I decided to go ahead and post something about this tragic event since it brings to light several topics we discuss in Human Growth and Development.
Everyone is abuzz with talk about the woman who left her small children in a hot car while she went to work. The children were later found dead in trash bags beneath their kitchen sink, bathed and dressed by their mother. Apparently, she was afraid to lose her job and had no one to help her with the care of her children. No one.
Caught in what psychologists call an avoidance/avoidance conflict, she chose work over the children. Or did she choose work because of the children? Being the only breadwinner, Shawn and Triniti depended on their mother for sustenance. I’m not condoning her actions by any stretch of the imagination. I’m just saying that I can sense the agonizing decision that she had to make, wistfully hoping that the children would be waiting for her when her workday was over.
This issue brings to light many social issues, one being deadbeat dads. Where was the father of these babies? Isn’t he responsible too? So many times fingers are pointed at the unfit, neglectful mother while the father of these little ones isn’t even mentioned. In our society, four of ten children are born to single mothers, and many people seem fine with that. Huh??? I just don’t get it. Call me old-fashioned, but I know from experience, observation, and tons of research that children fare better with both parents around to raise them, to tag team.
What are the answers? I don’t know. Indeed, how many of us would have helped this young woman with her children that day or any day? Even as I write this, there are thousands of mothers and children who need us. What are we doing…that is, what are we doing besides talking about the issue?
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2 comments:
There are pleanty of support groups out there if someone really needs HELP. IT is not a question to ask where was dad ?In this case what in the world was this mother thinking?These were small children who could not defend theirself ,was this really her last resort?Did she really cry out for help or even ask that second person to watch her children? This is a question I feel sure that will never be answered truely.
You're right...we may never what she was thinking OR if she was thinking. It could be one of those situations in which emotions took over everything. She was afraid to lose her job, and that fear could have outweighed everything. Then again, maybe I could be far too generous with my thinking.
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