Dear Amy: I have serious concerns about neighbors who moved in about a year ago. They have two young daughters. I suspect the mother is an alcoholic. Her actions are putting the girls in danger.
I and other neighbors have seen her drive erratically down our street, once with a little girl on her lap holding the steering wheel. Another time she was chugging a bottle of wine outside the house. She was yelling, "Hooray, I'm free...!" because the girls were alone inside.
The latest issue was most frightening. I was walking my dog, and one of the girls was standing in the street naked, crying and saying that she could not find her mommy.
I took her to her house, which was filthy. There were no sheets on the beds, and the kitchen was trashed. I ended up finding the mother asleep in a bedroom with the second daughter. After finally waking her, she said that she had the stomach flu. I offered to bring the girls to my house, but she refused.
I called her husband, and he thanked me for my concern. But he also has been visibly drunk in front of the house. I am very concerned for the children's well-being. Should I call social services?
Amy says: You should have called the police immediately upon finding this little girl, naked and crying in the street. You could have covered her and comforted and calmed her down on the sidewalk while waiting for the police to arrive. This is an extremely frightening situation for a vulnerable child.
You had no idea what you would find by bringing her back to her house. Having encountered this horror show, you did your best to be kind, calm, and helpful. You are a true good Samaritan.
Now that you've seen the inside of this household, you should call the Department of Child Services, describe the incident, the household and other frightening things you've witnessed. These children need immediate protection.
