FAILURE TO PROTECT

To the Woman Who Allows Her Child to Be Abused…

You may have given birth, but you are no mother. How can you hear your child’s cries – begging for mercy - and do nothing? As mothers, is it not our duty – one of our primal instincts – to protect our children? Maybe you’re not the one having a ‘wire hanger’ meltdown, but standing by and allowing harm to come to your kid makes you just as responsible for their pain as the person punching them in the face.

Whether you pretend you don’t see your husband beating the crap out of your son, you leave the house knowing that your boyfriend wants special “alone time” with your daughter, or plug your ears to the daily roar of your new husband as he verbally assaults your teenagers – you are failing your children. Why? Where are you? They couldn’t need you more in those moments and you’ve ruthlessly abandoned them.

Are you afraid? Call for help. Are you selfish? Don’t wanna rock the boat with your new man? (BTW – is it me or is the boyfriend or the stepfather often the perpetrator in these horrific crimes??) Give your kids to someone else to raise – then you can have him all to yourself. Or are you simply just pathetic? Perhaps a mix of all three? It’s one thing not to stand up for yourself – you’re a grown-up and can make your own decisions. Your children are vulnerable and looking to you defend them and keep them safe. Wake up, rise up and either confront the situation or take your children the hell out of that situation.

I don’t care who you are – if you lay your hands on my kid, it’s on. You would never know it by looking at me, but there’s a She-Hulk simmering under the surface of my very-sweet, demure demeanor. Flip the switch by harming my children and you’ll meet her. She is fierce and she doesn’t forgive or forget.

I just can’t wrap my head or my heart around it.