The girl in the window
I spend a lot of time thinking about child abusers, but more time wondering about those who look the other way when they know defenseless little people are being mistreated. I don’t have children of my own, but even so, it was difficult to read about the devastation visited upon a girl named Dani. I read about the feral child Genie when I was a teenager, but if possible, Dani’s situation seems as if it were even more dire. The good news: She has a new family, one that truly loves her.
Dani’s birth mother, unsurprisingly (to me), is still rationalizing the fact that her daughter never saw the light of day, was infested with insects and lice, was never held or shown the merest bit of care. That investigators missed two chances to save Dani, and that a judge waived this woman’s measly community service sentence, just astonishes me.
On a geeky note, the St. Petersburg Times has done an excellent job of building a full multimedia package for this story. The video and audio slideshow is a great example of the kind of approach adapting newspapers should be taking: being a superb website that just happens to put out a print copy, too.
via Dooce
Filed under: Life
This story made me cry.
I’m not at all surprised that investigators have missed two chances, it wouldn’t be the first time and I’m afraid it might not be the last time.
I think the authorities made the right decision not to put the mother into prison but I’m surprised they only gave her house arrest.
It is so hard to believe that this kind of thing goes on in the modern world. However, I do find some consolation in the knowledge that there are amazing people like the foster parents out there.
This is just so awful. So awful. It’s scary, as a parent, to read that because I am always afraid I see a little of myself in that mother - especially when times are hard and things are stressful and tough - and I am so afraid of doing anything 1/10th that horrendous.
Casey, that woman is severely psychologically damaged and a complete fantasist as to how she “loved” her child. You are an amazing mother. I think your fear is one shared by many mothers, but I just had to say that your love for your child(ren) is crystal clear through words AND actions.
Jackie
Children as ‘property’ or ‘chattel’ is a cultural phenomenon around the world. And only a person, who does not love her own life, challenges that notion. And if you are a person, who does not have her own children and dares challenge any parents, well more fool you… :-/
From my experience in the UK, adult outsiders are now loathe to even smile at a child for fear that the parents will come after them all guns blazing. So any societal or community protection we may have ever had are out. It appears in this case, neighbours never even saw the child for 3 years.
Above all, these stories make me question the whole notion that somehow parental love is a natural instinct. I am not and will not be a parent, but I have a strong maternal instinct that children as young as 2 and as old as 26 (my nephews and nieces) recognise and receive the benefit of. But I have seen brutal parents too who ill-treat their own progeny and defend it as “love and discipline” not dissimilar to how this (clearly mentally ill) woman in the news story does.
And surely you read about the British parents, who left a baby behind in their house for 2 weeks while they went away on holiday? And the 70-year old man who lay dead for TWO years before his neighbours noticed? We do not discriminate when it comes to (not) caring an iota about others, you see.
Jackie, first, damn you for making me add on a late Friday night for spam protection. I have issues with 9s!!
Second, I appreciate your kind sentiment - after having gone through the pits of PPD, there’s always that nagging fear. I suppose that’s a good thing, keeps me on my toes ;)