NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A teenager who, police say, burned an infant and a toddler with a hot curtain rod could be tried as an adult.

The 17-year-old girl appeared in juvenile court Thursday, but it isn't her first run-in with the law.

According to the Metro detective who interviewed the teenager and testified Thursday, the girl told him she did it because the children were crying, screaming and getting on her nerves.

"I was upset, 'cause we've never had no problems with (her); nothing," said Crystal Neal, the victims' mother. "And I just don't understand why she would do this to my kids."

When Anthony and Henry House were left home with a babysitter and a teenage friend June 27, things got out of hand.

"I was at work when it happened," said Henry House Sr. "I was at work, and when I came home, my child came to me and said, 'Daddy, look what (she) did to my arm,' and he showed me his arm."

Anthony, 3, and Henry, 1, are fine. However, their faded pink scars show where they were burned.

Investigators said one of the girls heated a curtain rod with a lighter and held it on the boys' arms.

The young girl is a family friend.

"She's a friendly neighbor," said Neal. "She's always been friendly."

But it's her past that's causing the juvenile assistant district attorney to ask the judge to try the 17-year-old as an adult.

"She has charges of aggravated burglary and vandalism that were pending at the time of this charge," said Kathy Morante. "She also had pending an assault on an assistant principal at her high school and she failed to appear on that assault charge, and those just occurred a few days before the assault on the victims here."

Everyone agrees they just hope the troubled teen gets help.

"In addition to spending some time incarcerated, she needs some treatment. She clearly has a problem with anger," said Morante.

"I just pray for her, just make sure that she does her time … and just never let it happen again to any other child," said House.

The teenager is facing two counts of aggravated child abuse. She was very emotional in court, Thursday, crying at times.

The judge plans to look over the girl's school records and is expected to decide by Friday whether or not to send her to criminal court.

If she goes to criminal court and is found guilty, she could face three to six years in prison.