So it's okay to spank your child but not breastfeed them? My visit from CPS

[paganbaby]

I hate ghetto people. I really, really do.

I just had CPS show up at my house yesterday and I know who called on me. Some trashy little girl from the neighborhood who my dd used to be friends with. They had a fight about a week ago and the girl swore she'd get Savannah back. Now a social worker shows up asking about (skewed) events that only the girl would have known. I'm so pissed.

Here were the allegations

I have a filthy house. (Nope)The kids just drop trash on the floor. (Nope) I have no food, no refrigerator and the kids are always  hungry. (Not true) My children go around barefoot and dirty because I don't bathe them. (They play outside bare foot and dig in the dirt)They aren't in school because I supposedly "homeschool' them. (I really do homeschool them) My son cries all the time and doesn't know why.(Not at all!) I'm always outside screaming at them and acting crazy. (Oh for Gods sakes *eye roll*) My oldest daughter goes dumpster diving (Yes her and the child in question went looking for cans once and she found a pair of shoes) and my 5 year old daughter is still breastfed. (She is. I nurse her at night during stories and the brat would have known because she spent the night a few times and walked in on us)

So I asked the social worker, since when is breastfeeding illegal? She said at age 5 it can be considered abuse depending on the discretion of the worker. I said wait a minute. So by California law, I can spank my 5 year old but not breastfeed her?? She nodded yes then asked me if I did (nurse). God help me I lied and said she weaned last month.  She said okay, looked at the house, talked to the kids and left.

I feel sick to my stomach that I had to lie about something like that. I know it's not illegal but I wasn't willing to drag it out. And my trust is sooo gone. I don't know if I'll ever feel comfortable having anyone's friends over again :-(

[rfurlongg]

I am so sorry. That is awful.

[D.O.E.]

how do you think he classmates would treat her if they found out? come on honey.....i know EBF is something you are passionate about.....but there is a time when it's time to stop....right? i mean.....she needs to be weaned eventually......now is a good a time as any

Quoting paganbaby:

Why?

Quoting D.O.E.:

oh.....well....maybe it is time to wean her for real?

[GeorgetteJ]

 My guess would be sexual abuse. 

Quoting paganbaby:

I just don't know.

Quoting GeorgetteJ:

 Wow.  Hmm.. I am sorry that you had to be interrogated like that...

As far as BFing goes at 5 years... I don't know.  I guess it depends on an individuals comfort level.  I wouldn't be comfortable doing that at all.  But what do they mean by abuse?

 

[paganbaby]

They're not the classiest of people. The ex friend told my dd that CPS has been in and out of their house since she was 7. Her 13yo brother smokes, drinks, has a tattoo, hits his mom, ect.

I'm sure she told her mom a song and dance so her mom called in retaliation. Unfourtunatly, it happens.

Quoting Billiebeth:

I understood that.   But now the parents of the ex friend are involved simply because their daughters had a fight?

I don't believe the 5yr old is Savanna (sp?). I think she's the dd that's in her early teens.

Quoting Billiebeth:

I call troll.

A 5 or 6 year old child isn't going to get CPS called on a family without other evidence.

[Ms.KitKat]

may I suggest you remove your pic here (if that is really you), put blocks in here of all of your id info as well as check your FB "friends" and put up privacy blocksthere as well as for your DD.

and then I would suggest that in about 10 days or so, you follow up the CPS worker if you have not heard anything before then. You will want a letter iin writing on their letterhead confirming there was no substaniated abuse.

You do not want any trouble because of an ass-much teenager and at the descretion of a gung-ho CPS worker.

[mmtosam06]

I totally agree with you. Im all for extended breastfeeding.

Quoting GaleJ:

I am saddened by what has been replied here, why do so many question extended breastfeeding? The very idea that extended breastfeeding could, depending on the discretion of the social worker, be considered abuse is beyond belief to me. While it may not be for everyone it is a choice that should be respected. I do understand that a determination of abuse/neglect is a situational judgement but to single out extended nursing is ridiculous when I have seen people give a child of five a baby bottle filled with soda. Parenting is a series of choices and while almost anything might, when taken to extremes, be abusive the fact that some of you are "uncomfortable" with the idea of extended breastfeeding should not make it unacceptable for others to do.

[littlesippycup]

I'm also still nursing my almost 2 year old and I'm starting to feel the pressure to hide it. I haven't yet....The stigmas attached to giving baby the ninny are disgusting. It's milk for God's sake. WTF is wrong with people. 

[paganbaby]

That doesn't make any damn sense. A boob doesn't all of a sudden become sexual once a kid has a birthday. But I'm sure you're right. There are some seriously misinformed people out there. Sadly some of them are in charge.

Quoting GeorgetteJ:

 My guess would be sexual abuse. 

Quoting paganbaby:

I just don't know.

Quoting GeorgetteJ:

 Wow.  Hmm.. I am sorry that you had to be interrogated like that...

As far as BFing goes at 5 years... I don't know.  I guess it depends on an individuals comfort level.  I wouldn't be comfortable doing that at all.  But what do they mean by abuse?

 

[paganbaby]

If it comes down to it I will. But honestly I really don't want anymore trouble :-(

Quoting Roxygurl:

Wow. If you're up for the challenge I would speak to a lawyer about the breastfeeding. That shouldn't ever be considered abuse

[MDWife12]

OMG I would have been pissed! I would have flat out told her  that whether or not she is still nursing is none of their business because there is NOTHING wrong with nursing a child.