Skokie Public Library on Oakton, Skokie, IL

Received Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Physical description of caregiver: Caucasian woman, blonde hair, probably in her 40s, jeans and a t-shirt, tennis shoes.

Physical description of involved child/children: Little boy approximately 2 1/2, African American, blue t-shirt and grey sweatpants with blue stripes on the sides, short shaved hair. Could speak but very difficult to understand

Address or venue of observed incident: Skokie Public Library on Oakton, Skokie, IL

Date and time of incident: Wednesday, July 1 approximately 10:45 am

Detailed description of what you witnessed: I'm not sure that this caregiver was the nanny, but in case she is I wanted to report this because I thought it was absolutely reprehensible. My charge and I were playing in the children's section of the library. This little boy came over to play with us. We were playing puppets and laughing. I was looking around to see who looked like this little boy's mother/nanny, but couldn't pick out anyone who seemed to be watching him.

I continued to play with my charge, and the little boy would come back every few minutes to play again. When he would leave he'd take toys from other children or cause problems. Other parents/nannies were getting frusterated (one even approached me thinking I was his nanny) and dealing with the problems, but still no adult came over to him.

After this went on for 20 to 30 minutes, he came back over to play with us and I noticed he had wet his pants. His pants were completely soaked, not a dry spot on them, so this wasn't a small accident. I tried asking him his name and who he was here with, but I couldn't understand his answers and he couldn't point anyone out. After a few minutes I gave up and told a children's librarian. She came over and tried to talk to the boy, but couldn't understand him either. Eventually the nanny/caregiver came over and rudely said she had "been sitting right there watching him the whole time and he was fine."

My charge and I left, however as we were leaving I noticed she just went and sat back down, letting the boy continue to play in the library in urine soaked pants. She obviously didn't care.