Boy Left at School on Birthday After Parents Jailed, Cop Takes Him to McDonald’s

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For many young children, school is undeniably scary. The stress of tests, belligerent bullies, the ordinary terrors of simply attempting to fit in — all of it adds up to a lot of anxiety.

Boy Left at School on Birthday After Parents Jailed, Cop Takes Him to McDonald’s

One 8-year-old student in Green Bay, Wisconsin, recently had a very practical fear come true, though: On Oct. 23, he got left behind at school at the end of the day.

However, that wasn’t even the worst of it. You see, it just happened to be the boy’s birthday.

Such a situation might seem impossible given most districts’ thorough planning and desire to avoid liability. But this youngster’s situation stemmed from a sad combination of family circumstances.

The boy only had one parent on record — and that parent was in jail. What’s more, the school didn’t have anyone else listed as an emergency contact.

So school officials did the only thing they knew; they called the police.

The story could’ve ended in tears right there and then. But thanks to the quick thinking of the officer who arrived on the scene, one Darryl Robinson, a potentially sad situation soon turned around for the better.

Realizing that the young man had no one with which to celebrate his birthday, Robinson popped the boy into his cruiser and took him to the nearest Golden Arches. “We did have a phone number for his grandfather,” Robinson explained during a press conference.

“I asked his grandfather if it was okay to take him to McDonald’s before bringing him home. He said, ‘Yes.’”

On its Facebook page, the Green Bay Police Department further wrote, “Thanks to the owners of our local McDonald’s, we were given free cheeseburger coupons to hand out in certain situations. Officer Robinson took the child for a meal at McDonald’s and a ride around in the police car for his birthday. Family was eventually located and the child was dropped off.”

Robinson’s kind actions not only impressed the boy, but the greater community also. One citizen commented on Facebook, saying, “Thank you Officer Robinson for treating that young boy like a human being even though his parents are having a hard time right now.”

This blog post was originally published on WeSurviveAbuse.com and republished on Jewish Community Watch.

How Good Parents Miss Child Sexual Abuse and 5 Questions to Change That

How do good parents miss child sexual abuse? It is simple.

By not asking the right questions.
One day my son went to a classmate’s home for a Halloween costume party. When I picked him up a few hours later I could tell by the ear to ear grin on his face that he had a great time. As we were about to leave, I was standing at the door with the child’s father and grandmother.
Both adults were giving me a great report about his behavior. Parent relieved. Thank goodness. No issues. No worries.
But as I drove us home I felt uneasy. Something was off.

Then it hit me. I swerved into the next parking lot.
I had been here before. Except I was the child.
When parents ask children whether or not they were good in front of children and adults most children feel pressured to say yes.
I could recall that when I was being abused by a teen relative my mother would innocently ask me a few questions as we left a relative’s home.
“Did you behave?” “Did you listen?” “Were you a good girl?”
1. What mom didn’t know is that the teen who was living there had threatened me before she had even arrived. Sometimes he’d even be standing behind her balling up his fists or giving me mean looks.
2. Asking me those questions, especially in front of a person who was using me for sexual experimentation reinforced in my young mind that I was supposed to do whatever I was told by the person who was watching me while she was gone.

3. Because I had said, “yes” at the door I didn’t think that I could change my answer later. To do so would mean that I would have to explain why I “lied” when she asked me earlier.
So in that parking lot I asked the correct questions. Perhaps you may want to consider asking these questions the next time that your child is in someone else’s care.
I asked my son privately whether or not he enjoyed himself.
How did you spend your time?
What was your favorite part of the party?
What was the least favorite part?
Did you feel safe?

Was there anything else that you wanted to share?
Try to remember to make these questions a consistent habit. Also, it might be helpful to remind your children that they can always add details about what occurred during while they were away from you.
My mistake that day was a common one for parents. We think that as long as we ask questions we are on top of things.
Truth is, parents have to ask the right questions, at the right time, under the right circumstances.