Redditor Wants To Call CPS On Roommate For Leaving Her Child In The Care Of A Stranger Because Of Work

"Am I crazy or is it very dangerous to leave a 5 years old girl with a strange man?"

Filip

• Published in Interesting
• June 17, 2023

Determining whether someone is a good parent is challenging because it often relies on personal judgments, values, and experiences. Evaluating parenting methods from an outsider's perspective can be quite complex and even potentially misleading.

It's important to remember that people may parent differently for various reasons. Therefore, it might not be appropriate or fair to judge another's parenting.

This dilemma was recently encountered by a Reddit user, and it underlines the delicate balance between his concern for a child's well-being and respect for parental autonomy and privacy. So he shared his story online, asking for advice.

The OP is a young man in his early twenties. He found himself sharing his living space with a new roommate, a young woman also in her twenties, and her 5-year-old daughter.

They were practically strangers, having shared only a brief conversation before the woman moved in. But, after just a day of being roommates, the woman asked the OP to look after her daughter as she had to rush to work due to an unexpected emergency.

Despite being sleep-deprived from his night shift, the young man found himself in the position of temporary caretaker to the little girl. The situation raised concerns for him, primarily because he was basically a stranger to the mother and child.

He questioned the appropriateness and safety of a mother leaving her child with someone she barely knew. However, the OP also noted that the child seemed well cared for and content with her mother, as they shared a loving relationship.

The mother also acknowledged and apologized for the situation she had thrust upon him. Given these circumstances, the OP is now grappling with a moral dilemma, wondering whether it would be right or wrong to report the situation to Child Protective Services, despite his personal fondness for children.

The OP's concern:

The OP explained he got a new roommate, a young single mother, and her 5-year-old daughter:

But his new roommate woke him up the next morning and asked him to take care of her daughter:

The OP didn't like her idea of leaving the kid with a stranger:

The roommate apologized to him when she has got home, but he still thinks of calling the CPS on her:

He should talk to her before calling CPS

A Redditor agreed that OP's concern is justified

"My biggest problem is her just assuming that she can leave the child with him for an indefinite amount of time?"

"This isn’t something CPS would deal with"

The OP further explained his point of view:

It is disturbing to think that someone leaves their child in the care of a complete stranger

Confronted with an unusual situation, the OP showed expected concern for the child's safety, questioning the appropriateness of leaving a child with a stranger. His consideration of involving Child Protective Services demonstrates his profound sense of responsibility and concern for the child's well-being.

But his roommate's apologies made him ask for online advice, and hopefully, he'll have a conversation with his roommate about her action before deciding on his dilemma.

Filip