I live in an apartment and recently had a single lady and her daughter move in next door. Her daughter is in 2nd grade. The last few nights I have heard her yelling at her daughter. She is cussing her daughter out about her homework not being right. I could hear the daughter crying and pleading with her mom "why can't I say I'm sorry" and the mom replied something like "because it doesn't matter."

It is just so depressing to hear this. I just want to go over there and smack some sense into her mom.

I don't blame you! I would find a reason to go over here and meet up with them. Maybe bring over a treat or something to welcome them to the neighborhood. I personally would be worried sick for the little girl. My thoughts would get the best of me. I would probably end up recording it and calling the authorities. This can be tricky... but man, we have to protect the children.

The daughter is the sweetest! She, from day 1 was the person to introduce themselves and is always really nice. The mom just doesn't seem to be very friendly. If she has a question or needs to borrow something she always sends her daughter over. Which to me has always been a little weird, because I would never send my kids to someone's house I didn't know to borrow something.

Yeah, I would definitely keep an ear out for any physical abuse. Unfortunately not a lot that will be done for verbal (did an internship with CPS.) However, you could always befriend the Mom and see if she could unload some of her stress on you and other friends rather than her daughter. If you have kids I would invite the daughter over as well so she gets a break from the behavior.

Yeah, maybe if she does her homework around you she won't have to face the monster afterward.

Be friends with the girl. She needs all the support she can get, sounds like.

Hmmmm sounds very weird. I would never allow my kids to go to anyone's house and ask for something!! You never know what the kid will open the door too or what could happen!

The little girl probably needs a friend and the mom might too. See if you can get close (become friends with both of them) and help them out when you can. But keep your eyes open to make sure the little girl is ok. Good luck... these situations can be very tricky.

I would go over start talking to her and then say oh by the way I am sorry but I can hear you and could you please keep the languae a little cleaner for me.

By all means, keep your eyes and ears open on behalf of this little girl. Let her know that you are available if she needs you for any reason. However, don't immediately think the worst of the mom. I admit that what you have described seems inappropriate but you MAY be hearing only a part of the situation. Children can be frustrating no matter how much we love them. I'm not saying a child ever deserves to be cursed at but every parent gets pushed to the edge sometimes and reacts out of anger rather than love. I know I've done it. What you might not be hearing are the quieter, calmer apologies/discussions that come afterwards. Again, I'm not saying this isn't a situation that warrants concern just that it is important not to jump to conclusions. Does the little girl seem well adjusted? Is it just homework that you hear these kinds of arguments about? If so, would you be willing to help the little girl with her homework to see if that would help? Homework has been a huge source of stress between my first grader and me. I've snapped once or twice over the course of the year and yelled at him inappropriately (we calmly discussed the situation afterwards, though, and I acknowledged my reaction was wrong and offered an apology). I doubt that anyone heard me yell but, if they had, what they wouldn't have known was that my son (who would not be described as anything but sweet, polite, bright, etc. by our neighbors) had been whining for more than an hour because he didn't want to do his homework, or that he'd been throwing his pencil at me, or wading his math worksheets up and throwing them on the floor, or refusing to sound out words and so on. And they wouldn't be aware of the problems he'd been having in school that might be creating frustration at home. My point is that even the sweetest kids in the world have their moments and you may only be hearing the mother's reaction after she's been continuously frustated by her daughter's behavior towards/in school. If homework is the usual source of stress it could be that they just need a mediator for that particular situation.

My mother had an abusive (physical and verbal) childhood so I am absolutely not trying to discount the situation. I've seen first had the damage that kind of parenting can cause and I believe it is noble of you to be concerned and willing to get involved if you have to. And, when children are involved it is always better to err on the side of caution (I'd rather report abuse that turned out to be nothing than ignore what might be a dangerous situation for the child). Still, if all you've heard is fighting over homework I wouldn't assume the worst.

I am going to keep an eye out for any physical marks. This is the first time I noticed the yelling but it was a quiet night at my place, no TVs, etc. This was a harsh cussing. From the times I've talked to her mom she doesn't seem like the nicest person. Seems a little like anger management classes wouldn't hurt her.

Humm...

Well if I were in your situation, I would be calling child services...she is mentally and emotionally abusing her child...that scars a child for life!

Definately be there for her if she needs it...she needs a safe place to fall!