We lost our parents when I was only 9 years old. Our single grandmother, who was already raising my two cousins after raising 5 kids of her own, took us in. We were dirt poor. We lived off food stamps, in section 8 housing, in a roach infested apartment complex that was in the ghetto. However, my grandmother kept our apartment spotless our entire lives. It was decorated in cheap decor from places like Walmart and even Dollar General lol, but she made it look good. Had you not known what the outside looked like, you'd have never known we lived in the hood in poverty. I was surrounded by gang bangers and drug dealers. If you didn't tell us, we would not have known how badly broke we stayed 24/7. My Nanny was smart. She shopped wisely, she planned out our meals, she budgeted to the best of her ability, and she made it work! That woman was a Saint qnd I miss her so, so, so much. We even grew up in name-brand clothing and shoes. Yeah, it's amazing what she did and how hard she worked for us. I know she is in paradise next to Jesus, and I'll see her again. And I can't wait. Point being, poverty doesn't excuse bad parenting or bad behavior. It's all about how you're raised, in my personal opinion. I'm not sure where I'd be had we not had her and been raised correctly, and with love. RIP, Nanny. I love you so much. Until we meet again...❤
@@007nadineL- Most likely received from charities and/or thrift shops. I volunteer at a charity that has clothes, etc., in 4 buildings. People donate lovely clothes in very good condition.
He’s outstanding because he’s authentic, he’s not reading a script. Off the cuff also is reflective of knowing your shit, he never bloviates to fill air.
Bruce father of the century ❤ Though his ideas about not having children when you're 19 is nonsense, have them before 35, as soon as you can provide a stable home. Granted, few can when they're 19, but lots can't when they're 28 either, and if you wait until you have an established career after years of post-grad studies... yeah go be a first time parent when you're 40+ (men or women), congrats on your autistic child.
@@salis-salis 'congrats on your autistic child' What a stupid and disrespectful thing to say. Bruce would be very disappointed. Also, it probably is not a good idea to have a child before your brain is fully developed and at 19, it isn't.
Seeing Bruce's outrage at these abusive parents is so healing to my inner child. Be the Bruce for the kids out there, some people don't deserve to be parents.
As a person who was abused and went through the foster system and has no family, this video is super validating!! Hearing adults hold other adults accountable in a serious way, esp. on this topic, is so heartwarming.
For little you- none of it was your fault, sweetheart. You didn't deserve any of it. It's not your shame to carry. SO many parents would have loved and chosen you- myself included- if I'd had the chance. You are so worthy of love, you are beautiful and kind, and the adults failed you because of who they are and NOT because of anything you did. You will grow up and survive this. You are strong and capable, full of light, and you are a gift to this world! You will grow up and one day randomly comment on a UA-cam video where hopefully you read some replies from adults who are so incredibly inspired by you, who wish they could have gone back in time to help you, and who are so, so proud of the woman you grew into ❤❤❤
I wish somebody had been there to protect you. I wish someone had protected me. I had a stable home compared to a lot of people but my dad was a mean drunk. I had the benefit of older siblings who protected me best they could, but it was just as upsetting to see them or my mom on the receiving end as it was to get it myself. At least when I got it I had something to cry about. But my dad mellowed as he got older and I made my peace with him before he died. I am truly sorry you were left with no family. I hope you have found a surrogate family who care about and for you now.
When Bruce was talking about wrapping his son up in a blanket and then unrolling it it reminded me that me and my son used to do just about the same thing. My son called it the “burrito” but instead of unrolling the blanket he wanted me to carry him around the house like an airplane with his little head sticking out the top. To this day I can still hear him asking me to do the “burrito”. Thank you Bruce for reminded me of that memory cause I hadn’t thought about that in so long.
belive this is as natural for babies as boxes are for cats. I remember my brother and I loved the heck out of it and it's some of our sweetest childhood memories 💛
With my dad, it was sack of potatoes. He’d sling me over his shoulder and carry me around calling out ‘sack of potatoes!’ as if he were at a market. Miss you dad ❤
I agree. I knew a couple who seem to like to sleep in while their kids ran around. Clearly neglected. They had a clean house. The woman laughed when she told me once that while they slept, their kids got hungry so they got into the freezer to eat popsicles. 🤦🏽♀️ She also found her kids in the yard playing while her husband fell asleep on the couch. At least she was upset that time.
My little boy, Buddy, died 54 years ago and I still grieve. I was out of my mind with grief when it happened and just can't understand how little James could be valued so callously. I hope they found his body and treated him with the respect he didn't receive in life. Hopefully the other two children will be loved properly.
You are so right, Me Rivers. A child is a blessing. Being raised Latina we were taught childcare really young. Children were bathed daily, clothed/diapered properly and NEVER, EVER left alone! If Mama is tired there are plenty of Abuelas and Tias to lend a helping hand. I'm 70 and still help out on almost a daily basis. I get the love, Mama and Papa get support and can be better parents.
I admire the way Hispanic families take care of their own. I grew up in a sect of Catholicism that was based in Spain so a lot of my classmates were either Spanish or Latina (all girls school) and it was a great sense of community.
I know my dad loves being a parent but he has never been vocal about it so I find myself projecting Bruce’s joyful, appreciative words over my dad’s quiet, loving actions. Really, really wish my dad would say things like Bruce does but at least I can tell he does all he does for us, his family. I straight up would love a video from Michael talking about how he fosters a positive relationship with his dad.
When I was a kid, I thought all parents hated their children. Every day I would wonder why people who hated children would have any. And I wondered how someone could hate their own children (my mother admitted that she hated me).
I'm a sober addict, going strong four years clean now. This shit really gets to me. Makes me thankful for the fact that I still retained the common sense that when I was deep in that dark place, I still knew that I couldn't risk having a kid.
Same here. I drink way more than is healthy, but I make sure my son is in bed and fed and bathed and taken care of first... Idk how ppl get so bad off they can forget about their kids
@@jessicagoodson7452 Stay strong, we all have our demons but it sounds like you know full well what's important 💪❤ But yeah, when I was deep in it, I may not have wanted to fully admit how bad it was, but I absolutely realized that there was no way in hell I was fit to take care of anything more than my cat. I can strongly sympathize and empathize with people who are that down on their luck. But that makes it all the more infuriating. I get that sometimes shit happens and you didn't plan to have that kid, but there are things you can do. I personally know people who petitioned the court to take their child while they worked on getting clean, because they too understood that they couldn't do it at that time. It was hard, but it worked.
@@jessicagoodson7452 Yeah I like to smoke pot in the evening, but not around my kids and they come first in *everything.* I tend to put myself last (even my pets get fed before I do). It's all about finding a balance. We do need time to ourselves to keep our sanity, but not at the expense of our children. It sounds like you have your priorities in order. I hope you and your son continue to thrive. ❤❤❤
35:17 Personal story: I had two children. My husband and I were dirt poor. Couldn't even afford the dirt. I used the programs that existed in my area. I worked full time and went to school taking double full time credits. I was exhausted, but I loved (still do) my kids. I'm now a Special Ed. Teacher. I own my own house. And yes we did get married and had kids too young. But we put our children first. I can't imagine not giving everything to my kids.
Meh. I wouldn’t want a dad who cusses every other word and defends dirtbags. And gets paid for defending dirtbags. But at least he cares about children. That’s a plus. 😅
Nothing wrong with cussin but a lot wrong with illegal drugs, driving illegally, not being there for your child, not hugging your child, not having fire arms in your house, amongst other things. And stop using the word SPANK as it is abuse of a child!
I got physically abused in a walmart (definitely not "normal" corporal punishment) as a very little kid and I was sobbing and crying and no one stepped in. Thank you for stepping in, the kid may have been afraid but I bet he never forgot that you tried to stand up for him, I know I would have always remembered
I'm so sorry to hear this. Anyone who ever had this or any form of abuse or nevlect. You are amazing, it was never your fault. NEVER. Ur parent was the 1 at fault & should have ACTED like a parent, & been there to protect & love u unconditionally! u deserve that then, AND now. U are a warrior & survivor, & deserve so much more 4 that strength. Tw below; This so much... I was abused regularly... mostly by dad & sister... I still have dreams of where I actually see someone stepping in, ever, in the past. Some1 just stepping in once would have meant so much to me, but also often U can't take that person's help past that even if they did, either because of being burned by the system or by people trying to help then taking the parents side, like u DO deserve it, even tho it's lies to obviously make it so it seems like U are the bad guy, not the parent(unfortunately narcissists &/or manipulative parents, tend to be 2 good at manipulating ppl into those kinds of things, even tho most would never think it's okay ever, but being in the moment they get talked into it being okay. & when Bruce said the kid he helped, was more scared about calling the cops on his mum, I unfortunately know y from experience... But also if u're a witness & CAN call them & make sure the kid is taken away, CALL. they likely want you to call but; 1) they can't say that, as theyll get it much worse in private(4 a long time) if u don't fight 4 & defend them from consequences to their abuse on you etc. Like If you see that in public, guarantee its 10x worse out of public view. The cops won't believe the kid or if it's like my parents, they were best friends with all the cops in town & so the cops saw me as "the attention seeking kid" before I even knew to report my parents so i mostly gave up except a few times, but it went way u'd expect... Tw below;; Tho I vividly remember 1 time i called the cops on my sister (was 20+) & my mum not only screamed at me to leave her house, as how dare I (there's more context than most situations,) but this is after we found out any physical trauma can literally be deadly 4 me due to my medical conditions, & my sister once again lost it at me because i spoke -_- tho she followed me & threw 1 of those small sharp shovel things from gardening & it barely missed my face, sharp end facing me. I literally saw it pass my eye & had a panic attack of how dangerous that was, b4 even including my condition... + .) So I freaked out & 1st time in years called the cops because she was only winding up more... but as I did my mum started screaming at me & hitting me a couple times (not like full hitting but like when someone is annoyed with u, again she knew the risk that could cause to me.) & threatened if I didn't hang up she would kick me out on the streets... It's worse because she knew she held the power to make me hang up with no choice by saying that as she was my full-time carer & physically couldn't care 4 basic daily tasks 4 myself & had no other options 4 that care but her & ironically y I had to come back after years of going no contact with her, when it all got 2 severe on my own... (&how she enabled my dad & sister's abuse 4 decades on her literally physically disabled, & 90% of the time wheelchair & bedbound, daughter -_-) made me fear ever telling any1, as if they don't believe u, will make it 1000x worse. & not once was I believed... except 4 this single 1 time in my 20s. Because I think they knew as when they finally turned up, because I wouldn't answer callbacks, they immediately then pulled me away from mum & sister who are suddenly as quiet as a mouse, have a feeling it was probably obvious I was panicking etc on my face... & wasn't told until years later in 30s, my sister was warned by police at that time, that it'd be on record, especially with my conditions & disabilities making it basically impossible 4 me to be the abuser, as wasn't as disabled as i had become at that point when called b4. As it'd been yrs since I'd called the cops 4 this kinda thing & was to point my conditions & disabilities were at that time hard to not see at a glance by them, which was it worked in my favour *sigh*, (@ time my mum lied to me & said the cops said they believed my sister & pretty much annoyed to b called etc, but recently in my 30s she admitted the truth. So after that never called again but would have if I knew that, so probably y she never said) But anyway most fear that because after years of telling ppl or asking 4 help ALWAYS making it worse.. especially when the parent u desperately want love & affection from & them take away that barely there affection etc to nothing, as well as physical abuse getting wayy worse & the constant verbal reminders that's WHY it got worse ... Thats I think what does it more than the physical, tho both together make it the even worse again... But only know from my experience, so may not be same 4 all..., the lovebombing, breadcrumbing etc so u'll do anything they want 4 their affection (that ironically doesn't exist, & never will until they get help, if they aren't just plain a narcissist((my mum finally got help, dad's a narc lol). But that's not love & affection, that's an exchange &/or conditional love.. that's not how a child & parent relationship works but that dynamic makes it harder to recognise that)
As a child of a 19yo mother I concur. She still sees me as the mistake that derailed her life, even 50yrs later. She completed her goals but they were delayed by 20yrs. We never bonded & that makes all the difference in the world. She didn't know what to do with me or how to take care of me. She worked 3 jobs & provided the basics, food/clothing/shelter, but not love. If it wasn't for my grandmother that moved us in for the 1st year & ironically my 16 & 17yo aunts (that i did bond with) that woke up w/me overnights I dont know who/what I would have become. Not every woman has maternal instincts & are up to the challenge of raising kids. FWIW I'm the 1st female in our family's history to have a child after the age of 20 (i was 27). All of us have one issue or another with our mothers & childhood. Anecdotal I know but thats my personal perspective looking back as an emotionally mature 52yo. Not everyone should be a parent. Esp before they're ready.
Culturally, we encourage people to delay having children and increase their chances of infertility. Biologically, you should have kids in your 20’s. But financially- it’s so hard!!
The way you speak about your kids and the joy when you talk about parenthood just brings tears to my eyes. I wish everyone could have had a parent like you.
I became a father at 18 before the military, and it was the best thing to ever happen to me. My daughter is now 12, and I’ve always been a responsible, hardworking father. Maybe I’m one of the few good younger ones, but it was a blessing.
It’s definitely not a general thing, I know a mother who got her child when she was like 17 or 18 and she’s amazing. But many people aren’t mature enough to be parents in their teens. I know I sure as hell wasn’t. I still don’t have children in my mid 20s now but I’d def do better than I would’ve 5 years ago
@@FloSchmdt14no one actually is. This dude just has very low standards for himself. You aren’t equipped to be a parent before your brain is even finished developing
My grandma was a teen mom, she had my dad at 17. Of course her coming from an abusive household with a narcissitic mom had an effect, but her and my uncle talk about her with the highest regard. I hope shes still around when I have kids so I can take a few pages out of her book. Her siblings even consider her more of a mom to them than thier mom was, and I hold the same sentiment
My wife had our first boy when she was 20 and I was 24, we have 4 boys now and I’m gonna stop trying for a girl now XD. But I love each moment I spend with my little boys and have no idea how anyone could be abusive to a child.
My husband’s father was so violent and evil that he broke both of his legs when he was 7. His mother was an ER nurse and never took him to the hospital, instead patched him up at home. I’m amazed he’s as athletic as he is. We tell everyone he’s an orphan, because he basically is
How anyone hurts a kid is beyond me. I’m not a “kid person” but they absolutely deserve to be loved and protected at all costs. Don’t have kids if you can’t handle them.
Bruce Rivers is such a wise man. He should be teaching classes for teenagers about legal issues, and life lessons. The things he talks about are things that are actually important, and should be addressed in schools, more so than a lot of the other things they are currently teaching in schools. They should show students all his videos.
I’m happy to know that his videos do teach, he’s doing amazing work even just by doing this. But if he takes it a step further, that is also amazing ☺️
@@TylerMadison711 I am not talking specifically about this video. Or not that part anyway. I am referring to his videos in general. Edit: Although there are important things in this video too, like the importance of breaking the cycle of generation to generation abuse. A lot of people just raise their kids exactly how their parents raised them, and their parents before them raised them. It may seem obvious but it isn't, or these cycles of abuse, would not keep happening to so many people. A lot of people especially young kids do not understand their rights when dealing with law enforcement too. He pushes people to "stop self snitching". That is something some people sadly, are unaware of.
I'm a single dad, I raise my son 7 and my daughter 13, my ex-wife has personality disorders and thank the lord I have them. Its such a privilege to raise them, as hard as it gets. I had a great mentor, my father was a drunken, abusive, bully. I was raised in a house that was a warzone. All I try do is be the person I needed when I was their age. This is a house of love. I will protect them until I'm dust. Bruce! Loving the beard, before you shave it, we have to have one vid with a handle bar moustache, it will be glorious. Mike - content genius - you guys are awesome. Great work, this is a top tier channel. I'm trying to be cheerful to try forget how sick these people make me. XD
Being a father is a blessing to me and I feel I've done a good job raising my daughter from a beautiful redheaded baby to a beautiful 16 year old young lady.
My daughter got out of our house once as a toddler and she was down the road as I ran out to find her, looking for “ki-ki” (cats). My neighbor at the time just watched her run down the road and laughed as I ran screaming her name. Luckily, we live in a very rural, quiet area but my heart is in my throat now a decade later just thinking of it. (We didn’t know she could unlock the deadbolt so we installed one at the top of the door where she couldn’t reach.) Bruce, I love your channel, I am like you, a child who was hit and is now breaking the cycle with my kiddos. Thank you for your passion and advocacy for children!
Similar thing happened to my grandma. She put my uncle, who was around 18 months old at the time, down for a nap. She went about her day, taking care of her other three kids, when there was a knock at the door. She opened it and there was a neighbor, holding my uncle, who was naked. Turned out he'd pushed out the screen in his bedroom window by his crib, got out, stripped off his diaper (the only thing he was wearing because it was summer and the house didn't have A/C), and was running down the road. The neighbor was driving home for lunch, saw my uncle, and grabbed him to bring home. Thankfully, they also lived in a rural area and in a one story house so when he climbed out the window, my uncle wasn't injured. My poor grandma broke down crying because she felt terrible as a mother. My granddad fixed the screen as soon as he got home from work and moved the crib away from the window so it wouldn't happen again.
My oldest did that to me as well. She learned at two, to use an antique walking cane to tap the top lock we installed on the top of the door to unlock it. Scared the shit out of me, and my mom on several occasions to go one cul-de-sac over to the neighbors behind our back yard to play w their 7 kids. She was so smart. Scary. And she only had a five maybe ten min head start from when I woke up.
You hit the nail on the head about poverty not meaning you have to live in squalor. My grandma and grandfather lived in a modified chicken coup turned home in the 1930s. She always would say," just because your poor doesnt mean you have to live poorly"
@julia-xd8voYou're pretty much guranteed to live and die in whatever class you were brought up in in America in 2023 I won't really deny that but I don't think that's an excuse make all these excuses. Like you're poor and life sucks, you work all day for money you can't enjoy. But make your bed and brush your teeth, you gotta toughen some of these things out. Make the most of it. People are happy in way worse situations, its just a mentality thing.
@@WoodlandTyou can say it doesn’t matter, but in reality it does. What angers me is when clearly well off people who drive 100,000 dollar cars and hire maids to clean, lectures the single mom who worked 3-jobs that she didn’t clean the dishes or let her kids watch tv while she fell asleep.
Drug crimes have some of the most severe punishments out of everything. We can thank the "war on drugs" for that. That shit needs reevaluated. It just seems so crazy!
I work in child protection and you're right my clients get into more trouble for drugs than they do for child neglect. It absolutely enraged me every single time! You put weeks, sometimes months of work into a child neglect cases just for some judge who's seen the defendant for 2 mins and gives them a ridiculously lenient sentence.
The personal trauma is real with this one. My mom always acted like I was a burden, and I simply just never understood, obviously at that age. Very sad. Lifelong damage and difficulties it lasts, but it’s usually always dismissed and dumbed down by them.
@@lanie-ok thank you. I’m 21 and my siblings and I bond by talking about our experiences. I realized when I was probably 14 that my situation wasn’t normal. I’m not quite there but I’m proud of my progress. A lot of mourning about who I could’ve been in the process, which I think is the hardest part. But also making sure to be kind to myself, and give myself what I deserve. ☺️
You know, Bruce, one thing I really respect about your videos is how you show how the importance of breaking generational trauma can impact the next generation. You're a good dad.
@@mollycote1021No, baby DESERVES a mom like her, thankful to parent! Parents are always the lucky ones. Sorry, I just hate perpetuating the idea that any child should be grateful for care they deserve to receive.
Just be careful how you speak about that child's BLOOD mother. The indignity portrayed with the term "meth mom" alone would cause me to bet that when this kid inevitably rebels against you and searches for their identity, meth will be a part of it.
Don’t ever call her biological mother “meth mother” again. Someone suffering from drug addiction has an illness, you wouldn’t call her mother a “cancer mom” if she suffered from cancer. And before anyone says something; you can compare drug addiction and cancer as both are diseases you can diagnose, but drug addiction is FAR MORE DEADLY. It lowers your lifespan far more than cancer does, usually. Don’t degrade people to “junkies”. That’s such a disgusting thing to do that I immediately loose ALL respect for the person saying it.
The Joy Bruce gets when talking about his kids and especially when talking about his relationship with the content genius I love to see it MISS YOU POPS
Yeah I make a habit of not sticking my nose where it doesn't belong, but when it comes to kid's absolutely have to. You could save their life from the abuse of their parents and even if they survive that it can leave lasting scars that ultimately lead to drugs and bad choices which can kill them or make their life have no value even to themselves. I've got family where almost everyone on that side is addicted to drugs or alcohol or doing stupid stuff that lands them in prison. I thank God my grandparents and mother broke that cycle and are the best people I know.
I was raised in an abusive household growing up. Thank you for saying what needs to be said about child abusers. I appreciate your sarcastic remarks throughout. Michael is a lucky son to have you as a parent.
My dad worked night shift in Chicago for 44 years...and my mom day shift so that i would always a parent around. While he napped, he did so on the couch while i watched tv. But most of the time, he was awake and engaged. He sacrificed to be present for me, because he loved me and knew that he had to be close and present.
The best part about this channel is hearing this man encourage, support, and love his son. My favorite part of parenting is the times I get to be friends with my kids. And it's awesome to see other parents feeling that happiness too. The content genius does an amazing job and really does deserve the praise. I would bet money on the whole channel being his idea. You done good kid
Seriously as somebody who had a father who beat, mocked and threatened them regularly, it restores a lot of faith to see somebody so openly love his son. More dads like Bruce and the world would be a much better place.
Your closing is exactly why I'm your fan. "If you know someone like this, get them help before they do something stupid." You're a good person, Bruce Rivers!
The reaction of the girl’s mother shows what an upbringing that girl had. Putting aside the baby - obviously the girl made a terrible decision - imagine finding out what the daughter had just gone through, and her first reaction being to chastise her daughter for not telling her the truth. She is treating her 19 year old daughter like a toddler, and when you grow up under that kind of parenting, you learn to hide things from your parents, and you are scared to turn to them when you get in a bad situation. Obviously this girl was so messed up from her upbringing that she feared her mother’s reaction to even finding out that she had had sex, and gotten pregnant, that she went to such insane lengths to keep it from her that she ended up disposing of the baby in a trash can. That is the psychology of somebody from an extremely messed up home.
🕯️Your commentaries are superb * Not All SUPER HEROES WEAR CAPES . You both have MINED Yourselves with WORDS AS Your WEAPON OF CHOICE TO DISARM Offenders . I So Appreciate The Time and Effort Michael Spends Carefully Choosing Subject Matter . ( There is so much out there , requiring so much clarification ! ) You could use a mini me too ! You both have Offered Your Assistance in Educating . , asses , Content videos . I can't get enough . Mr. Rivers , You made a statement as I listened , I heard your compassion and empathy in your voice and in your facial expression with each pause as you said this . Poverty .ay come upon us ,overwhelming us both directionally , and our relationships, environment and age but there is not a time to be dirty , disorder,unclean or unkept . We should not place our loved ones in an unsafe or harmful situation or where we are even compromising our sanitation . One other is our sanity 🕯️ You both have brought such light into my world . I hope you both are shining brighter for the better in your little piece of the world also. I hope someday to be blessing to your efforts . You both have your in such a great place ❤ Thank you .
@@suebrown7358 Oh that’s not what I got from this at all. Her daughter is 19, so I don’t think there’s any way the mom could be considered responsible anyway. No she treats her grown adult daughter like a child. Also see how she refuses to accept that she has no right to know why her daughter is being arrested when the cops show up. She sounds incredibly immature. Mom from hell.
@@realBorisLegasov oh I didn’t meant Mom was legally responsible in anyway. I mean that she was shame dumping on her kid for social reasons. Agree with everything you said.
My daughter was three when she disappeared in a store. I was so freaked out! After looking all around for 2 min, I ran to the service desk crying and hysterical. They called for all employees to look in their department before calling police. I was so scared someone had grabbed her. A couple of mins later this employee came walking up holding her hand telling me she found my daughter in the shoe department trying on shoes. I grabbed her and hugged and hugged and kissed her. She was confused why I was crying. I felt so horrible for not paying attention. There’s a special place in hell for child abusers and child killers.
I’m sorry that happened and there’s no defense for anyone in these videos… but judging by what some of these “perfect” UA-cam commentators and from Bruce himself, you should have been thrown in jail for a year and you kid should have been taken from you and sent to foster care. There’s no defending what these people did, but having a rich lawyer driving a sports car lecturing poor people that if you’re not perfect you should have your kids taken away is kind of rich.
@@funnydale what she did wouldn't be constituted as neglect. Because it wasn't intentional EDIT: Plus she immediately informed the front desk that her child was missing and began searching for her as soon as she noticed she was gone. Bruce is in no way saying that parents that have a momentary lapse in attention deserve to have their children taken; however, parents such as the ones in this video do deserve to have their children taken from them. The fact that you're trying to use this video as a way to get a moral high-ground is concerning considering the content.
Too true, unfortunately too the ones that have a bunch Ussually are the ones who don’t deserve them. Don’t take care of em. We pay for em the kid has a rough childhood and so on. Sad
@jeremylydiard6421 we could go deep with this. I'm pro abortion. I had to make that decision myself in 1984. Ultimately, I chose to keep my baby, and I'm happy. But, I was also very independent and self sufficient. Pro-lifers are actually just pro birth. They don't care if this child is murdered 5 years later or less by some unstable crazy parent. At 6 years old, my stepfather almost murdered me and my siblings. Let's just say we weren't going down without a fight. 1971.
What really touched me in this video is you can see the moments where Bruce is having to hold back the emotion and anger talking about these parents. It's truly horrific to hear about the things these kids have dealt with, and see the callousness that these adults don't seem to care about the lives they've brought into this world.
Exactly this! For those not able or not wanting to raise a newborn baby, there are many safe locations around the Country where unharmed babies may be dropped off and legally abandoned without parents or family facing ANY legal consequences. There are so many couples dreaming and wishing, vetted and qualified who have filled out all the documents to adopt any child.. those parental units who can’t find any natural parenting instinct the second they hold their newborn child should be carefully watched by hospital Staff and, as protocol, should give a list of not only support agencies, but also the above mentioned safe infant surrender locations. If it has gotten to a point that any parent is or has been considering harming any child, or is feeling like they are about to do something with potentially tragic consequences, call 911 before acting. Contact a neighbor or friend.. most people would step in, should it be an absolute crisis- before anything permanent happens to children or birth parents. Speaking as a formerly 19 year old single mom of one beautiful baby girl, the many sacrifices were worth the world to see her grow up healthy and happy… She is now an Attorney and engaged to a boy she met in grammar school with a similar parenting story. Also, her birth father finally contacted her back as she’d been trying to get his medical history since she was 16 and he resides halfway around the world. I wouldn’t trade having anything for my daughter as she is my best friend, despite me being super strict and her begging me to swat her on the tush instead of hearing me explain why certain things are wrong. Oh, I did give her that single, quick, and one off bottom spank when she ran into traffic in a very busy mall parking lot during the Christmas rush. Closest I’ve ever come to a nervous breakdown when I heard the honking and she’d unbuckled her car seat while I was walking around to the driver door to leave. Terrifying. These people and the miniature humans in their care shock and crush the soul. Hardest videos to watch yet important that people know to see something and say something. One loving parent is better than two that are horribly dysfunctional. I do wish She’d had two parents however life doesn’t always turn out as planned. In my case, it turned out better than I could have dreamt and constantly worked to give her every opportunity in life to pursue her dreams. Not gloating but so proud she turned out to be a solid person with great morals. Bless you all and your families. xoxo bravo to you and your talented son @BruceRivers & #MichaelRivers
Always thought kids should be harder to have. I was more into puppies and foals, the thought of kids terrified me, but they turned out to be pure joy. Every age was the best one ever, toddlers to teens. We played together, snuggled, read, and explored. Best years of my life. We started out poor, but kept them fed and healthy, and when they were little they don't want things, they just want you to be there, to love them and let them know they're safe.
Michael and your daughter are blessed to have you as their dad. And it’s true; your words of praise are resonating to a lot of young people watching your channel.
@@DeviceAnathemahe was giving an actual example about Michael with the blanket, so he was talking about Michael specifically. He knew that people like you would pick it apart though so he made sure to mention his daughter even in him talking about Michael.
Started watching this channel thinking you were just trying to get criminals off…. It’s turned out you’re the sweetest most compassionate and moral guy I think I’ve witnessed on UA-cam! Really love your videos ❤
Hi Bruce, I watched this video a while ago of the baby found on the road. The Police Officer was absolutely amazing. He even changed the baby's nappy. So true, not all parents deserve children.
My mom always says that I figured out I didn't want kids after 9 months in the womb with my twin brother. Not everyone is cut out for children. I didn't like kids when I was a kid. I love my nieces and nephews, I love playing with cute kids, but I especially like when they go home at the end of the day. I'm not cut out to be a parent and that's okay. More people need to look at themselves and be able to say they shouldn't have kids because there'd be a lot fewer screwed-up adults in the world. It's heartbreaking seeing what these kids are put through by people who should have never ever been parents.
See thats great that you actually took the time to figure that out before you had kids and now can make sure that doesnt happen. I wish more people would do the same thing. Ive struggled alot with motherhood myself even tho I do enjoy it but my son and I both have health problems so I made sure that it was just him so there wasnt any extra stress on our family. Sometimes I wish it was possible to stop people from having kids before they actually thought about it first.
same here. I knew as a kid that I didn’t want kids. 30+ years later, I still have the same opinion, don’t like nor want kids. Not everyone should be a parent and that’s fine. Better to not reproduce than be like any of the parents in this video, at least you’re not hurting anyone.
I had decided when I was a teen I didn’t want kids, now I’m 41 and never had them. I run a farm, have a great husband and travel a lot. I love my life and feel proud the cycle of abuse and alcoholism in my family ended with me
I agree, my family has birth defects and everyone of us has some kind of mental health issue. Mostly depression, but also bipolar and addiction issues. I knew that I never wanted to pass that along to my children. I am lucky enough to be a stroking to a really great son who is 30 today and is the whole of my eye, despite all of his accomplishments. He is a homeowner, a member of the national guard, and a scout leader. All wonderful things, and I've would be proud of him if he was anything, he is a wonderful young man.
Bruce, I called your firm yesterday for a friend’s case and wasn’t expecting to actually be able to talk to you. Thank you for taking the time to talk to me and give solid guidance on where to find the type of lawyer we need, even though your services are way outside anything we could crowdfund for 😂 I also got to actually thank you as a long time viewer for your videos helping me in my court advocacy work and personal interactions with law enforcement and I’ve been able to help keep people (including myself) free because of it. Now I want to thank you for this video because you talking through this really helped heal and make sense of some of what I experienced as a kid (even tho it was more emotional/verbal abuse) and also validated my experiences as someone who became a parent young and didn’t have much of a choice in it due to extreme circumstances, you’re right about becoming a parent at 19, it’s not easy or natural and you’re growing up while trying to raise a child. She’s 4 now, it’s been a rough few years, but I’ve worked really hard to not be one of those parents while still allowing myself space to work myself out, I’m trying to be more like the woman you work with. I’ve had my struggles, I will always wish I could have had her when I was actually consenting and ready, but I can keep building and feel good that I have a safe house, a good education for my child, resources covered, and a career path that will hopefully get me to the point that someday I will be able to afford your services 😂🙏 anyway, thanks for everything.
You sound wonderful! Good job mama, your child is lucky to have you as her mom. Just keep giving yourself love as a happy mom makes a good strong mom. That’s the best gift you can give your child, self care. Have a happy life ☮️
Thanks for letting us eavesdrop on your note -- really confirms Bruce is a good guy! And I'm so sorry for your trouble, and hope things keep getting better for you, I'll be keeping you in my prayers.
@@AidaShawJ.D.we know that he's a good guy because his character shows through what he says and talks about having done. Love his anecdotes and am totally here for it. ✌️
I worked the midnight shift at the hospital, pregnant with my second child, and a little one 13-mo old. My husband worked the day shift. I needed to sleep. After I fed him breakfast, changed him, and played with him for a while, I slept on my son's child's bed and closed his bedroom door with the two of us in his bedroom. He played with his toys, and I was able to nap in the morning. I didn't want to take the chance of him walking around the house or finding a way to get outside without my knowledge.
I was 19 when I got pregnant and let me tell you, I was not prepared. Thankfully, I had a mom that was willing to help and a support network of responsible sitters available when I wanted to be irresponsible. My boy and I muddled through and I think I provided society with a pretty fantastic adult. But man, parenting can be rough when you're young.
Same situation but my family deserted me. I was a prospect for medical school at only 19 and then *bam* my world was turned upside down. I was absolutely not prepared (I was the youngest grandchild and the only child of the youngest daughter) and had never even held an infant before my own. I almost died during 24 hours of labor and was sent to live 9 hours away with the abusive guy my parents pressured me to marry because of *their* image in the community. 14 years later it is the best thing that could’ve ever happened to me. I now have 4 beautiful children with my now-husband who is truly my complementary partner in this life (he adopted my 2 children away from the abusive POS) and we are blessed immensely by God on a daily basis.
A friend and his wife started their family when they were 17. I asked him if he missed his youth. He told me he would do it all over again, and his 3 adult kids said they had so much fun growing up. Uplifting.
I got married at 18 and had my first at 19. She’s almost 7 now and I’m nursing the youngest of my 4 as we speak. I’m infertile and we knew that was likely the case so we decided to start trying early on because we knew it was going to be difficult. I’d do it all over again every time. I don’t feel like I missed anything.
@@Trinabiss97I feel like Bruce is got a bit of his personal bias mixed in there. My sister had her fist baby at 18, she currently has 3 kids now and she's a wonderful mother! She told me she would also do it all over again. Congrats on your little one! 🎉
I had my oldest when I was 17, I met my husband when I was 19, he had 2 children from a previous relationship, and we had a child when I was 21, so by this time we were raising 4 young kids, we were on a very tight budget but still lived quite well, my kids are now adults at ages 28, 27, 26 and 24 and we have 2 amazing grandchildren, I would not change anything, I’m only 45 and I absolutely love looking after my grandkids and couldn’t imagine being able to do the things I do with them now if I was older and my parents watched their grandchildren grow and now get to watch their great grandchildren grow
True, but it is pretty common that parents who start that young ARENT good parents-they're not prepared to be. And it can result in being a mom or dad becoming someone's identity, and it makes becoming an empty nester harder for some.
Same. I turned 17 one month prior to having my first. It was hard and it was worth every struggle. I believe I was born to be a mom. 35 yrs later…none have been arrested and all are great people and at positive people in society. And I did it by myself. It can be done…but this girl and her mama never should’ve been parents. They’re AWFUL!
the two woman and cop in the first clip restored some of my faith in society that people pay attention and can show genuine care. Good thing that specific cop was the one who responded and was able to easily link the parents to a previous incident he dealt with and was able to arrest them. hopefully that little boy remembers getting to push the buttons and see the cop car instead of his dirtbag parents
That infuriated me! That baby happily went to ANYONE that's not normal at that age, they should have some kind of stranger wariness. It's the whiny " why" coming out the parents while they're high af and their babies nappy falling off its so full, he's covered in bites, wandering around in the sun with no sunscreen on a main rd! I hope that little boy remembers being in the police car amd is with a family who loves and takes care of him.
@@Lizzie-h3jyep. Going to strange adults like that is a sure sign their needs are not being met, physical and/or emotional needs. That’s why kids like this are prone to being victimized by bad people
Yep. They are heroes and they didn't even think twice, there's no reason to. You either let a child in the path of fast vehicles, or you save them from the danger. Most people would save them from the danger. The other drivers that saw the child, probably saw the child getting picked up by the first woman to find the child. The parents may be Homo Sapiens, but I will not accept them into the human race. They aren't human in my brain. If you're willing to let an innocent toddler just roam around your house without child safety locks, without checking in on them every minute or so while they're playing with blocks and hot wheels, while also intoxicated? That's inhuman. That goes against basic human instinct. I don't care about Mom Intuition or Dad Instincts, I care about human intelligence. Those parents had no intelligence.
As a nursing student, one of the MD's I worked with made me promise him that I wouldn't go into pediatrics. He grabbed me by the shoulders , looked into my eyes, & said " I promise, it will destroy you ". Now yrs later...here I am watching this with tears rolling down my face for poor little James , & all these abused little ones. I guess he was right. This truly hurts my heart.
The case of the girl who gave birth in the hospital toilet; Alexi seems to me to be an extremely immature 19 year old. Her mother came across as quite overbearing - the girl seemed more afraid of her mother finding out that she’d even had sex.
That was my first thought. I'm from the Deep South and extreme religious purity culture does not reduce teen pregnancy. It does lead to situations like this and terrible teen parents.
I really hope he looks further into that case. Them claiming the hospital killed the baby because of the pain meds she was given just before the birth is disturbing. Her and her mother both need to go to jail.
That’s my opinion as well. She’s not some criminal mastermind plotting to kill a baby. I think she probably never learned about sex-ed and didn’t really know she could get pregnant, most likely due to her mother’s necessity to have an innocent virgin child.
I appreciate the mention of that man's takeaway because I've told my therapist many times how I prefer UA-cam to any traditional tv because I get a glimpse of real people and how they interact. I didn't know there was anything different about how I grew up but seeing people's kindness (the way you speak about your son) is enlightening!
Growing up in northern Jersey, I met many immigrant families who did not have a lot of money, but cleanliness was their top priority .cleanliness of their home , their person and their children . I always felt that they made such an effort to present a positive image and their home because they were immigrants. And wanted to give their children a better life.
I was raised by a single mother. I never realized how poor we were until I became an adult. There were 4 of us living in an 850sq foot house. We cleaned the house from top to bottom every Saturday. There is never a reason to live in filth.
Fist bump to single mother, Saturday cleaning! My mom let us pick what to clean (I hated dishes, my brother hated cleaning the bathroom). She put on music and we sang and danced while cleaning.
My father left me and my 2 brothers when I was 3. Then kidnapped us for a year. My mom got us back. How can someone want kids so bad and then throw them away. The horror we went through for years because of him. I would've loved to have had a dad like you. God bless.
as somebody whose mother constantly threatened abandonment as a child, you saying that you would never even threaten that healed a part of my soul I didn't realize needed healing. thank you for helping me feel validated about the trauma I lived through growing up
It’s refreshing to hear a defense attorney speak so passionately against child neglect/abuse. Knowing how much damage these people do to their children makes them indefensible.
As a Retired Paramedic, my worst calls that I can remember were Child Abuse cases where we were called to by the Police to treat the child(ren). They still haunt me sometimes. The things we see as Paramedics, are things of nightmares for other people. Child abuse, child endangerment, burns on the kids, horrific scenes out of horror movies sometimes. But, there are some people in this world who should never be allowed 2 things, children and animals. Because they abuse that PRIVILEGE of having either one!! Best Regards from a Retired Paramedic, from Ontario, Canada, Jenn 💖 🇨🇦
As someone who was raised by horrible people, I can promise you that being a good, mature, wise, fair, balanced, loving, parent is the best gift you could ever give any child. The trauma, setbacks, mental issues, and general life struggles that plague you after severe childhood abuse are a life sentence you can never fully escape no matter how hard you try, how resilient you are, how much meds you take or therapy you do. If my life experiences have taught me something, its that no amount of financial success, social status, or achievements are as precious and worthy of admiration as is being a truly good parent. They are honestly the heroes of our world.
A guy that does true crime shows pointed out that not all people who have been abused are serial killers, but almost all serial killers were abused. Rule #1: Don’t mess up your kids!
As someone who had a horrible childhood, but who went onto raise four children alone. I can’t understand how these monsters can live with themselves. I still am there and offer any support my adult children need and in turn am blessed with amazing grandchildren. Needless to say my parents aren’t so blessed, they’ve reaped what they sowed.
In Alexee Treviso's case, her mom's reaction tells a story. There was an initial "Oh my gosh" and then "Lexee I told you about this!" Told her about what? Throwing babies in the trash? Did they discuss prom night dumpster babies over dinner?
And if it was about her having an unwanted pregnancy, why as a parent didn’t she take appropriate measures? I don’t know when her pregnancy was apparent to her parents but there are legal and appropriate measures to take.
She tried to sue the hospital but I doubt it’s going anywhere. The autopsy came back as strangulation. Her trial is this august. 25,000 people signed a petition to get her kicked out of college as she’s currently attending while out on bond.
Parents don't want their girls to get pregnant, but give them no tools to deal with. It gets all warped in their minds that having the baby is worse than anything else they could do. And, of course, the boy always walks away clean. Sad.
Not a mom, but a preschool teacher. Thank God for loving people/parents like you, Bruce. I’ve seen some heartbreaking things, and I want to rip my hair out sometimes due to pure frustration. But I am so beyond grateful for my job and what I get to do every day. We need to protect our babies. Every human being deserves love and understanding. If you can’t handle a situation, walk away or get help. This was a hard watch.
God Bless you. I was a sub for awhile and man, you teachers do so much. Kids really appreciate a good routine and a little firmness but lots of teachers love. Bet you are a great one!
Thank goodness for good teachers. I was on the school board of our school district and we had to discuss a kindergartener that brought a knife to school. The reason for the knife was he felt he had to protect his mom and younger siblings. They lived in a hotel and mom was a lady of the evening. I could not bring myself to discipline this poor child.
My mum witnessed a man hitting his son outside our house. She recognised the school uniform and called them. The school knew exactly who the victim was. They got the police involved, my mum had to testify in court about what she saw. The worst thing was, our house was on a row of four houses, the only houses that view of what happened to him. The parents figured out where we lived and made our lives HELL. My poor mum was terrified to go into town (only about 20,000 people at the time). They would scream abuse at her everyday, torment us. Can't imagine what that kid and his siblings had to go through every day behind closed doors. Absolutely awful. But also absolutely worth knowing that kid was put into a different home with no abuse, and he did a lot better at school. I think about him all the time.
Wow. I live in Detroit. And like 5 years ago after work I stopped at taco bell. I was in there waiting for my food. And this dad was being mean to his daughter who I found out was 13. She asked for something on the menu and he said "you eat what I fucking let you eat, do you wanna be a fat bitch like your mom, your already a fat bitch"... she wasn't at all she was so skinny. She said something back along the lines of "your always so mean to me".. he pulled her off to the side and hit her but she kinda blocked it.. all the sudden he grabs her by her hair pulls her head down and started punching her in the ribs like she was a grown man... I literally ran and tackled him. The daughter fell with us, I kinda shoved her some (not hard at all) just kinda scooted her away and I started punching that piece of shit in the face repeatedly. Thankfully ppl in the tacobell stopped me and said like your guna kill him and get in trouble the cops are pulling up. Well I testified in court along with witnesses and that girl is now living a good life with her aunt and uncle and little brother. The dad went to prison. And the girl spoke in court and called me her superman and ughh I'm a grown man but I get tears in my eyes thinking back to when she said that. I know it sounds crazy and ppl love to not believe that someone would help someone else bcuz it's not on UA-cam smh. But ever since then I've felt more like a man, as in being a protector and not scared to step in and help someone else, risking my own safety. I wish all these child abusers could catch a major ass beating. Sorry for the long comment btw.
My husband and I raised 3 kids. Our 5th grandchild is on the way. 🖐👍🏻 I get so much joy when I see my adult children being very protective of their children. I can still hear their teenage voices asking me, "Why are you so over protective?" Well, now they know. 😉☺️
I wish more people would prioritize children, especially in the west where we do have the resources. Seems like the more well of, the less likely to have a child; a shame - should be the other way around. (not saying poor people shouldn't have kids! Just that it'll be harder and that no child deserves to grow up poor. All for helping poor, but rich in loving, parents.)
@@dawnsunrise1981That is great. The girls rule in your family. Lol Right now, we have 2 granddaughters and 2 grandsons. Number 5 will be here soon and SHE breaks the tie. Girl power!! 🤣😂😅😆 My husband and I had our 3 kids really close in age. Our kids all started their families at different times so now, our oldest grandchild is a girl and she's probably going to end up babysitting for her little cousins in the near future. They are all so sweet. My husband and I love when we have a get together when all of them are together. Watching them interact is so fun. We love everything about being grandparents. I didn't know my moms dad, he passed away too young. Her mom passed when I was only 9. My father's parents lived far away and we only saw them once a year. I loved them, but they weren't the lovey dovey super close grandparent type. It is what it is. They were not bad people, just very different. 🤷🏼♀️ 🙎🏼♀️ My mom's parents would have been all mooshy like my mom.😘 🥰 💞❣️💞😘 🥰 I sure missed out. I think that's why I love to spoil my grandkids so much. Family is everything.
The story about Little Precious James is incredibly heartbreaking. It's a little triggering, too. When I was 5, my mom left my 7 year old brother at the grocery store on purpose, as punishment. I can remember so clearly the agony and pain my other brother, who was 6, and I were in while we begged her to go back as we watched him standing where she told him to and crying. I don't want to hold onto anger for her, but it's really hard not to.
You know, anger is one step of grief. And grieving for the little kids that you and your siblings were, is a natural and healthy thing. You have every right to feel anger at your mom, at what she did back then, and even more be a loving friend to yourself, as a kid and now.
Being abandoned, is one of the worst feelings for a kid, ever. And the way she did it, even affected you and your other sibling. You all felt what he felt. Of course that's something horrible to have to deal with. I hope you are all at least having decent lives in spite of that. I'm sorry we live in a world where people come up with ugly things to do to others. No one actually asks to be born, there should probably be more thought put into bringing a new life into the world.
I feel for your brother. Throughout my childhood I had to have my legs broken and reset annually for the first seven years of my life. I was put in a waistdown bodycast and was on heavy opiates. Well, once, when I was about 5/6, I was in that cast, in pain and high as hell and wouldn't stop screaming. My mom told me that if I didn't stop she would leave me in the apartment alone and that if there was a fire (there had been one in the neighboring building like just a week earlier that had been terrifying for me), I would just lay there and burn to death. Then she left for 30 minutes - she said she was outside the door, but I didn't know. That has NEVER left my mind all these years later. I just knew it was going to happen. I was so scared I would be stuck there, immobile, absolutely no way to move and on fire. I cried myself into a migraine. Parents do and say some cruel things at times.
The way the officer in the first case was trying to make the kid feel better while handling the situation... I can only imagine what it's like to know that this child is being neglected and be cognizant of that pain while trying to help the kid feel like everything is normal. His actions towards making this less traumatic for the kid is admirable.
My niece lived with me from when she was 8 months to 5 years old. I know exactly what you’re talking about Bruce. She was the best little baby in the world and I’ll cherish those times for the rest of my life.
I lost my dad in 2020. When I watch Bruce’s videos he always comes across as a great dad. Always pumping his son up and allowing him to help expand his reach while helping his son carve his own path.
I used to have a preconceived notion that lawyers were assholes. You and Peter on the lawyer you know have completely changed that perception. Thank you so much for stepping in when you saw that child being mistreated. I wish someone had done that for me.
You are not only a great lawyer, you are a great person! I wish every father were like yourself. The world would be such a better place if it were filled with thousands of Bruces! Best of everything goes to you and your son and daughter!
Being a young parent is never an excuse to be a neglectful parent. I had my son at 19 and a daughter at 23, those kids are my whole world and I would give anything to make sure they had the best life. I just hope these kids can one day experience what a good life should be.
My dad would give all of us (7 kids) a horseback ride up the stairs to our beds when we were little. We loved it so much that we’d go back downstairs for another ride! Thinking about it now, my poor dad worked all day in his blue collared job to come home & entertain us. He still so loving & caring. He shows kindness to everyone. Best dad ever! ❤
That second case is so horrific because ALL US states have Safe Haven laws. She could have asked her mother to leave the room, told the doctors what was going on, and surrendered the child without having to inform her parents. Instead she murdered the baby at a safe haven location. Those poor hospital staff.
Just a completely avoidable/preventable unnecessary loss of life for literally no reason at all. Extremely frustrating. There was about a dozen opportunities where it could have been completely prevented in various different ways & she CHOSE the absolute most cruel & vile outcome.
55:35 I would have believed it, I’ve heard of that as a punishment. I knew someone who said their mom abandoned them in front of an abandoned warehouse and then drove away for a bit. On top of lifelong abandonment issues, that person’s all messed up now, struggling with drugs and alcohol.
Bruce, the way you speak about your children and parenthood is so endearing. Your children are very lucky to have you as their father. You are a good man.
There's no "reason why" that justifies that decision, period. ESPECIALLY Not in a state with safe haven laws in place no questions asked & birth control readily & freely available to anyone
I do not understand why these two monsters didn’t get life without parole or the death penalty for killing their own child and disposing him in the Ohio River. I live in Cincinnati about 7 minutes from the Ohio River and it makes me furious that she used our river for their son’s burial site. The truth is their son shouldn’t have a burial site because NO CHILD should be killed by anyone, especially their own parents!! I raised four children - I know there can be hard times but you NEVER kill children. I can’t even wrap my head around this!!!
The more of these videos I watch the more I'm becoming convinced that Bruce might actually be a saint in the making. Anyone who can work in defence for 20+ years, see all this stuff and all these people first hand, and not become a jaded mess of a person is... impressive.
I had a set of parents suing each other for sole custody. The mother wanted me to testify for her. I sais, "No you don't!" On the weeks he was with mom the child came to school dirty with no homework. When dad had the child, the opposite was true. Dad always asked if the boy owed any money for lunch. Well, mom dubpenoed me. Dad won custody. Yea!!
My dad hit me a lot out of anger and frustration as a kid. I don’t really resent him for it but I remember being scared to death of making him angry, and when he drank it was hard to predict what would set him off. If I had kids I wouldn’t want them to be afraid of me. I won’t even raise my voice at my cats because I don’t want them to fear me. I don’t think you have to hit a creature so much smaller than yourself to get them to comply reasonably with your wishes
Exactly. Good parenting doesn't weaponize fear because it only teaches them fear. It teaches them they can't ask for help, they can't tell the truth, they can't trust. My parents aren't the worst out there by any means, but they did neglect us in a lot of ways and they were both HIGHLY unpredictable. They didn't have us young, but they sure acted like stunted teenagers as parents sometimes. Still do even tho they're well into their 60s.
I'M truckers wife step dad enjoyed laying me on him as he whipped me. I'd never comply EVER NEVER HES A MONSTER .😮 I didnt know I could report a crime my mother ignored me 😮
Same boat I was in. And oddly, I too don't necessarily resent him for it. But I grew up in constant fear, and to this day, any sort of conflict or anger makes me very uncomfortable.
When our first was 4, we woke up at 6am one summer day to the sound of our child playing and talking to our dog. I took a few moments to realize the sound was coming through the open window. we bolted to the back door and found the pair in the back yard having a good old time. He had opened the locked door and they went out to explore. That day bolts went up on the top of the doors . Parenting is a roller coaster of singular love and overwhelming fear best thing ever
Same. Locks installed immediately. If you take a wood shim and stick it between the door and the door jam at the top, they can’t open it. Just a little advice for parents until you can get the locks installed. I was a single mom and had to have someone install them for me.
Same thing. My kid actually busted out the window screen …. Before that he opened the door and went out side Had no idea he could do it First kid can surprise you exspecia Ly if you are young.
I used to strip naked and break out around that age too. I’d even get a chair and unlock the top lock. My mom was emotionally abusive/neglectful tho so I was prob trying to escape too tbh lol
You can bet every time her daughter got in trouble growing up, it was always someone else’s fault, according to the parents. Before I retired I owned a manufacturing plant and had 52 employees. I could always tell which person was raised like that.
I love hearing Bruce talk about his children with such love and pride. ❤ I feel the same way about my kids, he’s right about how everything we do is for them and how going home to spend time with your kids is so much fun and can turn around any hard bad day. I can’t even imagine seeing them as a burden or an inconvenience. So heartbreaking.
We lost our parents when I was only 9 years old. Our single grandmother, who was already raising my two cousins after raising 5 kids of her own, took us in. We were dirt poor. We lived off food stamps, in section 8 housing, in a roach infested apartment complex that was in the ghetto. However, my grandmother kept our apartment spotless our entire lives. It was decorated in cheap decor from places like Walmart and even Dollar General lol, but she made it look good. Had you not known what the outside looked like, you'd have never known we lived in the hood in poverty. I was surrounded by gang bangers and drug dealers. If you didn't tell us, we would not have known how badly broke we stayed 24/7. My Nanny was smart. She shopped wisely, she planned out our meals, she budgeted to the best of her ability, and she made it work! That woman was a Saint qnd I miss her so, so, so much. We even grew up in name-brand clothing and shoes. Yeah, it's amazing what she did and how hard she worked for us. I know she is in paradise next to Jesus, and I'll see her again. And I can't wait. Point being, poverty doesn't excuse bad parenting or bad behavior. It's all about how you're raised, in my personal opinion. I'm not sure where I'd be had we not had her and been raised correctly, and with love. RIP, Nanny. I love you so much. Until we meet again...❤
Thanks so much for sharing! That was so beautiful. And your HERO grandma was and is still a lesson for us all. God bless you and your family.
How on Earth could she afford name brand shoes and clothes
Thank you for sharing your story and for honoring your grandmother. She clearly did a good job raising you. 💜
@@007nadineL- Most likely received from charities and/or thrift shops. I volunteer at a charity that has clothes, etc., in 4 buildings. People donate lovely clothes in very good condition.
RIP, Nanny❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
The way Bruce's face changes when he talks about his memories and feelings of being a dad makes me very happy.
He’s outstanding because he’s authentic, he’s not reading a script. Off the cuff also is reflective of knowing your shit, he never bloviates to fill air.
you literally see his eyes glow I love it
Bruce father of the century ❤
Though his ideas about not having children when you're 19 is nonsense, have them before 35, as soon as you can provide a stable home. Granted, few can when they're 19, but lots can't when they're 28 either, and if you wait until you have an established career after years of post-grad studies... yeah go be a first time parent when you're 40+ (men or women), congrats on your autistic child.
@@salis-salis 'congrats on your autistic child' What a stupid and disrespectful thing to say. Bruce would be very disappointed. Also, it probably is not a good idea to have a child before your brain is fully developed and at 19, it isn't.
Yeah its almost like he's a human, imagine that
Seeing Bruce's outrage at these abusive parents is so healing to my inner child. Be the Bruce for the kids out there, some people don't deserve to be parents.
There should be mandatory drug screening and required classes to become a parent.
Wish I had a dad like him.
I mean yeah but it isn’t like some rare thing that someone would show outrage over this….
Kinda expected
@@landolockss You'd be surprised.
Same, I thought this would be triggering but Bruce is honestly healing for my inner traumatized child now.
Love how officer was so kind to the child but was taking none of his parents' bullshit. Good man.
As a person who was abused and went through the foster system and has no family, this video is super validating!! Hearing adults hold other adults accountable in a serious way, esp. on this topic, is so heartwarming.
I hope you doing Good
I’m sorry you had to go through all that. The foster care system can be traumatizing in and of itself
For little you- none of it was your fault, sweetheart. You didn't deserve any of it. It's not your shame to carry. SO many parents would have loved and chosen you- myself included- if I'd had the chance. You are so worthy of love, you are beautiful and kind, and the adults failed you because of who they are and NOT because of anything you did. You will grow up and survive this. You are strong and capable, full of light, and you are a gift to this world!
You will grow up and one day randomly comment on a UA-cam video where hopefully you read some replies from adults who are so incredibly inspired by you, who wish they could have gone back in time to help you, and who are so, so proud of the woman you grew into ❤❤❤
Yo the foster care system is no fkn joke. I "did time" for nine months and it was so bad.
I wish somebody had been there to protect you. I wish someone had protected me. I had a stable home compared to a lot of people but my dad was a mean drunk. I had the benefit of older siblings who protected me best they could, but it was just as upsetting to see them or my mom on the receiving end as it was to get it myself. At least when I got it I had something to cry about.
But my dad mellowed as he got older and I made my peace with him before he died.
I am truly sorry you were left with no family. I hope you have found a surrogate family who care about and for you now.
When Bruce was talking about wrapping his son up in a blanket and then unrolling it it reminded me that me and my son used to do just about the same thing. My son called it the “burrito” but instead of unrolling the blanket he wanted me to carry him around the house like an airplane with his little head sticking out the top. To this day I can still hear him asking me to do the “burrito”. Thank you Bruce for reminded me of that memory cause I hadn’t thought about that in so long.
This is hilarious b/c I used to do, and call it, the same thing. Well, the "baby burrito," but still lol
belive this is as natural for babies as boxes are for cats. I remember my brother and I loved the heck out of it and it's some of our sweetest childhood memories 💛
With my dad, it was sack of potatoes. He’d sling me over his shoulder and carry me around calling out ‘sack of potatoes!’ as if he were at a market.
Miss you dad ❤
With my son it was wrapping him up like a sausage roll (UK snack food). Sweet memories.
Damn I never did that
"Being a parent is a privilege". You damn right it is! Well spoken, sir.
I agree. I knew a couple who seem to like to sleep in while their kids ran around. Clearly neglected. They had a clean house. The woman laughed when she told me once that while they slept, their kids got hungry so they got into the freezer to eat popsicles. 🤦🏽♀️ She also found her kids in the yard playing while her husband fell asleep on the couch. At least she was upset that time.
The only privilege i don’t want.
it is also a right.
@@Trash2000sgenocidal
It’s a god given right. This ain’t China.
My late grandmother would always say there’s plenty of excuses for being poor but none for being dirty!
Mine said the same thing. You do the best you can with what you have. Poor doesn't mean dirty. There's always a way and soap and water
AMEN
Messy is one thing. That can be cleaned. Dirty is just wrong.
I love this.
@@clevelandcbi Me too!
My little boy, Buddy, died 54 years ago and I still grieve. I was out of my mind with grief when it happened and just can't understand how little James could be valued so callously. I hope they found his body and treated him with the respect he didn't receive in life. Hopefully the other two children will be loved properly.
I’m so so sorry you have that on you but it’s great that you kept going and kept their memory alive!
@kirkshar I'm so sorry for your loss. 💔🫂
🤗🤗🤗🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽♥️♥️♥️
I can’t imagine your lifelong pain.. my heart and thoughts are with you 💕
I'm so sorry for your loss ❤
You are so right, Me Rivers. A child is a blessing. Being raised Latina we were taught childcare really young. Children were bathed daily, clothed/diapered properly and NEVER, EVER left alone! If Mama is tired there are plenty of Abuelas and Tias to lend a helping hand. I'm 70 and still help out on almost a daily basis. I get the love, Mama and Papa get support and can be better parents.
Community is so important ❤
I admire the way Hispanic families take care of their own. I grew up in a sect of Catholicism that was based in Spain so a lot of my classmates were either Spanish or Latina (all girls school) and it was a great sense of community.
There's a reason why they used to say "it takes a village to raise a child"!
I wish i had a village like this ❤ I will be that for my children.
It’s heartwarming how sincerely and passionately incensed Bruce is by these videos. It’s evident how much he values compassionate parenting
It's wonderful to see a family working together!
Lllk
^This! Especially during the last segment. There were a number of moments where he was going to say something, but couldn’t. He was that upset.
Understandable too. That last couple is beyond horrible@@shenanitims4006
That cop making the child feel comfortable and taking his mind off the abuse even just for a moment is amazing. We need more people like him!!!
Bruce’s love for his children is BEYOND refreshing. Happy to see there are still some people who love being a parent :)
I know my dad loves being a parent but he has never been vocal about it so I find myself projecting Bruce’s joyful, appreciative words over my dad’s quiet, loving actions.
Really, really wish my dad would say things like Bruce does but at least I can tell he does all he does for us, his family.
I straight up would love a video from Michael talking about how he fosters a positive relationship with his dad.
When I was a kid, I thought all parents hated their children. Every day I would wonder why people who hated children would have any. And I wondered how someone could hate their own children (my mother admitted that she hated me).
Dude! He’s saying it. You don’t know a I about this dude. Quit it. Hi idolize YOUR parents, who hopefully, love(d) you just as much.
You're not a real Professor!
I think this all the time myself. It's dope indeed.
I'm a sober addict, going strong four years clean now. This shit really gets to me. Makes me thankful for the fact that I still retained the common sense that when I was deep in that dark place, I still knew that I couldn't risk having a kid.
Same here. I drink way more than is healthy, but I make sure my son is in bed and fed and bathed and taken care of first... Idk how ppl get so bad off they can forget about their kids
So to you both, I will say, keep on keeping on, it’s truly awesome/phenomenal to see comments like yours💯💪💪✌🏻💕
@@jessicagoodson7452 Stay strong, we all have our demons but it sounds like you know full well what's important 💪❤
But yeah, when I was deep in it, I may not have wanted to fully admit how bad it was, but I absolutely realized that there was no way in hell I was fit to take care of anything more than my cat. I can strongly sympathize and empathize with people who are that down on their luck. But that makes it all the more infuriating. I get that sometimes shit happens and you didn't plan to have that kid, but there are things you can do. I personally know people who petitioned the court to take their child while they worked on getting clean, because they too understood that they couldn't do it at that time. It was hard, but it worked.
@@buggiebuild1 Thank you! ❤❤
@@jessicagoodson7452 Yeah I like to smoke pot in the evening, but not around my kids and they come first in *everything.* I tend to put myself last (even my pets get fed before I do). It's all about finding a balance. We do need time to ourselves to keep our sanity, but not at the expense of our children. It sounds like you have your priorities in order. I hope you and your son continue to thrive. ❤❤❤
35:17 Personal story: I had two children. My husband and I were dirt poor. Couldn't even afford the dirt. I used the programs that existed in my area. I worked full time and went to school taking double full time credits. I was exhausted, but I loved (still do) my kids. I'm now a Special Ed. Teacher. I own my own house. And yes we did get married and had kids too young. But we put our children first. I can't imagine not giving everything to my kids.
I commend you for never quitting and achieving all you have. It takes a strong person to keep going. ❤️
Did you ever buy the dirt?
EXACTLY! Thank you. There is no excuse! Sheesh, this woman put her kids life in jeopardy and she still has a CAR! She had more money than we did!
@@kieronparr3403 I'm sure they did...they own a house and the dirt that surrounds it.😁😁👍🏼 that was a funny comment.😎
@@thegreencat9947 never did find out. Guess I'll spend my life not knowing.
Not every parent deserves a child but every child deserves a Dad like Bruce ❤❤❤
Meh. I wouldn’t want a dad who cusses every other word and defends dirtbags. And gets paid for defending dirtbags. But at least he cares about children. That’s a plus. 😅
Nothing wrong with cussin but a lot wrong with illegal drugs, driving illegally, not being there for your child, not hugging your child, not having fire arms in your house, amongst other things. And stop using the word SPANK as it is abuse of a child!
@marylyons1529 or better yet of oneself. That prevents kids too!
True dat
I got physically abused in a walmart (definitely not "normal" corporal punishment) as a very little kid and I was sobbing and crying and no one stepped in. Thank you for stepping in, the kid may have been afraid but I bet he never forgot that you tried to stand up for him, I know I would have always remembered
I'm sorry that happened to you.
I, too, am sorry, that that happened to you. I wish you all the best.
I'm so sorry to hear this. Anyone who ever had this or any form of abuse or nevlect. You are amazing, it was never your fault. NEVER. Ur parent was the 1 at fault & should have ACTED like a parent, & been there to protect & love u unconditionally! u deserve that then, AND now. U are a warrior & survivor, & deserve so much more 4 that strength.
Tw below;
This so much... I was abused regularly... mostly by dad & sister... I still have dreams of where I actually see someone stepping in, ever, in the past. Some1 just stepping in once would have meant so much to me, but also often U can't take that person's help past that even if they did, either because of being burned by the system or by people trying to help then taking the parents side, like u DO deserve it, even tho it's lies to obviously make it so it seems like U are the bad guy, not the parent(unfortunately narcissists &/or manipulative parents, tend to be 2 good at manipulating ppl into those kinds of things, even tho most would never think it's okay ever, but being in the moment they get talked into it being okay.
& when Bruce said the kid he helped, was more scared about calling the cops on his mum, I unfortunately know y from experience... But also if u're a witness & CAN call them & make sure the kid is taken away, CALL. they likely want you to call but;
1) they can't say that, as theyll get it much worse in private(4 a long time) if u don't fight 4 & defend them from consequences to their abuse on you etc.
Like If you see that in public, guarantee its 10x worse out of public view.
The cops won't believe the kid or if it's like my parents, they were best friends with all the cops in town & so the cops saw me as "the attention seeking kid" before I even knew to report my parents so i mostly gave up except a few times, but it went way u'd expect...
Tw below;;
Tho I vividly remember 1 time i called the cops on my sister (was 20+) & my mum not only screamed at me to leave her house, as how dare I (there's more context than most situations,) but this is after we found out any physical trauma can literally be deadly 4 me due to my medical conditions, & my sister once again lost it at me because i spoke -_- tho she followed me & threw 1 of those small sharp shovel things from gardening & it barely missed my face, sharp end facing me. I literally saw it pass my eye & had a panic attack of how dangerous that was, b4 even including my condition... + .)
So I freaked out & 1st time in years called the cops because she was only winding up more... but as I did my mum started screaming at me & hitting me a couple times (not like full hitting but like when someone is annoyed with u, again she knew the risk that could cause to me.) & threatened if I didn't hang up she would kick me out on the streets... It's worse because she knew she held the power to make me hang up with no choice by saying that as she was my full-time carer & physically couldn't care 4 basic daily tasks 4 myself & had no other options 4 that care but her & ironically y I had to come back after years of going no contact with her, when it all got 2 severe on my own... (&how she enabled my dad & sister's abuse 4 decades on her literally physically disabled, & 90% of the time wheelchair & bedbound, daughter -_-)
made me fear ever telling any1, as if they don't believe u, will make it 1000x worse. & not once was I believed... except 4 this single 1 time in my 20s.
Because I think they knew as when they finally turned up, because I wouldn't answer callbacks, they immediately then pulled me away from mum & sister who are suddenly as quiet as a mouse, have a feeling it was probably obvious I was panicking etc on my face...
& wasn't told until years later in 30s, my sister was warned by police at that time, that it'd be on record, especially with my conditions & disabilities making it basically impossible 4 me to be the abuser, as wasn't as disabled as i had become at that point when called b4. As it'd been yrs since I'd called the cops 4 this kinda thing & was to point my conditions & disabilities were at that time hard to not see at a glance by them, which was it worked in my favour *sigh*, (@ time my mum lied to me & said the cops said they believed my sister & pretty much annoyed to b called etc, but recently in my 30s she admitted the truth. So after that never called again but would have if I knew that, so probably y she never said)
But anyway most fear that because after years of telling ppl or asking 4 help ALWAYS making it worse.. especially when the parent u desperately want love & affection from & them take away that barely there affection etc to nothing, as well as physical abuse getting wayy worse & the constant verbal reminders that's WHY it got worse ... Thats I think what does it more than the physical, tho both together make it the even worse again... But only know from my experience, so may not be same 4 all..., the lovebombing, breadcrumbing etc so u'll do anything they want 4 their affection (that ironically doesn't exist, & never will until they get help, if they aren't just plain a narcissist((my mum finally got help, dad's a narc lol). But that's not love & affection, that's an exchange &/or conditional love.. that's not how a child & parent relationship works but that dynamic makes it harder to recognise that)
Sue them!!!
Your statement:
“A 19 yr old should not be a parent”
As a parent myself at 19 yrs old, I cannot agree with you more!
19 yr old parent here too and I agree as well
Aye!
Rubbish! It depends on the calibre of the person. We see many cases of middle aged and even elderly child killers, torturers and SA perps.
As a child of a 19yo mother I concur. She still sees me as the mistake that derailed her life, even 50yrs later. She completed her goals but they were delayed by 20yrs. We never bonded & that makes all the difference in the world. She didn't know what to do with me or how to take care of me. She worked 3 jobs & provided the basics, food/clothing/shelter, but not love. If it wasn't for my grandmother that moved us in for the 1st year & ironically my 16 & 17yo aunts (that i did bond with) that woke up w/me overnights I dont know who/what I would have become. Not every woman has maternal instincts & are up to the challenge of raising kids. FWIW I'm the 1st female in our family's history to have a child after the age of 20 (i was 27). All of us have one issue or another with our mothers & childhood. Anecdotal I know but thats my personal perspective looking back as an emotionally mature 52yo. Not everyone should be a parent. Esp before they're ready.
Culturally, we encourage people to delay having children and increase their chances of infertility. Biologically, you should have kids in your 20’s. But financially- it’s so hard!!
The way you speak about your kids and the joy when you talk about parenthood just brings tears to my eyes. I wish everyone could have had a parent like you.
I became a father at 18 before the military, and it was the best thing to ever happen to me. My daughter is now 12, and I’ve always been a responsible, hardworking father. Maybe I’m one of the few good younger ones, but it was a blessing.
It’s definitely not a general thing, I know a mother who got her child when she was like 17 or 18 and she’s amazing.
But many people aren’t mature enough to be parents in their teens. I know I sure as hell wasn’t. I still don’t have children in my mid 20s now but I’d def do better than I would’ve 5 years ago
@@FloSchmdt14no one actually is. This dude just has very low standards for himself. You aren’t equipped to be a parent before your brain is even finished developing
My grandma was a teen mom, she had my dad at 17. Of course her coming from an abusive household with a narcissitic mom had an effect, but her and my uncle talk about her with the highest regard. I hope shes still around when I have kids so I can take a few pages out of her book. Her siblings even consider her more of a mom to them than thier mom was, and I hold the same sentiment
My wife had our first boy when she was 20 and I was 24, we have 4 boys now and I’m gonna stop trying for a girl now XD. But I love each moment I spend with my little boys and have no idea how anyone could be abusive to a child.
My husband’s father was so violent and evil that he broke both of his legs when he was 7. His mother was an ER nurse and never took him to the hospital, instead patched him up at home. I’m amazed he’s as athletic as he is. We tell everyone he’s an orphan, because he basically is
That is horrible, I’m happy he has you now. A new better and family. I hope you two will have a long and happy life together ❤
How anyone hurts a kid is beyond me. I’m not a “kid person” but they absolutely deserve to be loved and protected at all costs. Don’t have kids if you can’t handle them.
Good on him. Been free of my family for 50 years.
Bruce Rivers is such a wise man. He should be teaching classes for teenagers about legal issues, and life lessons. The things he talks about are things that are actually important, and should be addressed in schools, more so than a lot of the other things they are currently teaching in schools. They should show students all his videos.
Most of what he says is just fucking common sense. Don't put babies in the trash = WISDOM
I’m happy to know that his videos do teach, he’s doing amazing work even just by doing this. But if he takes it a step further, that is also amazing ☺️
@@TylerMadison711 I am not talking specifically about this video. Or not that part anyway. I am referring to his videos in general.
Edit: Although there are important things in this video too, like the importance of breaking the cycle of generation to generation abuse. A lot of people just raise their kids exactly how their parents raised them, and their parents before them raised them. It may seem obvious but it isn't, or these cycles of abuse, would not keep happening to so many people.
A lot of people especially young kids do not understand their rights when dealing with law enforcement too. He pushes people to "stop self snitching". That is something some people sadly, are unaware of.
@@TylerMadison711common sense with legal advice
He is teaching, teaching us.
I'm a single dad, I raise my son 7 and my daughter 13, my ex-wife has personality disorders and thank the lord I have them. Its such a privilege to raise them, as hard as it gets. I had a great mentor, my father was a drunken, abusive, bully. I was raised in a house that was a warzone. All I try do is be the person I needed when I was their age. This is a house of love. I will protect them until I'm dust.
Bruce! Loving the beard, before you shave it, we have to have one vid with a handle bar moustache, it will be glorious. Mike - content genius - you guys are awesome. Great work, this is a top tier channel. I'm trying to be cheerful to try forget how sick these people make me. XD
Being a father is a blessing to me and I feel I've done a good job raising my daughter from a beautiful redheaded baby to a beautiful 16 year old young lady.
My daughter got out of our house once as a toddler and she was down the road as I ran out to find her, looking for “ki-ki” (cats). My neighbor at the time just watched her run down the road and laughed as I ran screaming her name. Luckily, we live in a very rural, quiet area but my heart is in my throat now a decade later just thinking of it. (We didn’t know she could unlock the deadbolt so we installed one at the top of the door where she couldn’t reach.) Bruce, I love your channel, I am like you, a child who was hit and is now breaking the cycle with my kiddos. Thank you for your passion and advocacy for children!
Similar thing happened to my grandma. She put my uncle, who was around 18 months old at the time, down for a nap. She went about her day, taking care of her other three kids, when there was a knock at the door. She opened it and there was a neighbor, holding my uncle, who was naked. Turned out he'd pushed out the screen in his bedroom window by his crib, got out, stripped off his diaper (the only thing he was wearing because it was summer and the house didn't have A/C), and was running down the road. The neighbor was driving home for lunch, saw my uncle, and grabbed him to bring home. Thankfully, they also lived in a rural area and in a one story house so when he climbed out the window, my uncle wasn't injured. My poor grandma broke down crying because she felt terrible as a mother. My granddad fixed the screen as soon as he got home from work and moved the crib away from the window so it wouldn't happen again.
My oldest did that to me as well. She learned at two, to use an antique walking cane to tap the top lock we installed on the top of the door to unlock it. Scared the shit out of me, and my mom on several occasions to go one cul-de-sac over to the neighbors behind our back yard to play w their 7 kids. She was so smart. Scary. And she only had a five maybe ten min head start from when I woke up.
Cruel neighbour
Yea, I would not be laughing…….,
Especially these days.
You hit the nail on the head about poverty not meaning you have to live in squalor. My grandma and grandfather lived in a modified chicken coup turned home in the 1930s. She always would say," just because your poor doesnt mean you have to live poorly"
I like that saying.
@julia-xd8voBullshit. If you're poor, you don't have anything right? Clean up food each day and no cockroaches. Been poor.
@julia-xd8voYou're pretty much guranteed to live and die in whatever class you were brought up in in America in 2023 I won't really deny that but I don't think that's an excuse make all these excuses. Like you're poor and life sucks, you work all day for money you can't enjoy. But make your bed and brush your teeth, you gotta toughen some of these things out. Make the most of it. People are happy in way worse situations, its just a mentality thing.
@julia-xd8voNone of that matters at all when you’re responsible for helpless children
@@WoodlandTyou can say it doesn’t matter, but in reality it does. What angers me is when clearly well off people who drive 100,000 dollar cars and hire maids to clean, lectures the single mom who worked 3-jobs that she didn’t clean the dishes or let her kids watch tv while she fell asleep.
it's sad when drug crimes are more severe than child abuse crimes
So fucking true.
Drug crimes have some of the most severe punishments out of everything. We can thank the "war on drugs" for that. That shit needs reevaluated. It just seems so crazy!
I work in child protection and you're right my clients get into more trouble for drugs than they do for child neglect. It absolutely enraged me every single time! You put weeks, sometimes months of work into a child neglect cases just for some judge who's seen the defendant for 2 mins and gives them a ridiculously lenient sentence.
@@Lizzie-h3j I can only imagine how Insanely Frustrating that would be 💔
Hugs from an internet stranger!! 🫂
Edit: emphasis 💯🍻
though they often go hand-in-hand (unless you're in Texas where they SWAT people for personal use marajuana).
I grew up poor with a struggling single mom. I took for granted how our place was always spotless.
One key difference between good parents and bad parents is that good parents view parenting as a blessing. Bad parents view parenting as a burden.
The personal trauma is real with this one.
My mom always acted like I was a burden, and I simply just never understood, obviously at that age.
Very sad. Lifelong damage and difficulties it lasts, but it’s usually always dismissed and dumbed down by them.
Hugs, my mother is a narcissist, didn't realise until I was 68. Cruel beyond description. Hope you are doing OK now and believe in yourself.
@@lanie-ok thank you. I’m 21 and my siblings and I bond by talking about our experiences. I realized when I was probably 14 that my situation wasn’t normal. I’m not quite there but I’m proud of my progress. A lot of mourning about who I could’ve been in the process, which I think is the hardest part. But also making sure to be kind to myself, and give myself what I deserve. ☺️
@@lanie-okThanks. I try my best.
Outstanding quote!
You know, Bruce, one thing I really respect about your videos is how you show how the importance of breaking generational trauma can impact the next generation. You're a good dad.
I adopted a baby from a meth mom after 14 years of infertility, being a mom was such a blessing for me, loved it!
Baby is lucky to have you!💕‼️🙏🏼
@@mollycote1021No, baby DESERVES a mom like her, thankful to parent! Parents are always the lucky ones. Sorry, I just hate perpetuating the idea that any child should be grateful for care they deserve to receive.
Just be careful how you speak about that child's BLOOD mother. The indignity portrayed with the term "meth mom" alone would cause me to bet that when this kid inevitably rebels against you and searches for their identity, meth will be a part of it.
@@travismccloskey9733You idiotic sjw will ALWAYS try to guilt the person doing the right thing.
Don’t ever call her biological mother “meth mother” again. Someone suffering from drug addiction has an illness, you wouldn’t call her mother a “cancer mom” if she suffered from cancer.
And before anyone says something; you can compare drug addiction and cancer as both are diseases you can diagnose, but drug addiction is FAR MORE DEADLY. It lowers your lifespan far more than cancer does, usually.
Don’t degrade people to “junkies”. That’s such a disgusting thing to do that I immediately loose ALL respect for the person saying it.
The Joy Bruce gets when talking about his kids and especially when talking about his relationship with the content genius
I love to see it
MISS YOU POPS
One of my favorite things Bruce says :
“When it comes to kids, snitch all the fuckk you want.”
❤❤❤
Yeah I make a habit of not sticking my nose where it doesn't belong, but when it comes to kid's absolutely have to. You could save their life from the abuse of their parents and even if they survive that it can leave lasting scars that ultimately lead to drugs and bad choices which can kill them or make their life have no value even to themselves. I've got family where almost everyone on that side is addicted to drugs or alcohol or doing stupid stuff that lands them in prison. I thank God my grandparents and mother broke that cycle and are the best people I know.
Me to. Well said.
Amen 🙏
Always, always, always speak out. The protection of children comes above everything else.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻💯👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I was raised in an abusive household growing up. Thank you for saying what needs to be said about child abusers. I appreciate your sarcastic remarks throughout. Michael is a lucky son to have you as a parent.
My ex would wait til I was at work and when I tell you it would be ON. SIGHT. NOW.
My dad worked night shift in Chicago for 44 years...and my mom day shift so that i would always a parent around. While he napped, he did so on the couch while i watched tv. But most of the time, he was awake and engaged. He sacrificed to be present for me, because he loved me and knew that he had to be close and present.
I won the parent lottery too, they worked their tails off and I have great childhood memories.
These videos are sad. But your kind words about your son filled my heart.
The best part about this channel is hearing this man encourage, support, and love his son. My favorite part of parenting is the times I get to be friends with my kids. And it's awesome to see other parents feeling that happiness too. The content genius does an amazing job and really does deserve the praise. I would bet money on the whole channel being his idea. You done good kid
Seriously as somebody who had a father who beat, mocked and threatened them regularly, it restores a lot of faith to see somebody so openly love his son. More dads like Bruce and the world would be a much better place.
Your closing is exactly why I'm your fan. "If you know someone like this, get them help before they do something stupid." You're a good person, Bruce Rivers!
The reaction of the girl’s mother shows what an upbringing that girl had. Putting aside the baby - obviously the girl made a terrible decision - imagine finding out what the daughter had just gone through, and her first reaction being to chastise her daughter for not telling her the truth. She is treating her 19 year old daughter like a toddler, and when you grow up under that kind of parenting, you learn to hide things from your parents, and you are scared to turn to them when you get in a bad situation. Obviously this girl was so messed up from her upbringing that she feared her mother’s reaction to even finding out that she had had sex, and gotten pregnant, that she went to such insane lengths to keep it from her that she ended up disposing of the baby in a trash can. That is the psychology of somebody from an extremely messed up home.
The both of them have a really bad victim complex. They even set up a shrine to the baby at home-like a natural tragedy occurred
🕯️Your commentaries are superb *
Not All SUPER HEROES WEAR CAPES . You both have MINED Yourselves with WORDS AS Your WEAPON OF CHOICE TO DISARM Offenders . I So Appreciate The Time and Effort Michael Spends Carefully Choosing Subject Matter . ( There is so much out there , requiring so much clarification ! ) You could use a mini me too ! You both have Offered Your Assistance in Educating . , asses , Content videos . I can't get enough .
Mr. Rivers , You made a statement as I listened , I heard your compassion and empathy in your voice and in your facial expression with each pause as you said this . Poverty .ay come upon us ,overwhelming us both directionally , and our relationships, environment and age but there is not a time to be dirty , disorder,unclean or unkept . We should not place our loved ones in an unsafe or harmful situation or where we are even compromising our sanitation . One other is our sanity 🕯️
You both have brought such light into my world . I hope you both are shining brighter for the better in your little piece of the world also. I hope someday to be blessing to your efforts . You both have your in such a great place ❤ Thank you .
Moms reaction always struck me as her covering her own ass…as if she couldn’t tell her own daughter was pregnant when the entire school knew 🙄
@@suebrown7358 Oh that’s not what I got from this at all. Her daughter is 19, so I don’t think there’s any way the mom could be considered responsible anyway. No she treats her grown adult daughter like a child. Also see how she refuses to accept that she has no right to know why her daughter is being arrested when the cops show up. She sounds incredibly immature. Mom from hell.
@@realBorisLegasov oh I didn’t meant Mom was legally responsible in anyway. I mean that she was shame dumping on her kid for social reasons. Agree with everything you said.
My daughter was three when she disappeared in a store. I was so freaked out! After looking all around for 2 min, I ran to the service desk crying and hysterical. They called for all employees to look in their department before calling police. I was so scared someone had grabbed her. A couple of mins later this employee came walking up holding her hand telling me she found my daughter in the shoe department trying on shoes. I grabbed her and hugged and hugged and kissed her. She was confused why I was crying. I felt so horrible for not paying attention. There’s a special place in hell for child abusers and child killers.
I’m sorry that happened and there’s no defense for anyone in these videos… but judging by what some of these “perfect” UA-cam commentators and from Bruce himself, you should have been thrown in jail for a year and you kid should have been taken from you and sent to foster care.
There’s no defending what these people did, but having a rich lawyer driving a sports car lecturing poor people that if you’re not perfect you should have your kids taken away is kind of rich.
@@funnydale jealosy is poring out of you
Animals and children are precious and helpless. These parents don't deserve to have children
@@funnydale what she did wouldn't be constituted as neglect. Because it wasn't intentional EDIT: Plus she immediately informed the front desk that her child was missing and began searching for her as soon as she noticed she was gone. Bruce is in no way saying that parents that have a momentary lapse in attention deserve to have their children taken; however, parents such as the ones in this video do deserve to have their children taken from them. The fact that you're trying to use this video as a way to get a moral high-ground is concerning considering the content.
@@funnydalecope harder, poor fella. Don't knock up your cousin maybe?...
As a parent it makes me sick to think of anything happening to my babies. All children deserve good parents, not all parents deserve their children.
💯 facts
vaccination: my body my choice.
abortion: your body my choice.
'merica , land of the ME.
Too true, unfortunately too the ones that have a bunch Ussually are the ones who don’t deserve them. Don’t take care of em. We pay for em the kid has a rough childhood and so on. Sad
This saying is so old and done, but still true
@jeremylydiard6421 we could go deep with this. I'm pro abortion. I had to make that decision myself in 1984. Ultimately, I chose to keep my baby, and I'm happy. But, I was also very independent and self sufficient.
Pro-lifers are actually just pro birth. They don't care if this child is murdered 5 years later or less by some unstable crazy parent. At 6 years old, my stepfather almost murdered me and my siblings. Let's just say we weren't going down without a fight. 1971.
What really touched me in this video is you can see the moments where Bruce is having to hold back the emotion and anger talking about these parents. It's truly horrific to hear about the things these kids have dealt with, and see the callousness that these adults don't seem to care about the lives they've brought into this world.
This kind of thing of course always bothered me before after becoming a father the feelings involved turned up to 11.
@@lifotheparty6195YES!!!
No money ? Good, they can’t out of jail. They don’t deserve those children. Poor, innocent angels.
Mom standing in the way is obstruction
I actually started crying for all the kids out there who don't have dads who are as good as you.
Im definitely envious
That’s a pretty tall order. Maybe we should cheer for all the kids out there who have dads as good as Mr. Rivers~
Exactly this! For those not able or not wanting to raise a newborn baby, there are many safe locations around the Country where unharmed babies may be dropped off and legally abandoned without parents or family facing ANY legal consequences. There are so many couples dreaming and wishing, vetted and qualified who have filled out all the documents to adopt any child.. those parental units who can’t find any natural parenting instinct the second they hold their newborn child should be carefully watched by hospital
Staff and, as protocol, should give a list of not only support agencies, but also the above mentioned safe infant surrender locations.
If it has gotten to a point that any parent is or has been considering harming any child, or is feeling like they are about to do something with potentially tragic consequences, call 911 before acting. Contact a neighbor or friend.. most people would step in, should it be an absolute crisis- before anything permanent happens to children or birth parents.
Speaking as a formerly 19 year old single mom of one beautiful baby girl, the many sacrifices were worth the world to see her grow up healthy and happy…
She is now an Attorney and engaged to a boy she met in grammar school with a similar parenting story. Also, her birth father finally contacted her back as she’d been trying to get his medical history since she was 16 and he resides halfway around the world.
I wouldn’t trade having anything for my daughter as she is my best friend, despite me being super strict and her begging me to swat her on the tush instead of hearing me explain why certain things are wrong. Oh, I did give her that single, quick, and one off bottom spank when she ran into traffic in a very busy mall parking lot during the Christmas rush. Closest I’ve ever come to a nervous breakdown when I heard the honking and she’d unbuckled her car seat while I was walking around to the driver door to leave. Terrifying.
These people and the miniature humans in their care shock and crush the soul. Hardest videos to watch yet important that people know to see something and say something. One loving parent is better than two that are horribly dysfunctional. I do wish She’d had two parents however life doesn’t always turn out as planned.
In my case, it turned out better than I could have dreamt and constantly worked to give her every opportunity in life to pursue her dreams. Not gloating but so proud she turned out to be a solid person with great morals.
Bless you all and your families. xoxo bravo to you and your talented son @BruceRivers & #MichaelRivers
You're weird
Always thought kids should be harder to have. I was more into puppies and foals, the thought of kids terrified me, but they turned out to be pure joy. Every age was the best one ever, toddlers to teens. We played together, snuggled, read, and explored. Best years of my life. We started out poor, but kept them fed and healthy, and when they were little they don't want things, they just want you to be there, to love them and let them know they're safe.
And no, they weren't perfect, but that's the times trust, humanity, and humor carry all of you through.
Having kids is awesome; reason to get out of bed before 2pm
Foals? What the heck is a foal
@@harryparsons2750 baby horse lol
Michael and your daughter are blessed to have you as their dad. And it’s true; your words of praise are resonating to a lot of young people watching your channel.
It kinda sounded like he just remembered he had a child other than Michael though.
@@DeviceAnathemahe was giving an actual example about Michael with the blanket, so he was talking about Michael specifically. He knew that people like you would pick it apart though so he made sure to mention his daughter even in him talking about Michael.
@@DeviceAnathemawhat a shitty thing to say. Bruce has been nothing but an example of a wonderful dad. You should be ashamed of yourself.
@@DeviceAnathema I'm pretty sure she's a teenager. He might be trying to protect her privacy
Started watching this channel thinking you were just trying to get criminals off…. It’s turned out you’re the sweetest most compassionate and moral guy I think I’ve witnessed on UA-cam! Really love your videos ❤
Hi Bruce, I watched this video a while ago of the baby found on the road. The Police Officer was absolutely amazing. He even changed the baby's nappy. So true, not all parents deserve children.
My mom always says that I figured out I didn't want kids after 9 months in the womb with my twin brother. Not everyone is cut out for children. I didn't like kids when I was a kid. I love my nieces and nephews, I love playing with cute kids, but I especially like when they go home at the end of the day. I'm not cut out to be a parent and that's okay. More people need to look at themselves and be able to say they shouldn't have kids because there'd be a lot fewer screwed-up adults in the world. It's heartbreaking seeing what these kids are put through by people who should have never ever been parents.
See thats great that you actually took the time to figure that out before you had kids and now can make sure that doesnt happen. I wish more people would do the same thing. Ive struggled alot with motherhood myself even tho I do enjoy it but my son and I both have health problems so I made sure that it was just him so there wasnt any extra stress on our family. Sometimes I wish it was possible to stop people from having kids before they actually thought about it first.
same here. I knew as a kid that I didn’t want kids. 30+ years later, I still have the same opinion, don’t like nor want kids. Not everyone should be a parent and that’s fine. Better to not reproduce than be like any of the parents in this video, at least you’re not hurting anyone.
You don’t like playing with ugly kids…?
I had decided when I was a teen I didn’t want kids, now I’m 41 and never had them. I run a farm, have a great husband and travel a lot. I love my life and feel proud the cycle of abuse and alcoholism in my family ended with me
I agree, my family has birth defects and everyone of us has some kind of mental health issue. Mostly depression, but also bipolar and addiction issues. I knew that I never wanted to pass that along to my children. I am lucky enough to be a stroking to a really great son who is 30 today and is the whole of my eye, despite all of his accomplishments. He is a homeowner, a member of the national guard, and a scout leader. All wonderful things, and I've would be proud of him if he was anything, he is a wonderful young man.
Bruce, I called your firm yesterday for a friend’s case and wasn’t expecting to actually be able to talk to you. Thank you for taking the time to talk to me and give solid guidance on where to find the type of lawyer we need, even though your services are way outside anything we could crowdfund for 😂 I also got to actually thank you as a long time viewer for your videos helping me in my court advocacy work and personal interactions with law enforcement and I’ve been able to help keep people (including myself) free because of it. Now I want to thank you for this video because you talking through this really helped heal and make sense of some of what I experienced as a kid (even tho it was more emotional/verbal abuse) and also validated my experiences as someone who became a parent young and didn’t have much of a choice in it due to extreme circumstances, you’re right about becoming a parent at 19, it’s not easy or natural and you’re growing up while trying to raise a child. She’s 4 now, it’s been a rough few years, but I’ve worked really hard to not be one of those parents while still allowing myself space to work myself out, I’m trying to be more like the woman you work with. I’ve had my struggles, I will always wish I could have had her when I was actually consenting and ready, but I can keep building and feel good that I have a safe house, a good education for my child, resources covered, and a career path that will hopefully get me to the point that someday I will be able to afford your services 😂🙏 anyway, thanks for everything.
You sound wonderful! Good job mama, your child is lucky to have you as her mom. Just keep giving yourself love as a happy mom makes a good strong mom. That’s the best gift you can give your child, self care. Have a happy life ☮️
Thanks for letting us eavesdrop on your note -- really confirms Bruce is a good guy! And I'm so sorry for your trouble, and hope things keep getting better for you, I'll be keeping you in my prayers.
🚨 Stalker ! Stalker! 🚨 😂😂😂 Don’t you wish you NEVER need his services, rather than being able to afford them?? What is this??
@@RogerLewis-ey2ttyou don’t know that he is “a good guy” Quit it!
@@AidaShawJ.D.we know that he's a good guy because his character shows through what he says and talks about having done. Love his anecdotes and am totally here for it. ✌️
I worked the midnight shift at the hospital, pregnant with my second child, and a little one 13-mo old. My husband worked the day shift. I needed to sleep. After I fed him breakfast, changed him, and played with him for a while, I slept on my son's child's bed and closed his bedroom door with the two of us in his bedroom. He played with his toys, and I was able to nap in the morning. I didn't want to take the chance of him walking around the house or finding a way to get outside without my knowledge.
I was 19 when I got pregnant and let me tell you, I was not prepared. Thankfully, I had a mom that was willing to help and a support network of responsible sitters available when I wanted to be irresponsible. My boy and I muddled through and I think I provided society with a pretty fantastic adult. But man, parenting can be rough when you're young.
Same situation but my family deserted me. I was a prospect for medical school at only 19 and then *bam* my world was turned upside down. I was absolutely not prepared (I was the youngest grandchild and the only child of the youngest daughter) and had never even held an infant before my own. I almost died during 24 hours of labor and was sent to live 9 hours away with the abusive guy my parents pressured me to marry because of *their* image in the community. 14 years later it is the best thing that could’ve ever happened to me. I now have 4 beautiful children with my now-husband who is truly my complementary partner in this life (he adopted my 2 children away from the abusive POS) and we are blessed immensely by God on a daily basis.
A friend and his wife started their family when they were 17. I asked him if he missed his youth. He told me he would do it all over again, and his 3 adult kids said they had so much fun growing up. Uplifting.
I got married at 18 and had my first at 19. She’s almost 7 now and I’m nursing the youngest of my 4 as we speak. I’m infertile and we knew that was likely the case so we decided to start trying early on because we knew it was going to be difficult. I’d do it all over again every time. I don’t feel like I missed anything.
@@Trinabiss97I feel like Bruce is got a bit of his personal bias mixed in there. My sister had her fist baby at 18, she currently has 3 kids now and she's a wonderful mother! She told me she would also do it all over again. Congrats on your little one! 🎉
I had my oldest when I was 17, I met my husband when I was 19, he had 2 children from a previous relationship, and we had a child when I was 21, so by this time we were raising 4 young kids, we were on a very tight budget but still lived quite well, my kids are now adults at ages 28, 27, 26 and 24 and we have 2 amazing grandchildren, I would not change anything, I’m only 45 and I absolutely love looking after my grandkids and couldn’t imagine being able to do the things I do with them now if I was older and my parents watched their grandchildren grow and now get to watch their great grandchildren grow
True, but it is pretty common that parents who start that young ARENT good parents-they're not prepared to be. And it can result in being a mom or dad becoming someone's identity, and it makes becoming an empty nester harder for some.
Same. I turned 17 one month prior to having my first. It was hard and it was worth every struggle. I believe I was born to be a mom. 35 yrs later…none have been arrested and all are great people and at positive people in society. And I did it by myself. It can be done…but this girl and her mama never should’ve been parents. They’re AWFUL!
the two woman and cop in the first clip restored some of my faith in society that people pay attention and can show genuine care. Good thing that specific cop was the one who responded and was able to easily link the parents to a previous incident he dealt with and was able to arrest them. hopefully that little boy remembers getting to push the buttons and see the cop car instead of his dirtbag parents
Imagine if they were texting and driving 🥶
That infuriated me! That baby happily went to ANYONE that's not normal at that age, they should have some kind of stranger wariness. It's the whiny " why" coming out the parents while they're high af and their babies nappy falling off its so full, he's covered in bites, wandering around in the sun with no sunscreen on a main rd! I hope that little boy remembers being in the police car amd is with a family who loves and takes care of him.
“awesome!!” the boy said. Such a sweetie
@@Lizzie-h3jyep. Going to strange adults like that is a sure sign their needs are not being met, physical and/or emotional needs. That’s why kids like this are prone to being victimized by bad people
Yep. They are heroes and they didn't even think twice, there's no reason to. You either let a child in the path of fast vehicles, or you save them from the danger. Most people would save them from the danger. The other drivers that saw the child, probably saw the child getting picked up by the first woman to find the child. The parents may be Homo Sapiens, but I will not accept them into the human race. They aren't human in my brain. If you're willing to let an innocent toddler just roam around your house without child safety locks, without checking in on them every minute or so while they're playing with blocks and hot wheels, while also intoxicated? That's inhuman. That goes against basic human instinct. I don't care about Mom Intuition or Dad Instincts, I care about human intelligence. Those parents had no intelligence.
As a nursing student, one of the MD's I worked with made me promise him that I wouldn't go into pediatrics. He grabbed me by the shoulders , looked into my eyes, & said " I promise, it will destroy you ". Now yrs later...here I am watching this with tears rolling down my face for poor little James , & all these abused little ones. I guess he was right. This truly hurts my heart.
Bruce Rivers he’s the criminal lawyer
& who is he?!
@@maebee003Bruce Rivers he’s the criminal lawyer
And what he do? (Love it so much! )
And what he do?
But who is he? And what he do?
The case of the girl who gave birth in the hospital toilet; Alexi seems to me to be an extremely immature 19 year old.
Her mother came across as quite overbearing - the girl seemed more afraid of her mother finding out that she’d even had sex.
There is a petition for Alexi to be kicked out of university. 🤢 she wants to be a nurse
@@SpicyPlur Jesus Christ! 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️
That was my first thought. I'm from the Deep South and extreme religious purity culture does not reduce teen pregnancy. It does lead to situations like this and terrible teen parents.
I really hope he looks further into that case. Them claiming the hospital killed the baby because of the pain meds she was given just before the birth is disturbing. Her and her mother both need to go to jail.
That’s my opinion as well. She’s not some criminal mastermind plotting to kill a baby. I think she probably never learned about sex-ed and didn’t really know she could get pregnant, most likely due to her mother’s necessity to have an innocent virgin child.
I appreciate the mention of that man's takeaway because I've told my therapist many times how I prefer UA-cam to any traditional tv because I get a glimpse of real people and how they interact. I didn't know there was anything different about how I grew up but seeing people's kindness (the way you speak about your son) is enlightening!
Growing up in northern Jersey, I met many immigrant families who did not have a lot of money, but cleanliness was their top priority .cleanliness of their home , their person and their children . I always felt that they made such an effort to present a positive image and their home because they were immigrants. And wanted to give their children a better life.
I was raised by a single mother. I never realized how poor we were until I became an adult. There were 4 of us living in an 850sq foot house. We cleaned the house from top to bottom every Saturday. There is never a reason to live in filth.
Fist bump to single mother, Saturday cleaning! My mom let us pick what to clean (I hated dishes, my brother hated cleaning the bathroom). She put on music and we sang and danced while cleaning.
That mom at the door being confronted for her neglect is likely only thinking about how mad she is at her kids and at the neighbors for calling.
Probably. That was my experience with that as a child. Total retribution like somehow it was my fault.
My father left me and my 2 brothers when I was 3. Then kidnapped us for a year. My mom got us back. How can someone want kids so bad and then throw them away.
The horror we went through for years because of him.
I would've loved to have had a dad like you. God bless.
as somebody whose mother constantly threatened abandonment as a child, you saying that you would never even threaten that healed a part of my soul I didn't realize needed healing. thank you for helping me feel validated about the trauma I lived through growing up
It’s refreshing to hear a defense attorney speak so passionately against child neglect/abuse. Knowing how much damage these people do to their children makes them indefensible.
As a Retired Paramedic, my worst calls that I can remember were Child Abuse cases where we were called to by the Police to treat the child(ren). They still haunt me sometimes. The things we see as Paramedics, are things of nightmares for other people. Child abuse, child endangerment, burns on the kids, horrific scenes out of horror movies sometimes. But, there are some people in this world who should never be allowed 2 things, children and animals. Because they abuse that PRIVILEGE of having either one!! Best Regards from a Retired Paramedic, from Ontario, Canada, Jenn 💖 🇨🇦
As someone who was raised by horrible people, I can promise you that being a good, mature, wise, fair, balanced, loving, parent is the best gift you could ever give any child. The trauma, setbacks, mental issues, and general life struggles that plague you after severe childhood abuse are a life sentence you can never fully escape no matter how hard you try, how resilient you are, how much meds you take or therapy you do.
If my life experiences have taught me something, its that no amount of financial success, social status, or achievements are as precious and worthy of admiration as is being a truly good parent. They are honestly the heroes of our world.
A guy that does true crime shows pointed out that not all people who have been abused are serial killers, but almost all serial killers were abused.
Rule #1: Don’t mess up your kids!
Me, too. I wish that I could like your comment 1000 times
@kated3165 your comment is the best empathetic short explanation of the lifelong effects of childhood trauma. Thank you for spreading truth. ❤
As someone who had a horrible childhood, but who went onto raise four children alone. I can’t understand how these monsters can live with themselves. I still am there and offer any support my adult children need and in turn am blessed with amazing grandchildren. Needless to say my parents aren’t so blessed, they’ve reaped what they sowed.
These officers are just done with these parents and I love them for it. They aren’t taking it.
In Alexee Treviso's case, her mom's reaction tells a story. There was an initial "Oh my gosh" and then "Lexee I told you about this!"
Told her about what? Throwing babies in the trash? Did they discuss prom night dumpster babies over dinner?
And if it was about her having an unwanted pregnancy, why as a parent didn’t she take appropriate measures? I don’t know when her pregnancy was apparent to her parents but there are legal and appropriate measures to take.
She tried to sue the hospital but I doubt it’s going anywhere. The autopsy came back as strangulation. Her trial is this august. 25,000 people signed a petition to get her kicked out of college as she’s currently attending while out on bond.
@@FerociousPancake888I would also like to sign that 👿👿
That mother is exactly the reason why she is the way she is.
Parents don't want their girls to get pregnant, but give them no tools to deal with. It gets all warped in their minds that having the baby is worse than anything else they could do. And, of course, the boy always walks away clean. Sad.
Not a mom, but a preschool teacher. Thank God for loving people/parents like you, Bruce. I’ve seen some heartbreaking things, and I want to rip my hair out sometimes due to pure frustration. But I am so beyond grateful for my job and what I get to do every day. We need to protect our babies. Every human being deserves love and understanding. If you can’t handle a situation, walk away or get help. This was a hard watch.
God Bless you. I was a sub for awhile and man, you teachers do so much. Kids really appreciate a good routine and a little firmness but lots of teachers love. Bet you are a great one!
Thank goodness for good teachers. I was on the school board of our school district and we had to discuss a kindergartener that brought a knife to school. The reason for the knife was he felt he had to protect his mom and younger siblings. They lived in a hotel and mom was a lady of the evening. I could not bring myself to discipline this poor child.
Thank you for all you do ❤
My mum witnessed a man hitting his son outside our house. She recognised the school uniform and called them. The school knew exactly who the victim was. They got the police involved, my mum had to testify in court about what she saw. The worst thing was, our house was on a row of four houses, the only houses that view of what happened to him. The parents figured out where we lived and made our lives HELL. My poor mum was terrified to go into town (only about 20,000 people at the time). They would scream abuse at her everyday, torment us. Can't imagine what that kid and his siblings had to go through every day behind closed doors. Absolutely awful. But also absolutely worth knowing that kid was put into a different home with no abuse, and he did a lot better at school. I think about him all the time.
Wow. I live in Detroit. And like 5 years ago after work I stopped at taco bell. I was in there waiting for my food. And this dad was being mean to his daughter who I found out was 13. She asked for something on the menu and he said "you eat what I fucking let you eat, do you wanna be a fat bitch like your mom, your already a fat bitch"... she wasn't at all she was so skinny. She said something back along the lines of "your always so mean to me".. he pulled her off to the side and hit her but she kinda blocked it.. all the sudden he grabs her by her hair pulls her head down and started punching her in the ribs like she was a grown man... I literally ran and tackled him. The daughter fell with us, I kinda shoved her some (not hard at all) just kinda scooted her away and I started punching that piece of shit in the face repeatedly. Thankfully ppl in the tacobell stopped me and said like your guna kill him and get in trouble the cops are pulling up. Well I testified in court along with witnesses and that girl is now living a good life with her aunt and uncle and little brother. The dad went to prison. And the girl spoke in court and called me her superman and ughh I'm a grown man but I get tears in my eyes thinking back to when she said that. I know it sounds crazy and ppl love to not believe that someone would help someone else bcuz it's not on UA-cam smh. But ever since then I've felt more like a man, as in being a protector and not scared to step in and help someone else, risking my own safety. I wish all these child abusers could catch a major ass beating. Sorry for the long comment btw.
@@dannyboy4929 I'm proud of you. You saved her
Bruce bringing up the book of poems in more than one video made my heart grow three sizes. What a genuine dude.
My husband and I raised 3 kids. Our 5th grandchild is on the way. 🖐👍🏻
I get so much joy when I see my adult children being very protective of their children. I can still hear their teenage voices asking me, "Why are you so over protective?"
Well, now they know. 😉☺️
Yeah they know because of that terror of the morning knock on the door, the weird time/date phone call
I wish more people would prioritize children, especially in the west where we do have the resources. Seems like the more well of, the less likely to have a child; a shame - should be the other way around.
(not saying poor people shouldn't have kids! Just that it'll be harder and that no child deserves to grow up poor. All for helping poor, but rich in loving, parents.)
@salis-salis they are bring silly and will regret it when it's too late
Exactly, I have 5 grand girls and 2 grand boys.
@@dawnsunrise1981That is great. The girls rule in your family. Lol
Right now, we have 2 granddaughters and 2 grandsons. Number 5 will be here soon and SHE breaks the tie. Girl power!! 🤣😂😅😆
My husband and I had our 3 kids really close in age. Our kids all started their families at different times so now, our oldest grandchild is a girl and she's probably going to end up babysitting for her little cousins in the near future. They are all so sweet. My husband and I love when we have a get together when all of them are together. Watching them interact is so fun. We love everything about being grandparents. I didn't know my moms dad, he passed away too young. Her mom passed when I was only 9. My father's parents lived far away and we only saw them once a year. I loved them, but they weren't the lovey dovey super close grandparent type. It is what it is. They were not bad people, just very different. 🤷🏼♀️ 🙎🏼♀️
My mom's parents would have been all mooshy like my mom.😘 🥰 💞❣️💞😘 🥰
I sure missed out. I think that's why I love to spoil my grandkids so much. Family is everything.
Seeing him talk about his kids, the absolute joy that you can see from him, is very heartwarming
The story about Little Precious James is incredibly heartbreaking. It's a little triggering, too. When I was 5, my mom left my 7 year old brother at the grocery store on purpose, as punishment. I can remember so clearly the agony and pain my other brother, who was 6, and I were in while we begged her to go back as we watched him standing where she told him to and crying. I don't want to hold onto anger for her, but it's really hard not to.
You know, anger is one step of grief. And grieving for the little kids that you and your siblings were, is a natural and healthy thing. You have every right to feel anger at your mom, at what she did back then, and even more be a loving friend to yourself, as a kid and now.
@@fairgreen42 , thank you
Being abandoned, is one of the worst feelings for a kid, ever. And the way she did it, even affected you and your other sibling. You all felt what he felt. Of course that's something horrible to have to deal with. I hope you are all at least having decent lives in spite of that.
I'm sorry we live in a world where people come up with ugly things to do to others. No one actually asks to be born, there should probably be more thought put into bringing a new life into the world.
I feel for your brother.
Throughout my childhood I had to have my legs broken and reset annually for the first seven years of my life. I was put in a waistdown bodycast and was on heavy opiates. Well, once, when I was about 5/6, I was in that cast, in pain and high as hell and wouldn't stop screaming. My mom told me that if I didn't stop she would leave me in the apartment alone and that if there was a fire (there had been one in the neighboring building like just a week earlier that had been terrifying for me), I would just lay there and burn to death. Then she left for 30 minutes - she said she was outside the door, but I didn't know.
That has NEVER left my mind all these years later. I just knew it was going to happen. I was so scared I would be stuck there, immobile, absolutely no way to move and on fire. I cried myself into a migraine.
Parents do and say some cruel things at times.
Your siblings were 5,6 and 7? Jesus. Maybe mommy dearest shouldn’t have kept having kids back to back to back if she couldn’t cope.
You are by far the "BEST" Bruce Rivers, I love your channel and all your content 🥰Keep bringing us all more cases,Love it!❤
The way the officer in the first case was trying to make the kid feel better while handling the situation... I can only imagine what it's like to know that this child is being neglected and be cognizant of that pain while trying to help the kid feel like everything is normal. His actions towards making this less traumatic for the kid is admirable.
I love when you talk about Michael. Your relationship as father & son is beautiful. 💗
My niece lived with me from when she was 8 months to 5 years old. I know exactly what you’re talking about Bruce. She was the best little baby in the world and I’ll cherish those times for the rest of my life.
I lost my dad in 2020. When I watch Bruce’s videos he always comes across as a great dad. Always pumping his son up and allowing him to help expand his reach while helping his son carve his own path.
I used to have a preconceived notion that lawyers were assholes. You and Peter on the lawyer you know have completely changed that perception. Thank you so much for stepping in when you saw that child being mistreated. I wish someone had done that for me.
Watch rekieta he will reinforce the stereotype for ya 😂
Don’t be fooled..😆
@@Cyge240sx nooooo I like this idea lol
@@dandylioness78 don't ruin this for me hahahaha
Criminal Lawyers are awesome, they represent the criminals so of course they are not stuck up pricks
I have so much respect for these Police Officers 🙏🏻
Literally doing a 4am night feed with my newborn while I watch this and am just disgusted at how vile people can be. Some people don’t deserve kids.
Congratulations on your new addition. Enjoy every moment they grow so fast. ❤❤ 👶
You must be in the European time zone
@@kevinthomas895yea it's only 1:18 here in nj I was trying to figure out where that person is also😅
Congratulations 🤍🤍🤍
congrats, and I hope everything will work out. Having a caring parent (or even better 2, but rather 1 good than 2 bad...) is probably half way there ❤
You are not only a great lawyer, you are a great person! I wish every father were like yourself. The world would be such a better place if it were filled with thousands of Bruces! Best of everything goes to you and your son and daughter!
Being a young parent is never an excuse to be a neglectful parent. I had my son at 19 and a daughter at 23, those kids are my whole world and I would give anything to make sure they had the best life. I just hope these kids can one day experience what a good life should be.
My dad would give all of us (7 kids) a horseback ride up the stairs to our beds when we were little. We loved it so much that we’d go back downstairs for another ride! Thinking about it now, my poor dad worked all day in his blue collared job to come home & entertain us. He still so loving & caring. He shows kindness to everyone. Best dad ever! ❤
What a sweet memory! Thank you for sharing. 😊
That second case is so horrific because ALL US states have Safe Haven laws. She could have asked her mother to leave the room, told the doctors what was going on, and surrendered the child without having to inform her parents. Instead she murdered the baby at a safe haven location. Those poor hospital staff.
Never underestimate the fear that super religious purity culture can inflict.
Just a completely avoidable/preventable unnecessary loss of life for literally no reason at all. Extremely frustrating. There was about a dozen opportunities where it could have been completely prevented in various different ways & she CHOSE the absolute most cruel & vile outcome.
Why not give the kid to a cop or a preacher or any passer by? This never has to happen.
I believe Bruce has already done a video on it in the past
@LynneCooney yeah right. The girl wanted to party at prom.
55:35 I would have believed it, I’ve heard of that as a punishment. I knew someone who said their mom abandoned them in front of an abandoned warehouse and then drove away for a bit. On top of lifelong abandonment issues, that person’s all messed up now, struggling with drugs and alcohol.
Bruce, the way you speak about your children and parenthood is so endearing. Your children are very lucky to have you as their father. You are a good man.
If a cop just told me my kids were dead and my wife was involved, I'd have a heart attack. Something is wrong with these people.
The mother's reaction in the case of the girl who had and hid the baby give great insight into why the girl did what she did.
Those two are disturbing. In the arresting video you can see they set up a memorial shrine to the baby-who the teen named after herself.
@@SpicyPlurI didn't know she named the baby she killed after herself. The narcissism is off the charts for her AND her mother.
There's no "reason why" that justifies that decision, period. ESPECIALLY Not in a state with safe haven laws in place no questions asked & birth control readily & freely available to anyone
I’m a social worker and I am LOVING this officer!!
I do not understand why these two monsters didn’t get life without parole or the death penalty for killing their own child and disposing him in the Ohio River. I live in Cincinnati about 7 minutes from the Ohio River and it makes me furious that she used our river for their son’s burial site. The truth is their son shouldn’t have a burial site because NO CHILD should be killed by anyone, especially their own parents!! I raised four children - I know there can be hard times but you NEVER kill children. I can’t even wrap my head around this!!!
This man is like healing my childhood with these speeches. So glad dads like this are out there, even if I didn’t get one!
Bruce Rivers. The ultimate dad 🥹
The more of these videos I watch the more I'm becoming convinced that Bruce might actually be a saint in the making. Anyone who can work in defence for 20+ years, see all this stuff and all these people first hand, and not become a jaded mess of a person is... impressive.
I had a set of parents suing each other for sole custody. The mother wanted me to testify for her. I sais, "No you don't!" On the weeks he was with mom the child came to school dirty with no homework. When dad had the child, the opposite was true. Dad always asked if the boy owed any money for lunch. Well, mom dubpenoed me. Dad won custody. Yea!!
My dad hit me a lot out of anger and frustration as a kid. I don’t really resent him for it but I remember being scared to death of making him angry, and when he drank it was hard to predict what would set him off. If I had kids I wouldn’t want them to be afraid of me. I won’t even raise my voice at my cats because I don’t want them to fear me. I don’t think you have to hit a creature so much smaller than yourself to get them to comply reasonably with your wishes
Exactly. Good parenting doesn't weaponize fear because it only teaches them fear. It teaches them they can't ask for help, they can't tell the truth, they can't trust. My parents aren't the worst out there by any means, but they did neglect us in a lot of ways and they were both HIGHLY unpredictable. They didn't have us young, but they sure acted like stunted teenagers as parents sometimes. Still do even tho they're well into their 60s.
You should resent him for it you deserved better and it’s ok to hold him accountable
I'M truckers wife
step dad enjoyed laying me on him as he whipped me.
I'd never comply EVER NEVER HES A MONSTER .😮
I didnt know I could report a crime my mother ignored me 😮
Same boat I was in. And oddly, I too don't necessarily resent him for it. But I grew up in constant fear, and to this day, any sort of conflict or anger makes me very uncomfortable.
@shanecrump,
Visit Al-Anon to work out your childhood trauma.
It worked miracles in my life.
When our first was 4, we woke up at 6am one summer day to the sound of our child playing and talking to our dog. I took a few moments to realize the sound was coming through the open window. we bolted to the back door and found the pair in the back yard having a good old time. He had opened the locked door and they went out to explore. That day bolts went up on the top of the doors . Parenting is a roller coaster of singular love and overwhelming fear best thing ever
Same. Mine went through a period of sleepwalking, after the first time the bolts went on up high.
Same. Locks installed immediately. If you take a wood shim and stick it between the door and the door jam at the top, they can’t open it. Just a little advice for parents until you can get the locks installed. I was a single mom and had to have someone install them for me.
Same thing. My kid actually busted out the window screen …. Before that he opened the door and went out side Had no idea he could do it First kid can surprise you exspecia
Ly if you are young.
Don't have kids without their consent... So you know, don't have kids.
I used to strip naked and break out around that age too. I’d even get a chair and unlock the top lock. My mom was emotionally abusive/neglectful tho so I was prob trying to escape too tbh lol
You can bet every time her daughter got in trouble growing up, it was always someone else’s fault, according to the parents. Before I retired I owned a manufacturing plant and had 52 employees. I could always tell which person was raised like that.
I love hearing Bruce talk about his children with such love and pride. ❤
I feel the same way about my kids, he’s right about how everything we do is for them and how going home to spend time with your kids is so much fun and can turn around any hard bad day.
I can’t even imagine seeing them as a burden or an inconvenience. So heartbreaking.