"daddy hit me"

[playfelt]

My feeling is to let it go but document what the child said with date.

Regardless of what our feelings are it is legal for a parent to spank their own non-compliant child and that is exactly what the child described. There are not a lot of options for disciplining a two year old that won't stay in bed. Parent fatique comes into play as well as this may have been the third night in a row the child put up the fuss so therefore the need for discipline had also escolated. Chances are the child will also think twice the next time he is threatened to lay down or face the consequences meaning it won't be repeated very often. Also hard to a child is hard to determine since a poke is light and a slap is hard and degrees in between are foggy.

Yes we are required to report cases of suspected abuse but I do not see that this is one unless the child reports the same story over and over or you see the remains of visible marks on the child. As I said spanking is legal.

If you feel the need to deal with the issue then I would mention it either to the father or the mother by simply saying what the child relayed to you - do not indicate that you questioned the child to get the extra information. Let on the child simply told you. Your purpose then in telling them is to let them know that the child is likely to say things, that you will be required by law to take the child's interpretation into consideration and that what might be best in the future is for the parents to be honest with you when things like this occur so that you can be prepared for when the child starts talking.

The reality is they are not going to tell you but you have put them on notice that you are watching and listening carefully and maybe it will make them think twice next time.

I know I am old fashion and attitudes have changed but my kids would have gotten a spanking - hard enough to know I meant business but not hard enough to do damage - for repeatedly disobeying the command to go to bed. But done once it rarely needed to be repeated for weeks on end cause a threat was all it took to get compliance - kids slept, parents got to sleep, everyone woke up happy, rested and ready to tackle the day and I don't regret that style of parenting but like I said times were different back then and this was the norm.