Lflc

Types of Child abuse connected to Lullabies for Little Criminals

Physical

Physical injury inflicted upon the child with cruel intent. Physical abuse can be the result of punching, beating, kicking, shaking, or otherwise harming a child physically

"He shared [his drink] with me. When i'd take too long a sip, he'd hit the back of my head and i'd hand it back to him" (169)

Offering to share a drink with a child and then hitting them is an example of physical abuse as he was injuring Baby on purpose.

Jules punches Baby in the eye and gives her a black eye which is visible for days. He did this after finding out about her hanging out with Alphonse.

Being yelled at, Baby says "it was that speech and not the punch that made me cry. I felt so bad." (157)

This scene shows not only physical (the punch) but also emotional as Baby is manipulated by her father into feeling bad, when she did nothing wrong.

After this fight, Baby grabbed a dull knife and pressed it against her belly, although this didn't do anything, it still proves that Jules actions cause emotional pain

Physical Neglect

Failure to provide basic needs for a child such as housing, food and education.

Moving apartments very often (every couple of weeks)

Baby doesn't have that sense of "home" because her surroundings are constantly changing. She is unable to feel like each apartment is her home because she isn't there for a long enough duration.

This causes Baby to generally feel depressed when she is at home

Jules not letting Baby preform in the community center parade

Jules thinks that Baby is messing with the clocks in the house and starts going mad. He then decides that Baby is not allowed to participate in something that she really wants to do.

This makes Baby very upset because she had been planning for the parade for a very long time and Jules all of a sudden took that away from her

This is an example of physical neglect because Jules is not allowing Baby to participate in an event that would educate her on music, dancing, teamwork and mechanics.

Baby is in and out of foster care because Jules can't get in control of his addiction

She develops relationships with both of her foster families as if she belongs there.

“Isabelle walked me out, her arm squeezing me to her side. For a second, I wasn’t sure if I wanted her to let me go.” (47)

Baby becoming emotional when she has to leave Isabelle proves that she will miss having a normal parental figure and a warm bed to sleep in.

Psychological/Emotional

Characterized by a parent subjecting or exposing their child to behavior that may result in psychological trauma, including anxiety or chronic depression

Jules calls Baby (his 13 year old daughter) a whore for things that don't make sense such as wearing high socks. This makes Baby upset and causes her to hate her dad.

"No fucking twelve-year-old gave you those socks. you're a god damn liar and you're a whore. If you start with guys now, you'll be all used up and no guy will want you." (156)

By saying these words, Jules is beginning to plant a seed in Baby's head that her worth is based on how guys see her, and this is something that she carries with her throughout the novel.

Jules yelling at baby in front of her friend Lauren

"You're a lazy bitch. You try and talk to me like that to impress your friends. You disgust me." (99)

Baby then stares out the kitchen window and contemplated jumping out.

This clearly proves that Jules psychologically abuses Baby because he causes her psychological trauma as well as suicidal thoughts

Jules ripping up the doll that was given to Baby by her mother before she died, and then begging for forgiveness.

"There, lying on the floor, was my rag doll, it's arms and legs ripped off. I dropped to my knees and picked her pieces up. I'd never get another one." (119). Jules then yells at Baby telling her that it is her fault the doll was ripped up. Once Baby starts crying, Jules immediately apologizes and says that he will fix it.

Jules did something that he knew would make Baby upset and then immediately tried to manipulate her into thinking it was her fault. After she starts crying, he attempts to fix the doll making her think that he is a hero.

Jules constantly yells at Baby after rehab, pushing her to not see them as family or friends anymore

"he had been singing a song in the bathroom when I got home. I wanted to ask him what song it was, but we weren't really on speaking terms." (211)

A daughter should feel comfortable asking her dad something as simple as "what song are you listening to?" but Baby is scared that Jules will get mad if she asks

Supervision Neglect

Failure to provide the proper supervision for a child

Jules neglects Baby to go buy heroine

Baby starts following Jules and Lester on their way to buy heroine. Jules says "Baby, quit following us. Go play with your doll! Get lost okay?" (11)

They close the door on Baby so that she can't get in. Jules just told his 12 year old daughter to get lost in the streets. He should care for her safety and well-being.

This act of neglect makes Baby upset. Jules telling her to get lost made her feel so lonely, because he was her best friend.

Jules leaves Baby home alone for multiple nights at a time to either go to and sell things at flea markets. This leads Baby to spend nights with Alphonse and other guys she doesn't know.

This quote is said by Baby one night when she is home alone, coming back from turning tricks. "That night the apartment seemed to have shrunk. The ceiling was practically touching me... I was so hungry." (225)

This quote represents how living without Jules at home is making her feel like her apartment is shrinking. This is causing her to become upset.

Jules also doesnt leave her with food when he leaves for the weekends which is also an example of physical neglect.

You can tell that Baby doesn't like that Jules leaves so much becasue she says "That whole weekend I missed waking up to Jules screaming at the radio." (142)

This proves that even though he would be doing something obnoxious if he were at home, she still would rather that over him not being there at all.

"Then he started disappearing for longer stretches of time. He would leave twenty dollars under the bed and take off for a few days." (141)

By putting money under the pillow rather than giving it to Baby, it can be assumed that he just leaves without saying goodbye or asking if she needed anything more.