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Neglect occurs when children are not provided with the basic needs of life. Neglect is a type of maltreatment that refers to the failure of parents or guardians to provide care even though they are financially able or have other means to do so. A child is also considered abandoned when the parent's identity or whereabouts are unknown; the child has been left alone in circumstances where the child suffers serious harm, or the parent has failed to maintain contact with the child or provide reasonable support for a specified period of time.
Neglect is different from other forms of abuse. Where in other forms of abuse a parent or guardian does something he/she is not supposed to do, in neglect the parent or guardian fails to do what he/she is supposed to do. Some of the signs that may indicate a child is being neglected include: untidiness, appearing sickly, frequently ill, looking sad and withdrawn from others. Other signs are: performing poorly in school, feeling out of place among friends and other people.
For more than two years, Willie Robinson's health deteriorated, family members tried to discuss the situation with his parents; Monica Hussing and William Robinson Sr., but the couple never got their son treatment. One relative claimed the glands in his neck swelled to the size of a softball. Hussing's sister said the child suffered for twenty-nine months and the parents did nothing even though they could have done something. The child collapsed and died at the age of 8 from Hodgkin lumphoma (a highly treatable cancer that was not diagnosed until his autopsy). In the days before his death, his mother treated him with cold medicine. Willie had begged to be taken to a doctor and at least eight family members had confronted that they should take the child to the hospital. The parents were sentenced to eight years in prison. (Culled from http://www.newser.com). I know what you're thinking. Unbelievable right? But this is a true life story; happened in Florida. Children are dying everyday out of child neglect in extreme cases, some are having their future marred by the neglidence of their own parents.
These days everyone is money conscious, so money conscious that children look up to the maids and housekeepers as parents because their parents come back late in the evening and even when they do, lock themselves in their rooms in the name of 'resting'. Some keep their babies in daycare (crèche) till late in the evening. It's amazing! Most parents don't know what's going on with their children both educationally, psychologically, emotionally and even medically. Some have dying children right under their noses without knowing it. And I ask, who are they working for? If you cannot give your own children attention and make sure they grow up okay, who are you then struggling for? Don't get me wrong I'm not against working hard, I'm not asking you to quit your 8-5 jobs and sit home with your children, I'm simply saying that you make out time for them.
Plan your weekends in such a way that the children are involved. Spend time with them, take them out. Plan vacations at least once a year to get away with your family if you can afford it. Find out about how they're doing in school, look into their school books, and pay attention to their health. I know it's not easy to do all these even with your job but it's your responsibility as parent. You have got to look out for these kids. If you have a baby that requires closer attention, then the parents should reach a compromise and either one of them has to come home early at least until the baby is older and can be left with a nanny for longer periods. We have been instructed to "train up a child." not "drag on a child" because that's what most of us do. We just drag them on, anyhow without looking back.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy said "A Child educated wrongly is a child lost". Educate these children rightly, not just about school work but also educate them about everyday living. There are some things a teacher or nanny will not teach your children but only you can.
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