I'm currently living in an extended stay hotel. A few days ago a woman and a child, I assume it's her daughter, moved into the room next to me. Basically, this woman is yelling very loudly all day long at this poor little girl. She is constantly screaming at this girl, I try not to listen but the tone is clearly verbally and psychologically abusive. I even heard her threaten foster parents to the little girl. It's been going on ever since they moved in about 5 days ago. I pray for the little girl, I feel like she's under psychological trauma all day everyday. This lady is a very, very angry woman. I have not heard any physical abuse but all day long I hear her screaming at this little girl, saying mean and hateful things to her. The girl is no older than 6 years old. I turn my fan on high and play music full blast on my phone so I can't hear it, but even then i can still hear her yelling. I don't know if I should call and report child abuse to the Social Services or not. Do you guys think I should call them and just report what I'm hearing? I don't want to get anybody in trouble or get involved in anybody's business but it is pretty bad...
Can Social Services really do anything about verbal abuse? You could look that up first. If the answer is 'no', then is you calling social services likely to make the woman reconsider the way she is acting. If you hear her beating poor he kid, then there may be some evidence they could work with.
Why don't you strike up a conversation with the woman,, and in the nicest way possible, tell her you are really concerned for her daughter, that you hear her verbally abusing the poor kid all day, threatening to send her to a foster home. Ask her if she even loves her daughter at all. You could offer her some way to 'get help' after that, if she doesn't blow up at you firs.t You could be slick about it and ask if she has heard any yelling, and then tell all the awful things some woman is yelling at her kid. She may be able to see through that, though. If she'll listen, try to paint a picture of what that kind of parenting can do to a child. You could start off appealing to her faith, talk about parenting in the Bible along the way. Maybe start off with some passages about how the wise appreciate rebuke.
You could also start off the conversation finding out what church she goes to and inform her pastor(s/elders) about it if she won't listen. Someone else in her life may be able to follow up and hold her accountable. You are a stranger in a hotel.
If you are going to call social services, you could tell her to her face that you are going to do it. You could do this if she rejects what you say.
Anyway, she could hate you for it, and you could ask to change rooms if that is the case. The confrontation may help her rethink her parenting style. If she repents, that may be better for the child than her bouncing around in the foster care system.