paranoid nation we've become...but sadly, these scenes are becoming more and more commong

again, bless you

[skygazer]

83. What a good person you are

And it makes me sick to picture all those moms standing there doing NOTHING.

As far as lousy school staff goes, recently, a girl at my job had a problem with the staff at the school where her son attends kindergarten. She got to the school in plenty of time to pick him up, couldn't find parking and so ended up being a little late by the time she found a spot.

She discovered her 6 year old son outside the school getting beaten up by two older boys. Upset, she stomped into the office and asked "why the hell" no one was supervising her child.

A day later, she received a snotty and threatening letter from the principal who told her that her "threating" behavior had traumatized the staff and that she needed to be on time to pick up her son and that if she ever swore in the school again they'd get a restraining order, etc..

This girl is a young Hispanic girl whose English is not the greatest and who I'm sure they were trying to intimidate. I wrote a letter for her to give them, telling the principal that

"Certainly my use of profanity was wrong and I will acknowledge that. However, that does not justify your abdication of responsibility towards the children in your care. You say you take safety on your campus seriously – why then were there no adults supervising the children until they were safely in the custody of their parents? Does your responsibility end at the ring of the final bell? What if a parent were involved in an accident on the way to the school? Would their child simply be left adrift because the school day was technically over?

My son’s safety and well-being are my primary concerns. I think his safety is far more compromised by physical assault and lack of supervision than by seeing his mother upset. In addition, I resent your tactic of turning this around to make it sound as if I were somehow at fault for being upset. As a parent and a taxpayer, I have every right to expect that my child will be safe and properly supervised when he is at school. Please be informed that if such lack of supervision occurs again, resulting in his physical or psychological harm, I will be consulting my attorney."

The school has been unfailingly courteous ever since. (I'm known at work as the one to go to when you need a good, biting letter. LOL)

[donheld]

84. Well, at least they're keeping Christ in Xmas -- so there

:sarcasm:

[Redstone]

85. Don't tip his head back!

You're not supposed to do that anymore; it just makes the blood run down his throat.

Keep his head level, and pinch HARD to stop the bleeding.

Redstone

[xmas74]

88. That poor baby!

You did the right thing. How dare those other mothers stand there and watch him bleed!
I would have tried to stop it too. If I had a tissue I would have given him an old fashioned "spit shine" facing washing and thought nothing of it.
Proof that the country has gone down the tubes. How could anyone just stand there when it is obvious that a child needed them?

[Darth_Kitten]

89. You didn't overreact........

:(

Someone was being a tad paranoid. :(

[proud2BlibKansan]

90. You are a nice person Mrs. Grumpy

And those other mothers are mean.

[antigone382]

91. "I hope you don't have any cuts on your hands."

What a pissy thing to say. It sounds like this mom knew she had been stupid and cruel, and she was trying to assuage her own guilt by making you feel stupid for doing the right thing.

I'm not a mom, but I can't imagine not helping a kid--or anyone for that matter--in need. It's just part of being human...at least I'd like to think so.

[ChoralScholar]

92. It reminds me of our school nurse

telling all us teachers about 'universal precautions'. She was referring to CPR mouth shields, and said "Even if my HUSBAND needs mouth-to-mouth... I'm gonna use this mouth shield."

I thought to myself "What an exciting sex life they must have."

[NMMNG]

93. What cruel prats

:mad:

To stand there and do nothing for a scared, bleeding child, then to give you crap for helping him. No doubt they all run to their churches on Sunday and feel all pious about how righteous they are too. :eyes: Heartless whenches.

It's a good thing you were there MrsGrumpy. I'm sure that little boy will remember your kindness for a long time. :hug:

[lwbaby]

94. Can't believe this and m.

When this little boy was saying he wanted to go home, could he have?

Either way, thank you for just following what should be our all instincts and being a wonderful, caring person.

[ScreamingMeemie]

96. My first instinct was to walk him home, but I am not certain what

his parents do. I don't know if they both work or if they're home. He's always on the bus stop by himself (with sister) which makes me sad for him anyway. I figured to best thing to do would be to have his sister take him to the office when they got off the bus. :hi:

[stlsaxman]

97. How sad that fear controls our every move these days...

and how fortunate that there are those amoung us who are nurturing enough and selfless enough to not even give that fear a second thought. The zietgiest is such that fear of AIDS and "terrorism" rule our lives???

You are a true hero, MrsGrumpy.