…and then feeling a bit comforted by the end, and hopeful…but still fucking angry.
Only time anything Gawker has linked to has made me cry. And at work, at my desk. I gotta talk about sexytime in 12 minutes!
Time to switch into sexytime mode. But this article is sadtime. Read it, though. I don’t know why. You just should.
That is FUCKING insane. That mother, Michelle… Can’t even believe it.
I know. It’s horrendous. I got the impression that the mother was actually mentally incapable of comprehending what she had done, how she should keep a house clean or how she should raise children. I think that she may have been mentally inequipped to deal with reality. On the other hand, she’s a horribly abusive individual who deserved to get jail time. It’s unfortunate that she didn’t. She seems to feel no remorse or shame over how she treated her child. It’s disgusting.
The story mentioned the mother’s IQ being 77, this incident has nothing to do with intelligence though, I think this person just lacked the parental instinct. Sort of like a sociopath you know? She just must be wired differently. I mean wild animals would take better care of their young (even dogs show better socialization habits with their young). This is just one of those bizarre stories that have become shockingly common in our society.
I think that’s an interesting perspective. Some people would just label her as “evil,” but that’s far too simple and easy. The hard work is trying to fully understand that which seems incomprehensible: the idea that a mother would so torment a child through neglect.
It frightens me to consider how many other children like this are out there. Because they ARE out there.
That is just beyond words.. I can’t even begin to describe how awful I felt inside after reading the article so I will focus on the one thing that actually managed to make me smile when I was thinking about it later… how amazing that family that adopted Dani is!! The fact that there are people out there who would sacrifice so much for this child.. it’s beautiful and sweet and it definitely gave my faith in humanity a little boost that was desperately needed after reading about what this so-called mother did to her child. My heart is still broken for this poor girl but wow.. I love that there are people out there who would take this on and they’re so optimistic.. wow… it makes me want to be more like them!
On a side note.. I found it interesting that I read this right after your post on God (which is definitely a fascinating subject)… and if anything was ever going to make you question the existence of a supreme being it would be that tragic story…
Thanks for responding, Sean. I have to say that I especially agree with you on that last point.
First reaction: Kill the mother. Now.
Second reaction: I’m not yet over the first reaction.
I’m sure I’ll calm myself in some time.
But you’re right, there are kids/people like this all over. My cousin is a cop. He sent me photos awhile ago of a house just like the one described…crap and urine all over, impossible to take a step due to the trash piled several feet high. And under a trash pile, in the corner, was a child.
Urgh.