I've always felt weird about parents who have those backpack leashes for their kids, but now that I've been living next to my in-laws for a year, who have 8 children, I understand some of them.

I refuse to take some their kids anywhere unless one of them is with my wife and I.

One would absolutely go sprinting full speed away and hide from us just because he thinks it's hilarious.

Two would wander off because they saw something shiny and their brains are like an etch-a-sketches where every time a new thought enters, the old one has to get wiped away.

One would do the exact opposite of anything we say just because he figures he can.

And three others would absolutely just wander off, not because they want to but just because kids aren't always the best at spatial awareness and simply get too far away. And would be terrified if they noticed their adults were nowhere in sight.

[–] ayyy@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Having that many children is child abuse. There’s no way they all get the parental attention they need.

[–] SARGE@startrek.website 11 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Oh completely 100% agreed, and neglect isn't the only form of child abuse going on but CPS has visited them plenty of times and interviewed all the kids and neighbors (before we moved in) over custody battles with some adopted ones. (they're all related, long story with too many identifying details but some parents died and all the children are cousins and siblings) so they at least aren't doing anything that CPS cares about.

But holy shit I have never wanted to curb stomp my sister in law a-la American History X more than when I went over one day and I could hear screaming halfway down the 1/4mi driveway, and when I walked in she was in the 6 year Olds face screaming at the top of her lungs about how she's tired of telling the 6 year old to put her shoes away, four of the kids were slowly doing chores in the living room and kitchen with tears running down their faces, and I could hear the 13 year old sobbing upstairs. Their mother screamed so hard and long that she burst a blood vessel in her eye and detached the retina. As usual though the moment she saw me she stopped and pretended like she wasn't doing anything.

Since then I've had my phone on record in my pocket whenever I'm coming over unannounced just in case I can catch it. Bare minimum it will be something to show the courts when one of the kids becomes a serial killer.

Their dad is no help, he's an enabler and honestly a broken shell of a person when it comes to his wife.

Grandparents are worse than parents.

My wife watches them whenever she can, and takes them on surprise day trips to get away from their parents and some of the siblings when possible but holy shit they do not make it easy to take them anywhere.

I don't regret marrying my wife but I can honestly say my in-laws are insane and anyone could understand why I hate them.

Uhhhhhhh what was the topic again? Sorry for the vent.

[–] ayyy@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 day ago

Thank you for sharing your story. The child abusers downvoting us need to see the gritty reality.

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