A Mother's Reckoning by Susan Klebold

[Anonymous]

The fuller clip of that interview was in the 20/20 interview. Both Klebold and Harris presented in many ways a very typical face to the world. Klebold even went to the prom a few days before. Harris whose mental illness was very different and ran deeper than Klebold's impressed many people with how articulate he was. In many ways these kids seemed very normal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I watched the 20/20 interview with her. I used to think she was in complete denial, however, there are a lot of things that sent off warning bells, but the parents of both kids did try to intervene. Harris did have a sociopathic personality and Klebold a depressive one. They definitely hid a lot from their parents.

Before Columbine, no one could imagine such a tragedy. Unfortunately, the real tragedy is that mass shootings and school shootings still keep happening. Often these shooters come from stable homes--the common denominator is GUNS. If we actually had gun control, we wouldn't have so many dead kids.

I think this is the key. I saw the interview but haven't read the book yet. She absolutely didn't come across as the out of touch, distant, cold parent I thought she would be. Based on what she and others observed in her son, I don't think warning bells for suicide were going off and certainly neither she nor anyone else could have had any inkling of the massacre that was to come.

Like many parents, she didn't know her own child. Period.

I think you're wrong. This was shortly before the massacre. This kid doesn't scream mass murderer:

You've got to be kidding me. A 13 second clip is how you think you know a kid? Please don't tell me how old your kids are.

These kids were anything but normal.

[Anonymous]

Yes, of course. But the point is, their parents were there, connected, and this still happened. These teens were very good at masking mental illness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, of course. But the point is, their parents were there, connected, and this still happened. These teens were very good at masking mental illness.

Or perhaps their parents were very good at ignoring it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, of course. But the point is, their parents were there, connected, and this still happened. These teens were very good at masking mental illness.

Parents were obviously "connected" to a fantasy,
not their child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, of course. But the point is, their parents were there, connected, and this still happened. These teens were very good at masking mental illness.

Parents were obviously "connected" to a fantasy,
not their child.

All parents are connected to fantasies about their children. All parents are also deeply connected to their children.

Silly debate.

[Anonymous]

i have no plans to read it or buy it.

She is making a profit off the depravity of her murderous son.

[Anonymous]

Proceeds are being donated to mental health charities.

[Anonymous]

He had a pretty solid history of petty crimes, being expelled from school, was rarely home and spent a lot of his free time with a kid that he was known to get into trouble with. And he was receiving psychological counseling (was this court ordered counseling or something the parents sought out for their son?). Obviously something was up with that kid. Yes, there were signs.

I do not think that the parents had any clue that things would end this badly for their son.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i have no plans to read it or buy it.

She is making a profit off the depravity of her murderous son.

She is making no money from this book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Proceeds are being donated to mental health charities.

That is good to know. It's good to hear this story from the mom's prospective. I haven't read it but I might given that she is donating the proceeds which is the right thing to do under the circumstances.

I'm sure that if she good turn back the clock and do some things differently she would do that. Of course, that isn't possible.

[Anonymous]

OP and other readers, let me know what you think of it. I'm interesting in reading it. I was very young when Columbine happened but still was in shock. I find it to be interesting; I wish they would talk more about WHY they did it. Diane Sawyer's interview was just one big anti gun PSA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Proceeds are being donated to mental health charities.

That is good to know. It's good to hear this story from the mom's prospective. I haven't read it but I might given that she is donating the proceeds which is the right thing to do under the circumstances.

I'm sure that if she good turn back the clock and do some things differently she would do that. Of course, that isn't possible.

I wish she would have shared what she would have done differently. That would have been actually helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP and other readers, let me know what you think of it. I'm interesting in reading it. I was very young when Columbine happened but still was in shock. I find it to be interesting; I wish they would talk more about WHY they did it. Diane Sawyer's interview was just one big anti gun PSA

No it wasn't. However, that is the common denominator--guns. We've learned very little since Columbine. The biggest thing we could do to prevent mass killings like it is to enact some gun control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP and other readers, let me know what you think of it. I'm interesting in reading it. I was very young when Columbine happened but still was in shock. I find it to be interesting; I wish they would talk more about WHY they did it. Diane Sawyer's interview was just one big anti gun PSA

Any mass murderer kills because they are insane, there is no "reason"for anything beyond their insanity. Its not remotely interesting.

She should be donating all the money to the families who lost loved ones.