Please know who is watching your child!
Dec 27 '00
When I was pregnant with my first child I was still active duty in the navy. I looked into many providers to watch my baby after he was born cause I would only get 1 month off. I was told by a friend of mine that someone she knew was a provider and that this person was very good with babies. I met with her several times and felt very comfortable with her. After the birth of my son I sign him up with her. She was not watching any other kids at the time and I loved that cause I felt that my son would be able to get the one on one attention that I wanted him to get.
Now she did not get him until he was almost 4 months old. Mainly cause the first month I was home with him and after that I had some problems recovering from the c-section and was on medical leave for those problems. I went back to work when he was almost 4 months old. Those 4 months he was gaining weight and thriving.
When I started to leave him with her things seemed to be going good. She was very nice and friendly and seemed to really care about my son. I would always ask her how much he drank during the day and when was his last bottle. She would say thing like "oh he drank 8 bottles 8 oz each today and he just finished his last" Now most days she would only have him for 5-7 hours. I would like "wow that is a lot". But I was stupid for not letting that be a red flag right there.
I would ask her when was his diaper last changed and she would always say it was just changed. Indeed it was always just changed but he always had a diaper rash during the week when he was with her. When I would be home for the weekend he rash would start to go away but would always get worse when she had him. Yet another red flag I over looked.
I started to find little marks on my arms. I asked her about that and she said he would give himself hickies. Funny thing was he never did that when he was in my care of my husbands care. Another red flag over looked.
Then one day my husband, who was also active duty navy and still is, went to visit him during our lunch time. I walked in first and she told me that my son had a little boo boo. Yes those where her exact words! I figured he scratched himself again. He would do that sometimes. She was holding him and I noticed he was not moving at all. I look at him and his face was not the same as when I left him.
I grabbed him from her. His eyes were open but not responding at all. His nose was about 3 times the size it normally was, there was dried blood in both nostrels and was bruised. His left cheek and eye and top lip were all bruised. I asked her what happened, only not so calmly. She told me he head butted her. Now at this time my son was 1 day shy of 6 months. He has never head butt anyone and looked anything like the way he looked.
I asked her when this happened. She told me "oh this morning". She never once tried to call me or my husband. She never took him to the er. She never tried to get him help.
I could not stand there any longer I ran out and my husband and I took our son to the er. The nurses and doctors were great there and helped my son. He had x-rays of his whole body to make sure nothing was broken. They found a problem with his skull. She had hit him so hard she caused damage to his skull! I was devastated! My baby was hurt and I put him in the arms of the monster that hurt him! I felt like it was my fault. I felt to blame and to this day I still feel to blame for it. I have not been able to forgive myself for no knowing and not heeding the red flags that were screaming in my face!
My son is now almost 5, Jan. 5th he will be 5, and he is doing great. He made a complete recovery.
I had nis, Naval investigative service, investigate this matter and they all told me that they knew it was abuse but because she was a navy wife and not the active duty member the only thing they could do to her was ban her from being a provider for children on any and all military bases. WHAT!!! She could have killed my child and she gets off with a slap on the wrist!!! She could go out into town and be a provider out there! She could be watching your children! I called the child protective services of CA. and all they told me was there was nothing they could do because this happened on a navy base. I called the DA's office in CA. and was told the same thing. There was nothing I could do to make her pay for what she did to my child. There was nothing I could do to warn others of her! I was told that this in on her record and if someone does a criminal check on her they will see this but most people don't do criminal checks on people that are watching their child.
I trusted this women. I trusted my instincts. I trusted my friend who recommended her. Needless to say I trust no one with my children anymore. The only people I trust now are myself and my husband and my mother with my children.
After this happened I went into a deep depression. With that and my other medical problem I was medically retired from the navy and I am now a stay at home mom. I have never left my children with anyone since this happened.
Please check the backgrounds of the people you trust the greatest gift God could ever give you with. Please look into their backgrounds. Since this has happened this women's husband has transfered off this base so she could be anywhere watching children again. Please please check the criminal records.
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Epinions.com ID:
kellimc
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Member: Kelli Cracknell
Location: Lemoore,CA
Reviews written: 40
Trusted by: 69 members
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