A bond between mother and child is the most fundamental. Whilst I’ m the first to admit that the bond doesn’t always come naturally or easily; I’m yet to meet a mum who wouldn’t do anything to protect their child (even if they have struggled with post natal depression and bonding issues). That is what being a parent is. Putting your own needs and wishes aside and promoting those of your children. It’s not always easy or fun but being a parents is a privilege and it comes with responsibility.Unfortunately there are people out there who do not see parenting as a privilege or responsibility.
In May 2013 a young boy died at the hands of his neglectful and abusive mother and her boyfriend. Its one of those cases that I remember where I was when I heard it and I remember a sickening feeling as I heard the news story.I wasn’t even a mum then but for some reason this case just stuck in the back of my head. Only one other case has stuck with me like this one and last month this case was finally sentenced in a Sydney court.
Let me give you some back story. The 27 mother of three was allegedly a ‘good’ mother until she met her boyfriend. After moving in with her boyfriend things drastically changed. She adopted his cult like parenting views and implemented corporal punishment. The boy was neglected for months, starved and shown little affection. His siblings were encouraged to beat him. He was humiliated and broken; forced to eat his own waste or run until he could not run anymore. A disgusting four month stint of abuse finally ended when the little boy sustained fatal head and internal injuries. The little boy died scared and alone. His mother knew he was badly hurt and despite him being unresponsive and dying she went about her normal day as if nothing had happened and she never checked on him. She never attempted to save him. She was selfish and heartless and the lowest of low. When she eventually called the ambulance, she began an elaborate fabrication about the boy falling off a pogo stick to cover the truth. The woman only came clean to police when the lies began to unravel.
Honestly the full list of things this little boy was subjected to makes me physically sick. What sickens me the most is that this little boy was neglected, abused and eventually killed by the person he trusted the most- his mum. How on earth does this happen? I’m so angry this stuff happens in Australia. This stuff happens in the house next door and our government has done flip all to implement effective policy to stop it. This boy was 7, how did this boy fall through the cracks? Surely a teacher, doctor, neighbor noticed something?
What makes me equally sick is that this “mum” deserves nothing more than a life term in prison or a bullet. But thanks to the justice system and side room negotiations, the crown prosecution dropped the initial charges of neglect and murder and down graded the mothers charges to manslaughter. What’s worse; she received a 40% discount on the maximum manslaughter sentence because she showed some crocodile tears in court and agreed to testify against her scum, lowlife boyfriend. Pfft some justice that is.
So she receives a maximum period of 14 years with a non parole period of 10 and a half years. This isn’t near enough. A child lost his life at her hands. He trusted her to protect him and she killed him. She may not have delivered the fatal blow and may have many mental health issues of her own but that is no excuse. What this woman did is unacceptable and she does not deserve to come out and enjoy a life. She broke the most fundamental bond and manslaughter just doesn’t cut it here.
But whilst i believe the justice system has failed here; that is not my main point. My point is some people should not be parents. People can have children but that does not make them a parent.If you can’t be responsible and look after your child, if you can’t protect your child, if you cant be a parent then DO NOT have children. And if for some unknown reason you have a child or children and realize you are not a proper parent; then stop being selfish and at least have the decency to give them a fair go and find someone who will look after you child – to this end I really believe the Australian government need to pull their finger out and make adequate legislation to make adoption easier in Australia. IT just isn’t fair; there are so many deserving people out there who can’t have children and have to fight so damn hard to have a child or adopt and then there are woman like this who do not deserve children but can have them with ease.