Popular area "mom blogger" attempted suicide

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because no child needs to hear the graphic details of his mother's decision to take her own life and the gruesome hospitalization that followed! Maybe when they're adults or close to it, but we're talking all kids 12 and under.

Can you imagine what happens when some classmate hears about this from his/her mother and then 20 minutes later the whole school knows that so-and-so's mom hated life so much that she tried to kill herself right after her child's birthday party?

It's bad enough that she put the children through all this in the first place, but to air everything publicly in a way that exposes all of them to taunting and bullying -- just so lots of people can write lovey-dovey comments -- is gross and selfish and tacky.

I don't know. Mental illness is real. Suicide is real and it's increasing. Maybe if we didn't treat it as taboo people would feel more able to discuss their feelings openly and we could prevent attempts like this.

DP here. Suicide is real and increasing, but the cause of that trajectory is unknown. Who's to say it's not increasing because we do talk about it so openly and get lovey-dovey comments and affirmation that we are loved and all this validation that other people see and crave as well? I don't want to kick mental health issues under the rug by any means, and I don't think depression and anxiety are things to be ashamed of or should be in any way taboo. I'm not so sure about suicide though. What devastation for her family and friends she would have left in her wake had she succeeded. How can we not acknowledge that too, while we also realize that she is suffering and isn't thinking clearly?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because no child needs to hear the graphic details of his mother's decision to take her own life and the gruesome hospitalization that followed! Maybe when they're adults or close to it, but we're talking all kids 12 and under.

Can you imagine what happens when some classmate hears about this from his/her mother and then 20 minutes later the whole school knows that so-and-so's mom hated life so much that she tried to kill herself right after her child's birthday party?

It's bad enough that she put the children through all this in the first place, but to air everything publicly in a way that exposes all of them to taunting and bullying -- just so lots of people can write lovey-dovey comments -- is gross and selfish and tacky.

She's a writer, and a good one, and she's certainly not glamorizing anything. Kids don't care about what other kids' parents do or think or their mental health. I have boys her sons' ages and there is nothing they care about less than gossip about the moms. My kids barely know who any of their friends' parents are unless they are particularly close.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because no child needs to hear the graphic details of his mother's decision to take her own life and the gruesome hospitalization that followed! Maybe when they're adults or close to it, but we're talking all kids 12 and under.

Can you imagine what happens when some classmate hears about this from his/her mother and then 20 minutes later the whole school knows that so-and-so's mom hated life so much that she tried to kill herself right after her child's birthday party?

It's bad enough that she put the children through all this in the first place, but to air everything publicly in a way that exposes all of them to taunting and bullying -- just so lots of people can write lovey-dovey comments -- is gross and selfish and tacky.

Your boys might not care about a blog written by their friend's parent. But they would care to read a blog about your suicide attempt.
She's a writer, and a good one, and she's certainly not glamorizing anything. Kids don't care about what other kids' parents do or think or their mental health. I have boys her sons' ages and there is nothing they care about less than gossip about the moms. My kids barely know who any of their friends' parents are unless they are particularly close.

[Anonymous]

"Suicide is real and it's increasing. Maybe if we didn't treat it as taboo people would feel more able to discuss their feelings openly and we could prevent attempts like this."

Lots of awful, horrible things are real, but that doesn't mean you expose your children to them before they're old enough to process and understand.

I'm willing to bet that they wouldn't want their boys to watch a graphic documentary about child molesting or the Manson murders or read a detailed account of the atrocities of the Holocaust. All of those things are real, and horrific, and not appropriate for children.

It should never be the child's responsibility to process and emotionally account for his parents' bad decisions. Putting all this detail out there in the wild just makes it more likely that all 3 of her boys will have to deal with this tragedy publicly, and that's a lot to put on a kid who is already dealing with a significant trauma.

[Anonymous]

I don't know a single kid in k-12 who would ever read a Mom blog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because no child needs to hear the graphic details of his mother's decision to take her own life and the gruesome hospitalization that followed! Maybe when they're adults or close to it, but we're talking all kids 12 and under.

Can you imagine what happens when some classmate hears about this from his/her mother and then 20 minutes later the whole school knows that so-and-so's mom hated life so much that she tried to kill herself right after her child's birthday party?

It's bad enough that she put the children through all this in the first place, but to air everything publicly in a way that exposes all of them to taunting and bullying -- just so lots of people can write lovey-dovey comments -- is gross and selfish and tacky.

Your boys might not care about a blog written by their friend's parent. But they would care to read a blog about your suicide attempt.
She's a writer, and a good one, and she's certainly not glamorizing anything. Kids don't care about what other kids' parents do or think or their mental health. I have boys her sons' ages and there is nothing they care about less than gossip about the moms. My kids barely know who any of their friends' parents are unless they are particularly close.

Of course they would. She seems tormented by the thoughts of what this means for her children. And I would be very open with my children if I ever had depression or suicidal thoughts. So it's not likely that they're going to see anything in the blog that they aren't aware of at home. But you mentioned bullying and taunting by schoolmates, which I think is highly unlikely.

[Anonymous]

" don't know a single kid in k-12 who would ever read a Mom blog."

No, but I can think of a lot of kids who would overhear their own moms or dads talking about it, or maybe a teacher, and then take the story -- or perhaps some misunderstood half-truth version of it -- back to the schoolyard to weaponize into an instrument of bullying.

[Anonymous]

"But you mentioned bullying and taunting by schoolmates, which I think is highly unlikely."

You must have gone to much nicer schools than some of us did...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because no child needs to hear the graphic details of his mother's decision to take her own life and the gruesome hospitalization that followed! Maybe when they're adults or close to it, but we're talking all kids 12 and under.

Can you imagine what happens when some classmate hears about this from his/her mother and then 20 minutes later the whole school knows that so-and-so's mom hated life so much that she tried to kill herself right after her child's birthday party?

It's bad enough that she put the children through all this in the first place, but to air everything publicly in a way that exposes all of them to taunting and bullying -- just so lots of people can write lovey-dovey comments -- is gross and selfish and tacky.

I don't know. Mental illness is real. Suicide is real and it's increasing. Maybe if we didn't treat it as taboo people would feel more able to discuss their feelings openly and we could prevent attempts like this.

DP here. Suicide is real and increasing, but the cause of that trajectory is unknown. Who's to say it's not increasing because we do talk about it so openly and get lovey-dovey comments and affirmation that we are loved and all this validation that other people see and crave as well? I don't want to kick mental health issues under the rug by any means, and I don't think depression and anxiety are things to be ashamed of or should be in any way taboo. I'm not so sure about suicide though. What devastation for her family and friends she would have left in her wake had she succeeded. How can we not acknowledge that too, while we also realize that she is suffering and isn't thinking clearly?

I don't think you understand depression or mental illness. People aren't doing it for attention. When we start treating mental illness as a medical issue, people will be able to discuss it more openly.

[Anonymous]

"I don't think you understand depression or mental illness. People aren't doing it for attention. When we start treating mental illness as a medical issue, people will be able to discuss it more openly."

I don't think she swallowed all those pills for attention, but I do think she's detailing it on her blog for attention. Big, crucial difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Suicide is real and it's increasing. Maybe if we didn't treat it as taboo people would feel more able to discuss their feelings openly and we could prevent attempts like this."

Lots of awful, horrible things are real, but that doesn't mean you expose your children to them before they're old enough to process and understand.

I'm willing to bet that they wouldn't want their boys to watch a graphic documentary about child molesting or the Manson murders or read a detailed account of the atrocities of the Holocaust. All of those things are real, and horrific, and not appropriate for children.

It should never be the child's responsibility to process and emotionally account for his parents' bad decisions. Putting all this detail out there in the wild just makes it more likely that all 3 of her boys will have to deal with this tragedy publicly, and that's a lot to put on a kid who is already dealing with a significant trauma.

Jesus. Are you comparing a suicide attempt by a depressed person to child molestation or the Holocaust?

Look, the only good things that could come of this would be for her to get help and for this to help other people either get help for themselves or a loved one. Saying "mommy didn't feel well and took a tumble in the bathroom" is not the correct path.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"But you mentioned bullying and taunting by schoolmates, which I think is highly unlikely."

You must have gone to much nicer schools than some of us did...

For stuff your MOM did or said???? Like I said, my boys are her boys' age and they could not care less about mom drama.

[Anonymous]

"Jesus. Are you comparing a suicide attempt by a depressed person to child molestation or the Holocaust?"

I'm not making a moral equivalency, I am saying that all of those things are awful and traumatic and should not be thrown at children without context when the children aren't old enough and emotionally mature enough to process them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because no child needs to hear the graphic details of his mother's decision to take her own life and the gruesome hospitalization that followed! Maybe when they're adults or close to it, but we're talking all kids 12 and under.

Can you imagine what happens when some classmate hears about this from his/her mother and then 20 minutes later the whole school knows that so-and-so's mom hated life so much that she tried to kill herself right after her child's birthday party?

It's bad enough that she put the children through all this in the first place, but to air everything publicly in a way that exposes all of them to taunting and bullying -- just so lots of people can write lovey-dovey comments -- is gross and selfish and tacky.

I don't know. Mental illness is real. Suicide is real and it's increasing. Maybe if we didn't treat it as taboo people would feel more able to discuss their feelings openly and we could prevent attempts like this.

DP here. Suicide is real and increasing, but the cause of that trajectory is unknown. Who's to say it's not increasing because we do talk about it so openly and get lovey-dovey comments and affirmation that we are loved and all this validation that other people see and crave as well? I don't want to kick mental health issues under the rug by any means, and I don't think depression and anxiety are things to be ashamed of or should be in any way taboo. I'm not so sure about suicide though. What devastation for her family and friends she would have left in her wake had she succeeded. How can we not acknowledge that too, while we also realize that she is suffering and isn't thinking clearly?

I don't think you understand depression or mental illness. People aren't doing it for attention. When we start treating mental illness as a medical issue, people will be able to discuss it more openly.

Don't you believe that teen suicides have a copycat element to them? I do. I'm not saying people have mental illnesses for attention. I am saying that the attention, which is now often positive, loving attention, that people get when they attempt or succeed at suicide, probably has some influence in the already warped mind of a depressed person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG!! I was wondering why she hadn't posted in more than a week. I'm sorry she's been struggling.

But, did she seriously post a video of her singing happy birthday with her kid right after a suicide attempt? The contradiction in tone is enough to make my head spin and the appropriateness of it? I feel sorry for that child. Stop posting anything with your kids and go fix yourself so you can take care of them.

No - that was right before her attempt. Let's please not bash her here.

Why not? I still think that is vastly inappropriate. Yes, I hope she gets well but that speaks volumes

I also feel like the timing of this post is a little suspect. I dislike saying that and it feels icky but it’s a gut feeling. I hope things improve for her.

'

Bloggers are attention seekers and want attention. Suicide attempts and following through are an attention getter. You have to wonder ... and why would you post so much personal information your kids can find later on about both them and you.

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