I am amazed by this...

[wake_up]

In Nebraska - a dad dropped off his 9 kids at the hospital and left.

At least 16 children have been abandoned since the law took effect in July, the state agency said.

Todd Landry, director of the state division of Children and Family Services, said that in nearly every case, the parents who left their children felt overwhelmed and had decided they didn't want to be parents anymore. None of the kids dropped off so far have been in danger, he said.

"It was the parents not wanting to continue the journey with their kids," Landry said Thursday at a news conference in Lincoln.

Wow. It doesn't even make me angry, just sad.

[EVC]

"It was the parents not wanting to continue the journey with their kids," Landry said Thursday at a news conference in Lincoln.

OMG, that is the saddest thing I have read in a long time. Those poor kids, just being dumped like that. How sad, scared, lonely, and confused they must feel

I can only hope that they end up in loving, caring homes.

Wonder where the mother is in this story, though. Maybe the father is a recent widower who just couldn't cope financially, physically, or psychologically? If so, I wish he could have gotten some support before he resorted this extreme....

[diamond lil]

I agree; it is so sad. It brings tears to my eyes. But on the other hand, I would rather read a news story about a dad who dropped 9 kids off at a safe place than read a news story about a dad who lost it and injured/killed his kids.

[BellinghamCrunchie]

Originally Posted by EVC

OMG, that is the saddest thing I have read in a long time. Those poor kids, just being dumped like that. How sad, scared, lonely, and confused they must feel
....

That is not why the dad dropped them off. No one knows yet why those particular kids were dropped off. That was just a quote from some insensitive, uninformed person making a whole lot of assumptions about people who drop off their kids in general.

[Ruthla]

Originally Posted by diamond lil

I agree; it is so sad. It brings tears to my eyes. But on the other hand, I would rather read a news story about a dad who dropped 9 kids off at a safe place than read a news story about a dad who lost it and injured/killed his kids.

At least these children were never in any physical danger.

[Sierra]

Almost nothing shocks me anymore. It saddens me to no end, but doesn't shock me. As a foster parent, this is probably one of the least extreme things I have heard about.

Why he did it, however, and what might have happened if he didn't do it, can only be speculation on our parts. At least right now. I think we would do best to refrain from speculating.

[pigpokey]

Originally Posted by wake_up

Wow. It doesn't even make me angry, just sad.

It shouldn't make anyone angry. It doesn't even make me sad. It makes me glad that there is a way for families desperately in trouble for any reason to insure that they are served by the system.

[choli]

Originally Posted by pigpokey

It shouldn't make anyone angry. It doesn't even make me sad. It makes me glad that there is a way for families desperately in trouble for any reason to insure that they are served by the system.

I agree. The law was put in place for a reason. Anything is better than another Andrea Yates situation.

[whalemilk]

"People are leaving them off just because they can't control them," state Sen. Arnie Stuthman, who introduced the original bill, said Thursday. "They're probably in no real danger, so it's an easy way out for the caretaker."

Uhh I doubt there's anything easy about it. I am having a lot of trouble imagining someone just doing this on an offhanded whim.

[hsofia]

Wow, I don't know the circumstances, but if someone is that distraught or at their wits end or uncaring enough to give up all 9 of their children, something is wrong and help is needed!

[Keeping up]

Originally Posted by EVC

Wonder where the mother is in this story, though. Maybe the father is a recent widower who just couldn't cope financially, physically, or psychologically? If so, I wish he could have gotten some support before he resorted this extreme....

I read the brief article on CNN (very confusing) but it stated that the mother passed away 17 months ago of a brain aneurysm (or something akin) shortly after the birth of the youngest.

I can't imagine how this scenario played out - but am relieved the children are safe.

[mamakay]

Originally Posted by AnnD

I read the brief article on CNN (very confusing) but it stated that the mother passed away 17 months ago of a brain aneurysm (or something akin) shortly after the birth of the youngest.

I can't imagine how this scenario played out - but am relieved the children are safe.

How sad.


I wonder if he just couldn't afford to do it alone. I can't imagine trying to care for 9 children on my own with this economy. He's probably terribly depressed, too.

I hope the kids get to stay together, and that the dad is able, and willing, to see them regularly. I wish I had a million dollars to give him to fix the situation.

[Fuamami]

Originally Posted by pigpokey

It shouldn't make anyone angry. It doesn't even make me sad. It makes me glad that there is a way for families desperately in trouble for any reason to insure that they are served by the system.

Oh, it makes me very, very sad. In many ways I think I feel saddest for the father, that your life would come to a situation where that was your only alternative. I'm glad that there is such a system, I think it shows that we are moving towards greater compassion as a society. But it's still sad.

[Marsupialmom]

I feel sad for them all. If this is the case with the mom passing I can see the family needs help and services. I am glad the dad didn't "Harm" them or the kids having years of neglect.

I do think we (societal) need to realize it is not as easy for dad's to get help and navagate the system. There is people in the system that doesn't get that many services are for dad's and other caretaker also! Talk to the men that tried to navigate the system.

I really hope this family gets help now.

[angie7]

My heart goes out to the abandoned children. I can't imagine how they feel just being dumped like garbage I'm sure they will suffer some very serious emotional issues the rest of their lives...

[GuildJenn]

Originally Posted by angie7

My heart goes out to the abandoned children. I can't imagine how they feel just being dumped like garbage I'm sure they will suffer some very serious emotional issues the rest of their lives...

Although I am sure there will be scars I'm really not sure they were dumped like garbage. Their dad did find a safe place for them. Unless we know more of the story it's hard to say.

[Adele_Mommy]

That is very sad, but I agree with those who don't think the kids were "dumped like garbage". The oldest is 17. You can't really abandon a 17 year-old quite the same way you can an infant or very young child. I would imagine the father felt so desperate he couldn't cope anymore, but surely he must have told the older ones what he was doing or given some sort of explanation or something.

I am very glad the kids were not harmed and are safe for the moment, but I don't have a lot of faith in the system to care for them properly, particularly the younger ones.

[vbactivist]

Originally Posted by AnnD

I read the brief article on CNN (very confusing) but it stated that the mother passed away 17 months ago of a brain aneurysm (or something akin) shortly after the birth of the youngest.

I can't imagine how this scenario played out - but am relieved the children are safe.

I think I remember reading about this when the mother died. Were they a homeschooling family, does anyone know? Anyone really good at searching the archives here?

[Jannah6]

I couldn't even finish reading, it just made me too sad. Those poor children abandoned and now seperated from each other

[whalemilk]

There's more info on the case in this story:

http://www.ketv.com/cnn-news/17553170/detail.html

He sounds depressed and completely overwhelmed. I would be too. 9 kids to raise alone, all of a sudden? In the best of circumstances it would try anyone, but when you're about to be homeless and jobless too? The alternative resources at the bottom of the story wouldn't even cover it, either. This family was falling through the cracks. Our society just doesn't have the right resources to help someone in that situation.