Child abuse or appropriate punishment? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Chocoholic · 10-14-2009, 08:29 PM

Florida couple forces child to eat soap
Child abuse or discipline?

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - It was in a house off Shenandoah Drive in Palm Bay, in which investigators say a little girl was punished. According to Palm Bay Police , the mother's boyfriend, Wilfredo Rivera, made her chew on soap for ten minutes, while the child's mother, Adriyanna Herdener, watched.

"I think people need to educate themselves more about using an object or foreign substance in a child's body. Whether it's soap or hot sauce. You just never know how somebody's going to react," said neighbor Christina Chiarilla, who works in child care.

Investigators say the child was crying, vomiting and foaming at the mouth. According to police, the boyfriend wouldn't let the girl rinse out her mouth until she cleaned up her mess.

Reports state the child's lips, throat and tongue became swollen and was in pain. That's when the mom asked her boyfriend to take the 8 year old to the hospital.

Police say Herdener didn't go to the hospital because, she didn't want to deal with the Department of Children and Families. But when DCF was called to the hospital, they say Rivera left with the child even before she was treated. Both were later arrested at her home. According to the DCF, the couple has a lengthy history of complaints.

Chiarilla says it's a shame. "Parents make mistakes. They don't know everything. Their mistake wasn't necessarily that they gave her the soap, it was the reaction to what happen."

And now the mother and her boyfriend face punishment for their actions. They were more concerned about themselves. To me that's a selfish reaction," adds Chiarilla.

Both Herdener and Rivera bonded out of jail. They did not want to comment.

________________________________________________

While I certainly do agree that children need discipline and some kids today are just out of control, I think these people went way too far. No child deserves to be hurt or made physically ill like that. Also, why was the mother even allowing the boyfriend to do that to her daughter? If my hypothetical boyfriend punished my hypothetical children like that, HE would be the one in the hospital!

Where is the little girl's father?

JamesG · 10-14-2009, 08:33 PM

This particular situation it is abuse.

I'm also against the "washing mouth out with soap" method. Children should not be made to have these chemicals (soap) in their mouths for punishment. It's poisionous.

Seems kind of stupid, to me, to teach your kids to keep these things out of your mouth growing up and then to punish them with it.

Chocoholic · 10-14-2009, 08:40 PM

I agree, James. i also don't understand how you can teach your child not to hit, only to spank them when they do something wrong. My parents very rarely spanked my sister and me when we were little. Instead, they used time-outs, loss of priviledges, and extra chores to discipline us. We didn't turn out spoiled rotten or bad.

ZeldaGilroy · 10-14-2009, 08:41 PM

I voted that it depends on the situation and how it is used. THIS situation was abuse in my opinion. They forced her to chew it and didn't remove the soap when she had a terrible physical reaction to it. When I was a kid my mom used to put soap in our mouths if we said bad words. She would wet the bar of soap, stick it in our mouths for about 1 minute and then remove it and let us rinse our mouths. While I do not use that as punishment for my own kids, I don't think it was abusive.

JamesG · 10-14-2009, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocoholic

I agree, James. i also don't understand how you can teach your child not to hit, only to spank them when they do something wrong. My parents very rarely spanked my sister and me when we were little. Instead, they used time-outs, loss of priviledges, and extra chores to discipline us. We didn't turn out spoiled rotten or bad.

I also wanted to add that at least use something that is not a hazardous chemical. I might not agree with it but if you want to punish by giving a bad taste in the mouth you should use something that's not a poisonous chemical.

I had a friend on my block years ago whose mom was against soap in the mouth so instead she squirted mustard in his mouth when she felt it was required to be used.

There are plenty of food products that have a foul taste but soaps and detergents are not meant to go in the mouth.

Chocoholic · 10-14-2009, 09:08 PM

^ Can't argue with that

I knew of a teacher years ago who would spray vinegar into a child's mouth if they bit another kid. Worked like a charm. Not that I ever needed it!

JamesG · 10-14-2009, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocoholic

^ Can't argue with that

I knew of a teacher years ago who would spray vinegar into a child's mouth if they bit another kid. Worked like a charm. Not that I ever needed it!

That happens today = Lawsuit.

Zoneboy · 10-14-2009, 10:00 PM

No question about it, This is child abuse.

Soap should only be eaten to counteract the effects of radioactive vegetables.

catlover79 · 10-14-2009, 10:02 PM

I think they went too far in this case.

Sterling Holobyte · 10-14-2009, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

Soap should only be eaten to counteract the effects of radioactive vegetables.

Nice Gilligan's Island reference there!

About the parents, yeah, they took it a little too far. But I am not against a little soap in the mouth. As long as it is not that anti-bacterial crap.

catlover79 · 10-14-2009, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sterling Holobyte

Nice Gilligan's Island reference there!

About the parents, yeah, they took it a little too far. But I am not against a little soap in the mouth. As long as it is not that anti-bacterial crap.

Hear, hear!!

Zoneboy · 10-14-2009, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sterling Holobyte

Nice Gilligan's Island reference there!

Thanks, I couldn't think of a better way to reference my favorite episode.

Darren J. · 10-14-2009, 11:24 PM

Soap in the mouth is abuse. Chemicals from the soap can be harmful. A simple whack in the ass is more than enough as long as it isn't used regularly.

Cactus Jack · 10-14-2009, 11:54 PM

Soap in the mouth always reminds me of that one scene in A Christmas Story

"Where did you hear that word"

"Uhh.....SCHWARTZ!"

*mom calls Schwartz's mom*

"You know what Ralphie just said?"

"What? NOOOOOOOO"

"Yes you know where he heard it from?"

"Hs father?"

"No,YOUR SON!"

Lee · 10-15-2009, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I think they went too far in this case.

I agree in this case, though as far as washing out the mouth with Soap is
concerned as general discipline, I think it should depend on the situation,
though if I had children, I would not wash their mouths out with Soap.

View Poll Results: Is washing a child's mouth out with soap appropriate discipline or child abuse?
It's an appropriate form of discipline.	3	13.04%
It's child abuse.	11	47.83%
It depends on the sitation and how it is used.	9	39.13%
Voters: 23. You may not vote on this poll

10-14-2009, 08:29 PM	#1
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	Child abuse or appropriate punishment? Florida couple forces child to eat soap Child abuse or discipline? BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - It was in a house off Shenandoah Drive in Palm Bay, in which investigators say a little girl was punished. According to Palm Bay Police , the mother's boyfriend, Wilfredo Rivera, made her chew on soap for ten minutes, while the child's mother, Adriyanna Herdener, watched. "I think people need to educate themselves more about using an object or foreign substance in a child's body. Whether it's soap or hot sauce. You just never know how somebody's going to react," said neighbor Christina Chiarilla, who works in child care. Investigators say the child was crying, vomiting and foaming at the mouth. According to police, the boyfriend wouldn't let the girl rinse out her mouth until she cleaned up her mess. Reports state the child's lips, throat and tongue became swollen and was in pain. That's when the mom asked her boyfriend to take the 8 year old to the hospital. Police say Herdener didn't go to the hospital because, she didn't want to deal with the Department of Children and Families. But when DCF was called to the hospital, they say Rivera left with the child even before she was treated. Both were later arrested at her home. According to the DCF, the couple has a lengthy history of complaints. Chiarilla says it's a shame. "Parents make mistakes. They don't know everything. Their mistake wasn't necessarily that they gave her the soap, it was the reaction to what happen." And now the mother and her boyfriend face punishment for their actions. They were more concerned about themselves. To me that's a selfish reaction," adds Chiarilla. Both Herdener and Rivera bonded out of jail. They did not want to comment. ________________________________________________ While I certainly do agree that children need discipline and some kids today are just out of control, I think these people went way too far. No child deserves to be hurt or made physically ill like that. Also, why was the mother even allowing the boyfriend to do that to her daughter? If my hypothetical boyfriend punished my hypothetical children like that, HE would be the one in the hospital! Where is the little girl's father?

10-14-2009, 10:00 PM	#8
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,462	No question about it, This is child abuse. Soap should only be eaten to counteract the effects of radioactive vegetables.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

10-14-2009, 10:02 PM	#9
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	I think they went too far in this case.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

10-14-2009, 11:54 PM	#14
Cactus Jack RonFingSwanson Forum Idol Join Date: Dec 09, 2001 Location: Santa Rosa Beach,FL Posts: 103,099	Soap in the mouth always reminds me of that one scene in A Christmas Story "Where did you hear that word" "Uhh.....SCHWARTZ!" mom calls Schwartz's mom "You know what Ralphie just said?" "What? NOOOOOOOO" "Yes you know where he heard it from?" "Hs father?" "No,YOUR SON!"
	__________________ Id Love to help you Tracy, but I cant have sex with a black guy, Id lose my endorsement deal with NASCAR-Jenna Maroney,30 Rock April 17,2009 9:02 PM : 100,000th post!

10-14-2009, 08:33 PM	#2
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,202	This particular situation it is abuse. I'm also against the "washing mouth out with soap" method. Children should not be made to have these chemicals (soap) in their mouths for punishment. It's poisionous. Seems kind of stupid, to me, to teach your kids to keep these things out of your mouth growing up and then to punish them with it.

10-14-2009, 08:40 PM	#3
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	I agree, James. i also don't understand how you can teach your child not to hit, only to spank them when they do something wrong. My parents very rarely spanked my sister and me when we were little. Instead, they used time-outs, loss of priviledges, and extra chores to discipline us. We didn't turn out spoiled rotten or bad.

10-14-2009, 08:41 PM	#4
ZeldaGilroy Dobie and Zelda Forever!!! Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 14, 2000 Location: I don't know...I'm probably lost! Posts: 4,144	I voted that it depends on the situation and how it is used. THIS situation was abuse in my opinion. They forced her to chew it and didn't remove the soap when she had a terrible physical reaction to it. When I was a kid my mom used to put soap in our mouths if we said bad words. She would wet the bar of soap, stick it in our mouths for about 1 minute and then remove it and let us rinse our mouths. While I do not use that as punishment for my own kids, I don't think it was abusive.

10-14-2009, 09:08 PM	#6
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	^ Can't argue with that I knew of a teacher years ago who would spray vinegar into a child's mouth if they bit another kid. Worked like a charm. Not that I ever needed it!

10-14-2009, 11:24 PM	#13
Darren J. Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 19, 2009 Posts: 692	Soap in the mouth is abuse. Chemicals from the soap can be harmful. A simple whack in the ass is more than enough as long as it isn't used regularly.