Stepmom hits on boy to "toughen him up"

[Jessiesgirl1108]

ROGERSVILLE — A Rogersville father and stepmother were charged with child abuse and neglect Tuesday for allegedly punching their 8-year-old son, leaving the boy’s arms severely bruised.

The boy reportedly told the nurse at Rogersville City School that his stepmother, Linda Sue Mooney, 25, 404 College St., Rogersville, punched him in the arm with her fist “to toughen him up.”

The boy also reportedly told the school nurse that his father Darrell Mooney, 46, same address, watched Mrs. Mooney punch him and did not doing anything about it.

Darrell Mooney allegedly told police that the incident was a game and they were “play hitting” each other.

On April 27 an RCS teacher reportedly noticed that the first-grade boy had several dark bruises on his arms.

The Department of Children’s Services was contacted, as well as Rogersville Police Department Detectives Charlie Gibson and Joey Maddox.

There was a large black bruise on the upper part of the boy’s left arm and several smaller bruises on both arms, police said.

Maddox described the bruises as “moderate to severe.”

“Linda did admit that she hit (the boy) twice with her fist on the upper shoulder and once in the lower shoulder,” Maddox stated in the arrest warrant. “The dad admitted to play hitting (the boy) in the arm two or three times, and he stated that (the boy) was hitting them too.”

Darrell and Linda Mooney were released from the Hawkins County Jail on Tuesday on $5,000 bond each and were scheduled for arraignment this morning in Sessions Court.

http://www.timesnews.net/article.php?id=9013658

Sounds to me like they may have been playing around...but still to leave that many bruises, you know that had to hurt the poor kid.

[Lavonna]

It may have been playing around to toughen him up but no sense in leaving bruises on him.

When my girls were little we would punch each other and I would put them in head locks (age around 11-12) but then when they were around 13 and 14 they were taller and bigger than me and it stopped.
They would gang up on me and grab my arms and the other one my legs and pack me outside and lock me out and stand at the windows and laugh their asses off and I would be laughing probably the hardest. Those were some fun times.

I believe that we should have fun with our kids but I don't think we should ever leave a mark on them.

[Thinkgoat]

Sounds to me like they may have been playing around...but still to leave that many bruises, you know that had to hurt the poor kid.


Yeah, I suppose it's not uncommon for a father and son to exchange playful "socks" to the arm but to use such force as to deeply bruise the child? And for the step-mother to punch like that? In my opinion, it's sitting on the doorstep of abuse. There's a fine line between playing around and taking frustrations out on a child by playing roughly.

[Earth2Amanda]

Yeah, I suppose it's not uncommon for a father and son to exchange playful "socks" to the arm but to use such force as to deeply bruise the child? And for the step-mother to punch like that? In my opinion, it's sitting on the doorstep of abuse. There's a fine line between playing around and taking frustrations out on a child by playing roughly.

I think you are right about the step mother, this probably isn't the last time were going to hear about her.

She's 25 and he's 46. That would be like me being married to my dad. Gross.

[Lavonna]

I think you are right about the step mother, this probably isn't the last time were going to hear about her.

She's 25 and he's 46. That would be like me being married to my dad. Gross.

I think he is her sugar daddy and she is a dumbass :proud2:

[Kalehue]

I think it's total BS. You don't hit a child and leave bruises to "toughen" them up. They left bruises that are being classified as moderate to severe. What were they hoping to teach him? That it's okay to punch others hard enough to hurt them and call it a game? Seems to me that -- even if you take what they're saying at face value -- the message here is that you can throw a hard punch whenever it suits you (or when things aren't going your way) and the recipient is a big baby if they complain. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that this child has difficulty dealing appropriately with his peers.

[runecire]

C'mon folks, with names like Darrell and Linda Sue, what do you expect (might even be cousins)

Playing SlugBugs (if you know what that is) is one thing, but beating on a child to the point of black bruises is totally uncalled for. He is 8 and is going to get enough "bruises" in his life to toughen him up without it happening intentionally. WTF!

[ineedanap]

There was a large black bruise on the upper part of the boy’s left arm and several smaller bruises on both arms, police said.

This goes beyond playing around. The parents deserved to be arrested. I hope there are some parenting and anger management classes in their futures. Poor kid!

[Jessiesgirl1108]

I agree, this was extreme. Like I said it sounded like they were playing around, but these dumb ass parents don't seem to know when enough is enough. And they really need to learn how to "play" hit...I have never left a bruise on my kids from playing!


When my girls were little we would punch each other and I would put them in head locks (age around 11-12) but then when they were around 13 and 14 they were taller and bigger than me and it stopped.
They would gang up on me and grab my arms and the other one my legs and pack me outside and lock me out and stand at the windows and laugh their asses off and I would be laughing probably the hardest. Those were some fun times.

That's funny! Good thing you knew when to stop though...gotta watch it when they start ganging up on you! LOL

[Lavonna]

I agree, this was extreme. Like I said it sounded like they were playing around, but these dumb ass parents don't seem to know when enough is enough. And they really need to learn how to "play" hit...I have never left a bruise on my kids from playing!



That's funny! Good thing you knew when to stop though...gotta watch it when they start ganging up on you! LOL

I had to stop putting them in head locks and taking them to the floor because they are to big and stronger than me and they hurt when they hit.
I haven't been locked out for about a year now and that is because of my old man getting mad at them because I had walked to his work (a 2 minute walk) in my sock feet to get his house key.
He called them and told them that by the time I get back there they better have that door unlocked and never do it again.. he was mad but I thought it was funny. Wasn't the first time but thanks to him it was the last time.