Save Our Children: When Is a Mother Dangerous to her Child or Others?

The Growing Problem of violent women:o Lisaget his toy, it is not entirely unexpected. However,
Montgomery took the baby from the womb ofwhen a 23 year old strikes another mother to get
another young mother in 2004.o Lashaun Harris killedwhat she wants, it is less expected and understood.
her three children by tossing them into the bay onThe 23 year old is expected to be at a more mature
October 19, 2005.o Shannon Torrez, 36, cut a younglevel of development. A three year old is not likely to
mother's throat and kidnapped her new born baby onkill another child intentionally. When a woman kills
September 15, 2006.o Tiffany Hall is suspected ofanother person, it goes beyond all comprehension.
killing a pregnant mother and her baby by cuttingInstrumental killing (for a purpose) of another person
open her womb and taking the, as yet, unborn childthat is not a part of a legal duty or self defense
on September 15, 2006. She may have also killed therequires that you have little or no caring or empathy
other three children of the mother she killed.for other people. This requires a lack of attachment
*****to other humans.
What would drive women to this point? What canWhat is Attachment? Attachment is the deep
make them so desperate that they see no otheremotional and physical bond between humans. The
way to solve their problems or get their needs met?basis for it begins in infancy between mother and
Is a failure of logic? Of empathy? Of compassion?child. Anything that disrupts that bonding process
Ethics? Failure to see things from another person's(abuse, neglect, violence, abandonment, mental illness
point of view? A failure of what we have come toor substance abuse of the mother that is untreated)
believe is womanhood?can result in disrupted attachment patterns of the
What could have happened to make women notchild's development. This results in disregarding the
possess the characteristics that make us human?rights and feelings of others. On the other hand,
The development of the ability to see things fromactivities and events that support healthy attachment
another person's point of view, soothe oneself, solveand interpersonal bonding will sustain the ability to
problems, have appropriate interpersonal skillsrecognize and respect the rights, needs and feelings
(reciprocity and empathy), and care for anotherof others.
person come early in the sequence of humanWhat needs to be done? Our social service, mental
development. If during those critical times, somethinghealth, juvenile justice, education, legal, early
internal or in the environment interferes with normalchildhood, and faith based services must coordinate
development of these skills and characteristics, andand extend appropriate services to all youth at risk.
corrective developmental experiences are notA child that is not well cared for is a child at risk to
provided, a young person or adult may remain at annot be kind to others and worse. The symptoms of
earlier stage of development and their ability todisrupted attachment can be seen very early and
interact with the world may be deviant to a greatershould be addressed as soon as possible. Corrective
or lesser degree.developmental experiences, skill building, mental
What are the conditions that interfere with thehealth, and positive bonding experiences are needed.
development of skills and our ability to relate toChild well being is directly linked to the amount of
others? Brain damage or neurological impairment canmoney a jurisdiction spends on child and family
be associated with the inability to relate to otherservices. We must make a commitment to the
people appropriately. This can come from genetics,welfare of the children and families of the world,
illness, injury, and pathological caregiving in infancy.financially, programatically and as an ideal. If we don't,
Child abuse, neglect, exposure to violence, and lossthe US will continue to have one of the highest
of a parent without adequate substitute caregiversviolence rates in the world. We know the questions.
can interfere with normal development. PathologicalWe know the answers, but we cannot seem to fully
child care due to untreated or inadequately treatedcommit to carry them out. It is not just more money
mental illness and/or substance abuse of the parentsthat is needed, there are paradigm shifts and
can interfere with the child's development. This mayadjustments of priorities also need to be made.
leave young people in an earlier stage of personal,These are probably harder to achieve than more
interpersonal, reasoning, and moral development thanmoney. Therefore we will continue to see these
would be expected by their age.awful reports on the news.
If a two or three year old punches another child to