A Mother's Reckoning by Susan Klebold

[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.

Attitudes like yours are part of the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Pp amd this was the post I intended to quote with my comment. No idea how the other one ended up being quoted instead
Sorry.

[Anonymous]

Wow. the complete lack of compassion for this woman is astounding to me. None of you were there, none of you really know what happened. But you are all so ready to judge. I am guessing none of you should be throwing stones from your glass houses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. the complete lack of compassion for this woman is astounding to me. None of you were there, none of you really know what happened. But you are all so ready to judge. I am guessing none of you should be throwing stones from your glass houses.

And you were there? Explain how this involved mother was so completely unaware that her son had bombs and guns in his room and was best buds with a psychopath (same guy he got arrested with before).

I feel bad for her in the sense that I really do not believe that she thought that her son would ever do anything THAT bad....but is it sad that she pretty much knew nothing about what her son was up to in the year before this massacre took place? Yeah, that is really sad for a parent to be so out of touch with her kid. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. the complete lack of compassion for this woman is astounding to me. None of you were there, none of you really know what happened. But you are all so ready to judge. I am guessing none of you should be throwing stones from your glass houses.

And you were there? Explain how this involved mother was so completely unaware that her son had bombs and guns in his room and was best buds with a psychopath (same guy he got arrested with before).

I feel bad for her in the sense that I really do not believe that she thought that her son would ever do anything THAT bad....but is it sad that she pretty much knew nothing about what her son was up to in the year before this massacre took place? Yeah, that is really sad for a parent to be so out of touch with her kid. Sorry.

NP. Good questions. Am also waiting for an explanation....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. the complete lack of compassion for this woman is astounding to me. None of you were there, none of you really know what happened. But you are all so ready to judge. I am guessing none of you should be throwing stones from your glass houses.

And you were there? Explain how this involved mother was so completely unaware that her son had bombs and guns in his room and was best buds with a psychopath (same guy he got arrested with before).

I feel bad for her in the sense that I really do not believe that she thought that her son would ever do anything THAT bad....but is it sad that she pretty much knew nothing about what her son was up to in the year before this massacre took place? Yeah, that is really sad for a parent to be so out of touch with her kid. Sorry.

NP. Good questions. Am also waiting for an explanation....

NP here. An explanation for what? You seem to think you know the answer. She's an awful parent. Is that what you want to hear, Mr./Ms. Smug?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. the complete lack of compassion for this woman is astounding to me. None of you were there, none of you really know what happened. But you are all so ready to judge. I am guessing none of you should be throwing stones from your glass houses.

And you were there? Explain how this involved mother was so completely unaware that her son had bombs and guns in his room and was best buds with a psychopath (same guy he got arrested with before).

I feel bad for her in the sense that I really do not believe that she thought that her son would ever do anything THAT bad....but is it sad that she pretty much knew nothing about what her son was up to in the year before this massacre took place? Yeah, that is really sad for a parent to be so out of touch with her kid. Sorry.

NP. Good questions. Am also waiting for an explanation....

NP here. An explanation for what? You seem to think you know the answer. She's an awful parent. Is that what you want to hear, Mr./Ms. Smug?

Not this pp, but why do you think Ms. Klebold deserves sympathy? Do you think that the mistakes that the Klebolds made were inevitable and would have happened to any parent? Do you disagree that this tragedy could have been prevented if the parents had simply been more tuned in to what their kids were doing?

[Anonymous]

Also, do you think that Dylan could have had a completely different outcome with his own life if his parents had been more aware of his activities?

[Anonymous]

I will say that with Eric Harris in particular I was shocked to see just how involved his parents had always been in his life. His dad was a Scoutmaster and a coach. His mom was a stay at home mom. They moved a lot (military) and Eric had to learn to make new friends in new places. I'm sure that the folks who knew them never would have dreamed that something like this could happen.

Eric hid the weapons that he stockpiled in his room pretty well. Police didn't notice them on the first search as I understand it. I think Eric knew that if his parents had seen the stockpile in his room they would have put a quick end to the plan. So he learned to hide them well. I find it stunning that he was able to bring weapons into the house for an entire year and his parents never had a clue...

[Anonymous]

I find your ignorance stunning, 23:46.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. the complete lack of compassion for this woman is astounding to me. None of you were there, none of you really know what happened. But you are all so ready to judge. I am guessing none of you should be throwing stones from your glass houses.

And you were there? Explain how this involved mother was so completely unaware that her son had bombs and guns in his room and was best buds with a psychopath (same guy he got arrested with before).

I feel bad for her in the sense that I really do not believe that she thought that her son would ever do anything THAT bad....but is it sad that she pretty much knew nothing about what her son was up to in the year before this massacre took place? Yeah, that is really sad for a parent to be so out of touch with her kid. Sorry.

NP. Good questions. Am also waiting for an explanation....

NP here. An explanation for what? You seem to think you know the answer. She's an awful parent. Is that what you want to hear, Mr./Ms. Smug?

Not this pp, but why do you think Ms. Klebold deserves sympathy? Do you think that the mistakes that the Klebolds made were inevitable and would have happened to any parent? Do you disagree that this tragedy could have been prevented if the parents had simply been more tuned in to what their kids were doing?

I am not the pp you are referring to, but, we are having a book discussion. Have you read the book? Have you read the profile in Andrew Soloman's book? Have you read any of the books on Columbine. It is pretty clear you are opining based on sound bites you have heard and your own perceptions about parenting teens (that I'm guessing are not based on any practical experience). Do some reading. Come back. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. the complete lack of compassion for this woman is astounding to me. None of you were there, none of you really know what happened. But you are all so ready to judge. I am guessing none of you should be throwing stones from your glass houses.

And you were there? Explain how this involved mother was so completely unaware that her son had bombs and guns in his room and was best buds with a psychopath (same guy he got arrested with before).

I feel bad for her in the sense that I really do not believe that she thought that her son would ever do anything THAT bad....but is it sad that she pretty much knew nothing about what her son was up to in the year before this massacre took place? Yeah, that is really sad for a parent to be so out of touch with her kid. Sorry.

NP. Good questions. Am also waiting for an explanation....

NP here. An explanation for what? You seem to think you know the answer. She's an awful parent. Is that what you want to hear, Mr./Ms. Smug?

Not this pp, but why do you think Ms. Klebold deserves sympathy? Do you think that the mistakes that the Klebolds made were inevitable and would have happened to any parent? Do you disagree that this tragedy could have been prevented if the parents had simply been more tuned in to what their kids were doing?

I am not the pp you are referring to, but, we are having a book discussion. Have you read the book? Have you read the profile in Andrew Soloman's book? Have you read any of the books on Columbine. It is pretty clear you are opining based on sound bites you have heard and your own perceptions about parenting teens (that I'm guessing are not based on any practical experience). Do some reading. Come back. Thanks.

Yes. I haven't read the book and I don't know if it's worth reading or not. But I'm glad that the proceeds of this book are going to charity.

As far as my experience goes. I was a teen myself once and had several siblings. My parents both worked and I know what I was able to get away with (not much) without them noticing. I now have two teens myself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. the complete lack of compassion for this woman is astounding to me. None of you were there, none of you really know what happened. But you are all so ready to judge. I am guessing none of you should be throwing stones from your glass houses.

And you were there? Explain how this involved mother was so completely unaware that her son had bombs and guns in his room and was best buds with a psychopath (same guy he got arrested with before).

I feel bad for her in the sense that I really do not believe that she thought that her son would ever do anything THAT bad....but is it sad that she pretty much knew nothing about what her son was up to in the year before this massacre took place? Yeah, that is really sad for a parent to be so out of touch with her kid. Sorry.

NP. Good questions. Am also waiting for an explanation....

NP here. An explanation for what? You seem to think you know the answer. She's an awful parent. Is that what you want to hear, Mr./Ms. Smug?

Not this pp, but why do you think Ms. Klebold deserves sympathy? Do you think that the mistakes that the Klebolds made were inevitable and would have happened to any parent? Do you disagree that this tragedy could have been prevented if the parents had simply been more tuned in to what their kids were doing?

I am not the pp you are referring to, but, we are having a book discussion. Have you read the book? Have you read the profile in Andrew Soloman's book? Have you read any of the books on Columbine. It is pretty clear you are opining based on sound bites you have heard and your own perceptions about parenting teens (that I'm guessing are not based on any practical experience). Do some reading. Come back. Thanks.

If Susan had only admitted she didn't know her child, and should have taken the time to do that, I'd have some respect for her.

[Anonymous]

Maybe in another 10 years she'll be ready to come clean.

[Anonymous]

i dont want to pile on the mom because i have empathy for her. but i remember watching something about columbine once and the mom of one of dylans friends when he was much younger was interviewed. she didnt trash dylans parents but talked about what a nice kid dylan was when he was friends with her son. she also said dylans parents came across as not warm , more clinical in their relationship with dylan at the time. wish i could remember where i saw this.