I appreciate everyone's thoughts and sympathies. I am sort of shocked at how much this threw me off balance. For a good day all I wanted to do was rant and then for the next day I wanted to sleep. I didn't get to do enough of either, but I did my best.
The police thing did NOT pan out. My police department does not help out the casual parent in a situation like this, and their departmental policy isn't helpful, either. I did end up speaking with someone in the Safe Child program who suggested going through our benefit package to use the family counseling benefit. She was really nice and helpful, and basically made the case that if it is an outside authority figure you are looking for you can use a child psychologist to better effect. They say that scaring a child can really backfire, and I can see how that would be true. (Not to say I haven't tried, but I've failed.) So we are going to set up an appointment for short-term family counseling - that ought to get his attention. I hope! It may sound a little like it was her job to get her department off the hook for helping families, but she was really non-judgemental and insightful, so I think she actually knew what she was talking about.
Speaking of sleep, I must go do some. Thanks to everyone who listened, and to those who responded.
Karen
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