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I babysit this kid who I think has serious mental problems?

First off, this isn't a joke, a prank or anything other then absolutely serious. The first person with a smart remark gets reported. Not kidding. I babysit this 5 year old boy, and I have only been sitting for his mom for about three weeks, about 2-3 times a week. At first he was a sweet kid, and his mom did admit to me that he is going to "counseling to deal with the divorce". This woman is a liar. Last night I came into his room and he has/had two hamsters. I noticed that one was missing and when I asked him what happened he looked at me and replied "I drowned it" Nothing SCARIER then having a five year old tell you that, right? So I confronted his mom and she confided that he has some serious mental problems and violent tendencies. I think I should stop sitting for her, before I end up like the hamster. I looked online and found out kids who kill small animals often grow up to be serial killers?!?! I would have quit on the spot, except the poor boy is attached to me (he doesn't exactly have an affectionate home). I don't want to make any of his problems worse.. Should I keep sitting?? Or tell them to find someone else?? Miss Four Leaf Clover, Do NOT tell me to be ashamed of myself. This child is very, very intelligent for his age, and he does know the difference between right and wrong. I will ask as to the situation under which the hamster died, however. If he is killing small animals, is there someone I should call??? Like the mother is not affectionate with the poor kid at all, when I'm not sitting for him he's basically left to his own devices. It doesn't help that they live in a rougher area of town either. I think that if he needed some more intense therapy, she wouldn't be able to afford to get it to him. At this point I have decided to keep sitting, as your right, he's not going to kill me. Plus I think that he doesn't get attached to people easily so I would feel too guilty for leaving. Thanks for all the help guys you really calmed me down!

Public Comments

1. well that's a hard one :S I think that you should stop babysitting him so much maybe (if you did everyday) just switch to one or two a week until he's less attached and then make it even smaller, kind of easing him off and making it easy for him. Tell his mum that too so that she knows and can help you to help her son with your leaving.
2. Ask his mother if his therapist thinks he is a psychopath or just has sociopathic tendencies. If he's borderline early positive socialization might make the difference between him just being a charming but selfish jerk or a criminal? Don't let him manipulate you by being charming. Ask him why he drowned the hamster? If he's not a sadist maybe you can explain to him there are better ways of dealing with things that willn't get him in trouble.
3. Ok simmer. The child is 5! You are worried that a 5 year old child is going to kill you? Get real. A 5 year old child doesn't have the cognitive ability to understand the concept of the finality of death and although he may have "drowned" the hamster, he could have just been bathing it and accidentally drowned it. He is parroting what he was told by an adult on what happened to the hamster--probably his mother. Regardless, he is a sweet child. He is only 5 years old. He has been through a lot seeing his parents split up. You do not mention why his parents have split--perhaps there was some abuse--you do not know. You are behaving like this child massacred this animal which there is no evidence to suggest he has. Relax and stop being so dramatic. Sometimes, a little information is a dangerous thing--ie) kids killing small animals growing up to be serial killers--he would have to torture them over and over again and generally this would be seen starting at ages of 8-10 yrs of age and onward. The mother is doing the responsible thing and having the child in counseling to deal with the break-up of his family. That is a good thing. This woman is not a liar. With the manner in which you are judging this boy and his mother, I would suggest that perhaps for the safety of this child, perhaps you do ask his mother to find another sitter. I am aghast that you would so harshly judge this family at your young age with no educational background nor professional credentials to do so. You should be ashamed of yourself! EDIT: Regardless of whether or not this child is VERY VERY intelligent -HE IS 5 YEARS OLD and DOES NOT have the cognitive ability to comprehend the finality and complexity of death. His brain is NOT developmentally mature--do you not comprehend this?? Who would you like to call? Ghost busters? LOL On what basis? Lives in a rough area of town??--pffft yeah, I know what that is about...got a little classism going on eh. Yeah, I am sure this mother and child can do without your judgment and guilt. If only this mother had a clue what you are saying about her and her child...and yes, you should be ashamed of yourself! Worst yet, you don't even know why--now THAT is scariest of all.
4. Children who kill/injure animals often grow up to be diagnosed as sociopaths (this diagnosis cannot be made until the age of 18, though). I was planning on telling you that I would say he is definitely one in the making until I read that he is attached to you. If he really is attached to you and shows affection toward you then I would say that he just has some serious problems, though less severe than sociopathy. However, if he is irritable, contemptuous, aggressive, manipulative, hyperactive, reckless, remorseless, and wets his bed consistently and compulsively lies then I would say that he is definitely a sociopath (or will be diagnosed as one after the age of 18). If he is similar to this description then I would stop babysitting for him if I were you. Even though he is just a young child he has the potential to be very dangerous. If this description doesn't fit him then I would continue to babysit for him but keep an eye on him at all times. I hope this helps. Good luck!