If you had a son that was exposing himself to others, would you want to know?Help with advice. (parents, boy)

[Floridanative2]

Here is the problem, my neighbor has exposed himself to myself and another neighbor.(He is twelve, I believe) While this is shoking to us, I think we should let the parents know so they can get him for him. What do you think? Would you want to know? Should I tell them, or should I call authorities? Need advice.

[FarNorthDallas]

I had an issue with a younger neighbor boy and I did talk to the parents about it and I warned other neighbors about it including one family whose own child already saw it but never told his parents, but I became the bad guy. Everyone said I was lying and it wasn't that big a deal. I was overreacting. The parents already knew about the problem because they knew what I was going to say to them before I even said it. They weren't at all concerned (at least in front of me). My family is a total outsider in the neighborhood now in a Kill The Messengar kind of deal, but I still think I did the right thing. Others have even told me I should have called child protective services, but I didn't do that. He was too young to call the police although I did consult with an officer about it.

[brokencrayola]

Despite how hard it would be to hear such news, YES I would want to know if my child was doing such a thing. This young man needs help and quickly. It may seem somewhat ok since he is 12, but one day he will be 22 and a grown man doing this if it is not stopped. He has some serious problems and his parents need to know right away.

[june 7th]

I would approach the parents, tell them what you experienced their son do in as nonjudgemental a way as possible. I would simply relate the "facts" and then wait to see how they handle it.

If MY son had been exposing himself to other's at that age, yes, I would definately want to know about it.

[sunflower53072]

I would want to know. I would tell the parents.

[mlv311]

Originally Posted by Floridanative2

Here is the problem, my neighbor has exposed himself to myself and another neighbor.(He is twelve, I believe) While this is shoking to us, I think we should let the parents know so they can get him for him. What do you think? Would you want to know? Should I tell them, or should I call authorities? Need advice.

I would definitely tell his family first. As a parent, I'd want to know my child is engaging in this behavior. I do hope they listen and seek help for him before something worse happens.

[Inthesierras]

I agree with above poster that telling the parents is the right thing to do, but it could make you the bad guy. I have a friend in a similiar situation. She told the neighbors that their son was exposing himself and doing other inappropriate things. She is now the bad person. But honestly, being the bad guy and having nothing to do with them might be the best thing. If the kid is 12 and exposing himself, he has some issues.

[Jason_Els]

Do what my mom did when some guy flashed her in Boston. Just point and laugh really loudly. That usually works.

[MonaLisaVito]

Originally Posted by Inthesierras

I agree with above poster that telling the parents is the right thing to do, but it could make you the bad guy. I have a friend in a similiar situation. She told the neighbors that their son was exposing himself and doing other inappropriate things. She is now the bad person. But honestly, being the bad guy and having nothing to do with them might be the best thing. If the kid is 12 and exposing himself, he has some issues.

I agree, I would definitely want to know. And yes, they may never speak to you again, but you are doing the best thing for that child. Good Luck to you -any good parent will listen to you and get help for their child. Maybe you and the other neighbor can both sit the parents down and talk privately about the matter. Similar situation happened on my block, me and another neighbor had to talk to a parent and she took it very well and was thankful and everything is better.

[vetegnc]

And you can't quite say the child has a (sicko) problem (yet), but it may be a problem with the parents? At twelve, he's old enough to know right from wrong, and it may be he knows what he's doing is wrong, but it gets him a lot of attention, even if it's negative.

My first instinct was to raise my eyebrows and say "future sexual predator" when I read it. But I was trying to sit back and look at all angles.

(and yes, I would tell the parents....I would be horrified if I found out my son was doing that. WAIT! He is! But he's only 4...and is a little obsessed with the body parts right now...)