'On Strike' Mom Accused Of Neglect

[DeclinetoState]

http://www.local6.com/2008/0220/15357268_240X180.jpg
Woman Says She Can't Control 4 Teen Boys

OCALA, Fla. -- A Central Florida mother of four boys was arrested on Tuesday after telling authorities that she went "on strike" more than a month ago, leaving the teens home alone for hours every day because they would constantly fight.

Melissa G. Dean, 33, was charged with child neglect after telling Ocala police and the Department of Children and Families that she leaves her children, ages 17, 16, 14 and 13, home alone.

According to a charging affidavit, Dean said the children needed to start cleaning up and stop fighting and that she had no control over them. Dean also said she was fed up with being run over in her own

home and having no privacy, according to the affidavit.More (http://www.local6.com/news/15357269/detail.html)

Two questions:

Do the math. How old was this woman when she started having the boys?

Where's the father?

'Nuff said.

[Kathy30]

I feel so sorry for this woman. So completely sorry for what she must have endured at the hands of her children. Certainly the day has long passed when a parent could crack a delinquent in the mouth and nudge them into some kind of decent behavior. All this woman has is to run away.

I understand how she feels. I did it myself for the same reasons.

[bigred1says]

Just looking at the picture, I would say she might be fudging on her age.

[Nutrider99]

The children were 17, 16, 14 and 13, all of whom are legally old enough to babysit other children, two of whom are older than she was when she got knocked up the first time and one of whom is older than she was when he was born.

[buckeyepete]

Go after DADDY (or all the daddies) too.

[PrezLeefun]

33? Ummm. I dont think so. Maybe 43. More like 53.

On the other hand..... Those kids are old enough to handle themselves for a few hours. Good grief. This is not a reason to arrest her.

I dont blame her. Then again had she been an effective parent to begin with she wouldn't have such a huge problem now.

33? no way dawg. no way.

[Beowulf]

I don't blame her one bit for doing it! Not one! I think I just go an idea for my son who is the laziest kid on earth!

[Gonzo67]

I think it's outrageous that she's arrested for leaving a SEVENTEEN year old home alone! Good grief! The kid has to be a real pansy for THAT to be a problem.

As for her "running away" I say Good job! She SHOULD take some time for herself.

Those that call her a "bad parent" I would like to know just what you're basing that assessment on? Is it based on the fact that this touchy-feely screwed up society has made it ILLEGAL for disciplining her kids when they get out of line and walk all over her?

Is her "bad parenting" a result of the "children" knowing they can do what ever the hell they want to mommy and if she "spanks them" or so much as LOOKS at them in a manner THEY don't approve of, all they have to do is call child protective services and have her ass locked up?

That woman is screwed no matter WHAT she does. Spank them, go to jail for child abuse. Ignore them, go to jail for child neglect. Encourage them, go to jail for being responsible for any crime they may commit.

I ask you, is it worth bringing any more kids into this world, at least while living in this liberal, asshole infested country of ours? Because bringing a child into the world in the America of today gets you about a 75% chance of finding your ass in jail in the near future because you didn't buy the little snot-dripper that G.I. Joe the little bastard wanted.

They should NOT be hauling this woman away. They should be handing her a belt, and telling her to spend about 20 minutes "quality time" with those little brats in a closed room, away from any witnesses.

As for the "No father" being an excuse, Bullshit. I have a few cousins who's father was with them, and those 3 boys were destined for prison life at the ripe old ages of 10, 12 and 14. Having one parent missing is NOT an automatic "troubled child" any more than having BOTH parents is an automatic "well adjusted youth".

When our country strips parents of the right to discipline their own kids, it doesn't take long for the kids to learn this lesson and take advantage of that fact.

Don't condemn her... THANK the democrats.

[DeclinetoState]

If her age really is 33, why did she have so many kids when she was so young? Was she trying to become a "welfare queen" at the time? Or was she married to/in a "meaningful relationship" with a guy (or guys) who later walked out on her, leaving her alone with the boys? If she is really 33, and looks the way she does because of abuse, is that why the father(s) of the kids is no longer around?

I see that she has a job, presumably with some responsibility. While I don't think her choices have been the best, I can understand Gonzo's point about her being screwed (so to speak) no matter what she did.

I don't think the (apparent) absence of a father explains all the choices the sons have made, but I don't think it has helped matters a lot. (You never know though.)

[ColonialMarine0431]

http://www.local6.com/2008/0220/15357268_240X180.jpg

33? Yes. I can believe it. I guarantee she has a drug/alcohol problem. That and 4 unruly animals cause pre-mature aging.

Here's the latest on the savages:

Florida Teens Accost Reporter After Mom Goes 'On Strike' From Caring for Them

An Oscala, Fla., mother has been charged with child neglect after "going on strike" from taking care of her four boys, MyFOXOrlando reports. Melissa Dean became so frustrated with her out-of-control kids that she left home and moved in with her boyfriend.

FOX 35 in Orlando sent a reporter to the family's home to investigate the story, unaware that things were about to get so heated with the teen boys that they would have to call the police.

The boys surrounded the reporter's van, and one of Dean's sons became so upset he started screaming and coming repeatedly towards the TV camera.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,331690,00.html

I don't blame her one bit. But the root of the problem is HER.

[Kathy30]

I don't care whether she lies about her age, and to have that kind of family she has to drink and/or take drugs just to survive. She was right to run away. She at least kept in touch with her kids. These kids were in total control. They could have ended the strike at any time simply by behaving themselves. They chose not to do that. It is entirely their fault.

[Incident_command]

Well now the little monsters go to a shelter or state home. Hope they like it.

[DeclinetoState]

It will probably be the first of many state-provided accommodations they live in.

[dajoga]

These boys are the result of our new "don't hurt their self-image" mantra by "sparing the rod." How can you expect to control a teen when you didn't control them at childhood?

How many preschoolers run the house instead of the parents? Unfortunately this woman had four boys in what, four years? Maybe one or two she could deal with, but four??

BTW, what a difference between this "family" and the Duggar family (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20134584/)

What's the key difference?

[Un Con Troll Able]

My boys is runnin' amuck!

Stencil the word "useless" on that woman's forehead, sterilize her, and then lobotomize her four spawn.

Five years from now they can be featured on the "Whatever Happened To...?" television program (special "we've done a good thing here today" follow-up segment).

[DeclinetoState]

BTW, what a difference between this "family" and the Duggar family

What's the key difference?Two parents, active and responsible for the children's upbringing and the family's well-being.

They are members of an evangelical Christian movement called Quiverful, which holds that children are a blessing from God and that husbands and wives should gladly accept all the children they are given.

Couples in the movement also believe that the husband is the head of the household and the wife is submissive to him, while the children are submissive to both. The girls wear long dresses or skirts and tops, while the boys wear slacks and polo shirts.Most likely in the case of Ms. Dean and her sons, "dressing up" means wearing clothes that cover the crack in their rear end. And they probably don't do that more than once or twice a year.

[DoctorDoom]

I listen to the local PDs on my scanner. The number of calls about an "out of control" child or teen is appalling. We've come to the point where we must call the cops when the little asswipes act up, because if we discipline them, we'll be busted for abuse.

Fuggem. Kill them and make new ones.

[gnome]

Worth knowing:

http://www.familyrightsassociation.com/info/spanking_laws.htm

It appears that in most of the US, spanking is not considered abuse at all (in spite of the disclaimer above the article)

Something I've said before--I personally have no problem with spankings if a parent chooses to use it as a form of discipline, so long as the parent doesn't go overboard.

However, I have always believed, and have found, having needed to act as a parent at times, that it's really silly to think that a parents' only options are to spank their kids or indulge them. I'm really startled to see that expressed here as a reaction to this situation.

A typical child is dependent on their parent(s) for a great deal more than the parent is legally obligated to provide. If the kids want to play hardball, the parent can play it harder without lifting a hand. It serves as an excellent real-world lesson.

In addition, there are plenty of non-corporal punishment behavior correction techniques that work just fine, especially if the parent starts early.

[Beowulf]

It appears that in most of the US, spanking is not considered abuse at all
It is around these parts, Gnome. They expect parents to try "creative parenting," something that has failed miserably in my house.

I personally have gotten into trouble and almost jailed for:
-restraining my child in a public place.
-allowing my son to see a "show of force" when I put my hand through a wall when I got angry at him.
-Got into and screamed in his face!

He knows the law protects him and he plays it. When and if he ends up jailed for his actions or hospitalized for his bad habits, I'll just turn my back and say, "hey, I warned you."

To know me is to know that I don't give pity to anyone who repeatedly asks for it!!

[ColonialMarine0431]

It is around these parts, Gnome. They expect parents to try "creative parenting," something that has failed miserably in my house.

That's what you get for living in "Weirdmont". :rotflmbo: