Have you seen the NYTimes article claiming that allowing people to homeschool is to blame? Because sending kids to school prevents them from being abused or killed by their parents.
Lisa Casanova | 01.12.08 - 9:17 pm | #

It's standard for the media to point out any lack of regulation (or lax regulatory enforcement) in the wake of any tragedy.
Billy | 01.14.08 - 4:05 pm | #

At this point you would be a fool to believe that the state would own up to their responsibilities in this matter. Their mother had psychological issues- she was no monster. She was just sick....
PrettynPink | 01.15.08 - 12:23 pm | #

Your post is a thought-provoking treatment on an all too common headline. How are we to legislate on the matters of mothers who are a danger to their children? It is a Catch-22 issue - unless, of course, the focus is on the family members surrounding these mothers. It is my belief that it is incumbent upon the family to protect the children - not the state's to prevent the tragedy. Anyone would surely have prevented the tragedy if they had the powers to predict what the woman would have done. Aren't the family members the best judge of what their sisters, aunts, mothers might do?

K. Harrington, author, JANEOLOGY
Karen Harrington | Homepage | 01.15.08 - 8:50 pm | #

As a husband who has been trying to keep his son safe from the son's mother for 2 years now, I can attest to how the legal (and mental health) systems make it almost impossible to do protect children from delusional mothers, even after they've threatened their lives. Men are damned if we do, damned if we don't. The mother has more rights to be crazy and remain untreated more than a child has the right to be protected, even after threatening his life.

That's why these tragedies happen. No one responds when you try to prevent it.
Anonymous | 01.19.08 - 4:44 pm | #

I think homeschooling is not to blame. anyone who thinks that is stupid.
K | Homepage | 01.19.08 - 7:31 pm | #

Anonymous,

Your situation gives me pause. Of course, I don't know the specifics, but it sounds disconcerting. It reminds me of the classic female reporting a stalker to police and the police say nothing can be done until the stalker crosses the line. What to do? Keep up your efforts. You are on the side of your son, which is the right side.

Blessings,

K. Harrington
Karen Harrington | Homepage | 01.25.08 - 5:13 pm | #