Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Sad

I wasn't going to post today but then I saw this on the local news. Read it quickly because it'll probably not be there for much longer.

May we never get to this point.

(Edited to add: I'm aware that blogging and/or knitting were not responsible for the abuse this girl suffered and that the mother is very likely seriously mentally ill, but I still think it should give us pause for thought about:
1. Our integrity in the blog world.
2. Being aware of the level of importance we attach to our hobbies and whether this affects the quality of care we provide to our children.)

18 comments:

  1. Too sad. Very recently MamaSparks wrote a post about how we represent ourselves in blogs... it seems someone questioned the "honesty factor" in blogs and so Mamasparks invited readers to discuss truth in blogging (http://mamaspark.blogspot.com/2008/10/blog-friends.html)
    I am sorry to see such a tragic example of deception.

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  2. I'm an attorney, currently retired from corporate bankruptcy law but accepting court appointments in family law because my community needs competent lawyers. I don't know anything more about this case than what the news item reported, but it seems pretty obvious that the mother/blogger is very seriously mentally ill. (Understand, she can be mentally ill and still guilty of criminal charges -- I'm not talking about a criminal defense here, just a reality.) I am so glad that the daughter has been removed from the home; her tragedy, unfortunately, will continue. Regardless of the result of the mother's criminal fate, I hope she also gets appropriate treatment.

    Finally, I just hope everyone gets it that this has nothing to do with knitting or blogging. The mother could have been hoarding old copies of National Geographic, or been obsessed with crosswords -- the activity isn't what matters, it's the activities she wasn't engaged that really count: nurturing, caring for, and meeting the needs of her child.

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  3. Unbelievable! I feel sooo sad for that girl. The parents are definitely to blame here. I have to say I echo the sentiments that Magdalen wrote. It sounds like they may be seriously ill. I certainly hope that the child is nursed back to health now that she is no longer with the family. God bless her!

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  4. How does this happen? Do they not have neighbors or friends? I just don't understand how someone - a mother or father - could do such a thing to their children! My prayers and love are with that little girl. She needs all the support she can get!

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  5. Totally and unbelievably appalling. That poor girl...my heart breaks for her. Hugs to you Anina...this is terribly sad.

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  6. Not only did this make me sad for the girl, it infuriated me to know that someone can be so heartless. Just when I thought I have heard it all, something else appears. Thankfully, the little girl was found and saved. Thanks for bringing this to our attention. blessings, Kathleen

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  7. That's just awful. I don't get people. I do feel that her father is as much to blame as her step-mother. I can not even begin to imagine letting someone else treat my kids that way. Thanks for posting this.

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  8. Keep in mind that it's possible that her Blogging was a certain amount of fiction. We have no way of knowing if what she was blogging about is true (elaborate meals), whether the items shown are her own work, etc. etc. It could all just be an elaborate fantasy. Still - she sounds ill. I hope the children can get the help they need.

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  9. Wow. That story is extremely disturbing.

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  10. The more I hear about the story the more sad I get. It is, however, interesting how K5 likes to skew things....Her last blog entry was back in Feb so who knows if it even had anything to do with it. Given the condition she was found in, is it possible that her disappearance from the blogosphere coincided with the deteriorating health of the child?

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  11. so disturbing and sad that no one knew enough to intervene sooner.

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  12. What is wrong with people?? This just makes me sick!

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  13. I pray that they all get the help that they need - that's horrible!

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  14. That the father was a part of this makes me even angrier. It is his biological child. I hope they are both dealt with appropriately and that the daughter never has to go back to them.

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