“I Haven’t Told Anyone It Was Me”: Woman Racked With Guilt After Calling CPS About Coworker’s 9YO

It’s a fact that every child deserves a parent, but not every parent deserves a child. Some folks treat their kids like an afterthought, which can make you wonder why they even decided to have them in the first place. 

One grocery store worker turned to an online community wondering if she did the right thing or wrecked someone’s family after reporting a coworker to CPS for what looked a lot like child neglect. Now netizens are weighing in with their opinions.  

 More info: Reddit

Some people have kids without getting to grips with the fact that it’s a serious commitment and lifelong responsibility

Two grocery store workers wearing aprons, one holding a crate of fresh vegetables, discussing tasks inside the store.

Image credits: Wavebreak Media / Freepik (not the actual photo)

One woman, who works at a grocery store, was shocked when one of her coworkers kept bringing her 9-year-old to work, leaving him to languish on a bench outside

Woman expressing deep guilt after calling CPS about coworker’s 9-year-old, unsure if she made the right decision.

Woman at grocery store racked with guilt after calling CPS about coworker’s 9-year-old child’s situation.

Text image with the message about life struggles and fighting inner demons, related to guilt after calling CPS about coworker’s child.

Text excerpt describing a 9-year-old child often left alone while a coworker takes smoke breaks, highlighting CPS concerns.

Sad young boy sitting alone on a park bench, reflecting the impact of CPS intervention and childhood distress.

Image credits: freepik / Freepik (not the actual photo)

Concerned about the kid’s welfare, she let her coworker know that it really wasn’t safe to leave her kid alone outside the store, but the coworker basically just shrugged her off

Text excerpt about a woman worried for a child’s safety after calling CPS regarding a coworker’s 9-year-old.

Text on a white background reading a personal reflection about discomfort and staying out of a situation involving CPS.

Text describing a woman feeling guilt after calling CPS about a coworker’s 9-year-old child’s situation.

Text graphic with phrases about guilt and solitude related to calling CPS about a coworker’s 9-year-old child.

Woman feeling guilt after calling CPS about coworker’s 9-year-old, while coworker laughs unaware of the situation.

Text expressing guilt and concern from a woman after calling CPS about a coworker’s 9-year-old child.

Text excerpt about calling non-emergency number to report a kid left unsupervised, related to calling CPS.

Text message conversation screenshot showing a person denying naming anyone after calling CPS about coworker’s 9-year-old.

Three young children in a car, one holding a book and another smiling while hugging a teddy bear, highlighting guilt after calling CPS.

Image credits: rawpixel.com / Freepik (not the actual photo)

Things came to a head one night when the woman spotted the kid on the bench again, this time asleep in the cold, so she called CPS to report the situation

Text image with the phrase long story short, CPS came to her apartment the next week, relating to CPS and coworker’s child.

Woman feeling guilty after calling CPS about coworker’s 9-year-old child in neglect investigation at workplace.

Text on a plain background reading i just stood there. i couldn’t even look her in the eye, reflecting guilt after calling CPS about coworker’s child.

Text showing someone expressing guilt and concern over calling CPS about a coworker's 9-year-old child’s safety.

Text image showing a quote about feeling guilt over calling CPS about a coworker’s 9-year-old child.

Text expressing mixed emotions of guilt and relief after reporting coworker’s child to CPS, unsure about the decision.

Text image with a woman expressing guilt after calling CPS about a coworker’s 9-year-old child.

Image credits: didodeuc

The next week CPS came to the coworker’s apartment and took her kids away, so now, racked with guilt, the woman has asked netizens whether or not she did the right thing

The original poster (OP,) a 20-year-old grocery store worker, says she never expected to feel like a villain for doing what felt right. Her coworker, a 29-year-old single mom of three, was known for chaos: constant lateness, tears in the break room, and endless shift swaps. OP, however, tried to stay compassionate, knowing life is hard for everyone.

Things shifted, though, when she noticed her coworker’s oldest child, a kid around nine, lingering outside the store for hours. Sometimes he wandered inside looking for his mom, while she took smoke breaks out back. OP warned her it was unsafe, especially at night, but the woman just brushed her off. 

After closing one night, OP found the boy asleep on a bench close to midnight, cold, alone, hoodie pulled over his face. Inside, his mother just laughed with coworkers. Panicked, OP called the non-emergency line about an unsupervised child, never naming names, just asking what to do, convinced something terrible might happen to the kid.

The fallout was devastating. CPS came by, an investigation followed, and the coworker arrived at work sobbing, saying her kids had been temporarily taken away from her. OP stayed silent, crushed by guilt yet haunted by what might have happened to the child. Now she’s turned to netizens to ask whether or not she did the right thing.

Woman covering face in distress, feeling guilt after calling CPS about coworker's 9-year-old child situation.

Image credits: EyeEm / Freepik (not the actual photo)

To be honest, what else was OP supposed to do? She’d already tried speaking to the kid’s mom, but the woman clearly couldn’t be bothered about her concerns. So, what actually qualifies as child neglect? And what happens when you call CPS anyway? We went in search of the facts.

The experts at FindLaw say child neglect is the most common form of child maltreatment in the United States. In 2021, 76% of child maltreatment victims suffered mistreatment. Surviving victims can experience many psychological issues, from attention and language deficits to reduced mental function and lower academic success.

The circumstances associated with child neglect can be complicated, but the most common forms include physical, educational, psychological or emotional, exploitative, and medical. Additionally, some accepted practices from the past could also border on maltreatment by today’s standards.

According to the Be The Village YouTube channel, even though reporting a concerning situation to CPS is anonymous, it might be obvious who it is, so if you’re the one making the call, be prepared for some fallout. Ideally, CPS will bring in services aimed at maintaining or supporting the family, so know that you’re ultimately doing the right thing.

All things considered, OP was put in a very difficult situation, so you can’t really blame her for taking action. Perhaps this will be a wake-up call for the neglectful mom, but here’s hoping the family can be reunited once all the facts are on the table.  

What’s your take? Do you think OP did the right thing by calling CPS, or should she have given the mom a break? Drop your thoughts in the comments!

In the comments, readers supported the woman’s decision to alert the authorities and also added that CPS doesn’t just take kids away unless the circumstances are serious

Woman feeling guilty after calling CPS about coworker’s 9-year-old, dealing with protective services intervention.

Comment discussing the guilt and concerns after calling CPS about a coworker’s 9-year-old child.

Comment from former social worker explaining CPS intervention and child safety after coworker’s 9-year-old left outside store.

Comment expressing support for woman feeling guilt after calling CPS about coworker’s child safety concerns.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment explaining the importance of CPS involvement despite feelings of guilt after reporting a coworker’s child.

Comment about woman feeling guilty after calling CPS regarding a coworker’s 9-year-old child situation.

Woman looking distressed and conflicted after reporting coworker's child to CPS, feeling guilt and secrecy.

Comment discussing a teacher’s perspective on calling CPS about suspected child a***e and mandated reporter duties.

Comment discussing a woman’s guilt after calling CPS about coworker’s 9-year-old and legal perspectives shared.

Comment on a forum expressing support for CPS involvement and gratitude for protecting children after a coworker’s 9-year-old case.

Anyone can write on Bored Panda. Start writing!

Follow Bored Panda on Google News!

Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda!