A Disgusted Mother Speaks Out
Every day I witness the destruction that a mother’s lack of hearing can do to a child. At work I look into the eyes of neglected children who have been physically and sexually abused and attempt to help them put their lives back together. While these children have a broken heart on the inside, their outside heartache takes on the form of behaviors that most people do not know how to handle. When I step back and look at these beautiful children, I have to really wonder how some mother’s have the ability to just turn their momma ears off and how they can simply tune their children out. I do have an understanding of mothers who can’t hear, I struggle with the mothers who can hear, but choose not to.
If you live in the area I’m sure you have heard about the four month old baby whose toes were chewed by a puppy pit bull while the mother was “asleep” in the same room. This story not only hurts my heart for this sweet baby, but it also disgusts me. There is simply no way any mother could sleep through something like that, regardless of how much “sleeping medication” she has taken. I am also horrified with this woman’s claim that she did not notice her baby’s chewed foot until she changed his diaper.
As a mother, I can only fathom the amount of noise in that room while the baby was being attacked. The thought is almost too much to fully process. As much dysfunction as I have seen in my career, I cannot even begin to calculate the amount of “legal” sleeping medication that woman had to take in order not to hear those screams. Her sleeping medication story is simply not believable; is it possible she was not even in the house? In my opinion and experience, momma ears do not fail, not like that. This is not a matter of momma ears malfunction, this is a matter of mother dysfunction-and my momma ears are hearing a liar!
This woman is not a mother. Yes, she gave birth to this beautiful baby and kept him alive for his first four months, but she ultimately failed him. A mother would have thought twice about taking copious amounts of “medication” or a mother would have never left her four month old alone in a house to begin with, if that is what happened.
I am appalled this woman only received ten to twelve months on her felony child abuse charge. She has already served five months of this sentence, which puts her release date roughly this summer. One year in jail for allowing your child to be disfigured for life? How does that make sense? I understand the mother asked for one more chance when she went before the judge. I bet if this baby could talk he would ask for one more chance with a mother who would keep him safe the first time.
Unfortunately, child abuse and child neglect happens every day. I assure you for every story that gets picked up by the news, there are 100 stories that don’t. I wish that every story recieved media attention so all mothers ears can hear the cries of all these children who are victims of abuse.
I completely agree with you Brooke. I can not see how anyone would sleep through something so vicious as a pit bull eating your childs toes off. Occassionally, I have to take a prescribed medication for some sleep problems and I am afraid I won’t hear my 14mth old through the monitor. So far, that has not happened and I will wake up if I hear him even through med induced sleep. It does not make sense that any mother could let that happen to her child. And to notice it when she changed the baby’s diaper, not before…..what is she, color blind, because there had to be so much blood (not to be too graphic) that it would be impossible not to have realized something was wrong. Well, they say that prisoners in jail do not like child abusers, and whether you choose to think of her as something other than that or not, I hope she got what was coming to her in the pokey!!!
I read this with a heavy heart; thank you Brooke, for speaking out and sharing your opinion on this heartbreaking story. Prayers for this little one, and the little ones everywhere.
I have been a DSS social worker for almost four years now and I have to say that after having my own child it became increasingly difficult to work with families that are in such situations as this child. I have to work extra hard to be nonjudgemental and family centered. I don’t wish any child to be in the foster care system but sometimes it is purely necessary, just like this case. Hopefully this child will have a happy ending because every child certainly deserves it!
Thanks so much ladies.
Christy, I keep looking at the situation and trying to figure out what could have possibly happened from the mom’s perspective. No matter how I spin the situation it doesn’t make sense. The bottom line is the baby was hurt from lack of responsibility on the parents’ behalf. I’m just thankful he was able to keep his foot.
Sarah, someone needs to speak for these children. Unfortunately not many people see the destruction abuse and neglect causes. They hear the horrific stories, but they don’t see the aftermath. There are some days my heart sincerely hurts for these children.
Lacy, I agree, I don’t want kids in the foster care system either, but sometimes it truly is the best place for them.
I have the up most respect for DSS workers, you guys deserve a huge raise! I could not walk into the homes where the abuse/neglect are happening and keep my composure with the parents. I know my professional limits and that is one of them.
you would be disgusted at some of the stories we heard about children in the foster care system when we were in the process of adopting our son.
sickening. things you can’t even FATHOM.
I am a DSS social worker as well. I work in Child Protective Services as a case manager. It’s a tough job, but I’m a tough girl. I tell parents like it is. You can continue to do what you’re doing wrong and I will remove your child. I will not hesitate, I will not cry, I will not care if you are cursing or screaming, and I will not have sympathy for you. Your child/children are my main and only concern. They are my priority, even if you’re made it a choice that they aren’t yours.
As for the pitt bull attack. First of all, the stupid wench shouldn’t have let her baby sleep alone on a pull out mattress. There are these things called cribs, bassinets, or play pens. Use one. Secondly, why in the world would you take so much pain/cold/sleep (whatever) medicine without having someone there to help with your child? Just because you’re in a drug induced coma doesn’t mean your child is. Third, why would you leave any animal alone in a room with your child? Animals are not babysitters.
I have a pitt bull. Scratch that. My husband has one. He is six months old. He has been deeply warned that if he dares to even sniff at my son wrong, I will kill him. I will not hesitate. I will not consult my husband first. I will not find him another home. He will die. Fortunately for us…he’s a wonderful puppy. He licks Rylee’s fingers if I allow him to. He avoids my child like the plague and doesn’t chew his stuff. Then again, he’s never alone in a room with my son. He isn’t allowed in his room. This dog and I have an understanding…LOL.
Jessica, welcome to my world. I am thankful for people like you who adopt children. Every child deserves a good, stable home with parents who love them. I will never understand how people could do some of the things they do. I remind myself that there is a special place for child abusers in the end.
Ashley, please tell us how you feel and don’t hold back! Go get them CPS worker!!!
I don’t blame the puppy in this case, I blame the adults! Puppies chew-it’s what they do!
I am a firm believer in it is all how you bring the dog up-no matter the breed. I’m glad you are setting up these boundaries with your (husband’s) dog. My husband grew up with a German Shepherd. My mother in law said she never worried about a stranger coming in the yard while he was playing outside with that dog out there.
I, as well, use a pit-bull who may be the most adoring animal I’ve ever owned. Quickly, a brand new dog breed will can come together for the media to blast, because they have performed rotties and dobies in past years. Unfortunate that media sensationalism breeds much inaccurate information.