How can parents do horrible things to their children?

[Anonymous]

I need to quit the internet. I stopped watching the news when I was a social worker - I dealt with despair all day long and couldn't allow myself to hear one more bad thing before I went to bed. However, I have continued to read the "news" online. I recently read about two unthinkably heinous and horrendous-beyond-my-imagination stories about parents who've hurt their toddlers - disfigurement in one case and murder in the other case. These two stories have been extremely damaging to my psyche, like a worm in my brain. Maybe it is because I am the mother of a two year old or it's because I am hormonal from being pregnant, but I can't stop thinking about the confusion, fear and pain those babies experienced. I have had nightmares about the stories and even now, just writing this, I am getting sick to my stomach and all choked up.

How do I stop ruminating over them and howinthehell do I get the images out of my head?

[Anonymous]

Just read this site - it can make you feel that if your kids cries for longer than 30 seconds or eats non-organic food, you are abusing them.

There are a lot of bad and sick people out there who should not be parents but thats why those are the news stories, bc its the rarity, rather than the hundreds of millions of "good parent" stories.

[Anonymous]

i know exactly what you feel. It's normal.

[Anonymous]

I know the two stories you are referring to and it makes me weepy to think about those kids. I have a newborn and a toddler and on my worst days I would never hurt them. Although my toddler kicked me in the face today during a diaper change and I smacked his thigh... but boy do I still feel shitty about that.

People who hurt children are animals and should be tortured. It is so weak to hurt something so innocent and young.

[Anonymous]

OP, I know exactly how you feel as well. I feel like it affects and bothers me more than it should to hear these stories. I kept seeing the headline yesterday about the mother who buried her child in the sand. I kept saying, "Don't open it, don't open it..." and then last night I finally opened it against my better judgement. I read a few lines and closed it, already very upset, of course (I have a 3 yr old). This is a sad world sometimes.

[Anonymous]

That guy with the eyeballs was on PCP. It's the most digusting, filthy drug ever. The only reason I point this out is because I think I'd go insane thinking a "normal" person did something like that.

[Anonymous]

fucking drugs. Jesus I hope my kids dont do them. Why woukld someone take a drug that makes tghem feel like a paranoid schizophrenic--a terrible disease!!!

[Anonymous]

These stories bother me greatly as well. I love my two year old son so much, and I see how much he needs my love and attention, how vulnerable he is, and it makes me incredibly sad that someone could treat that vulnerability with anything other than care and love. On my very worst days, the most I do is yell and curse, and I feel bad about that. I cannot imagine how anyone could do anything to physically harm their child. There was a story about a little two-year-old girl in texas who was killed by her parents and apparently at the trial they presented evidence that she said "I love you" to try to keep them from killing her and it just makes me cry every time I think about it. The stories about kids left in cars also get to me (though those are accidents, not intentional).

The only way to get it out of your head is just to focus on other things, including trying to make your kids' days as joyful as possible. I do sympathize greatly.

[Anonymous]

The internet had only reinforced fears I have about my kids in society- I mean, I was fine being single- still careful. But the news is scaring me SO much- between MRSA to abduction/rape- I am also scared.. as for all the parents who &*()) up a wonderful gift- I feel horrible- but am determined for some other psycho not to get near my kids and mess them up..