Nebraska Parents Abandoning Teenagers ...
Monday, November 17, 2008
Nancy L. Brown, PhD
ange but true, I saw this article in the associated press the other day. In Nebraska, they seem to have made an incredible error when they wrote the "Safe-Haven Law" that went into effect this summer, and was meant to protect to lives of newborns, who can be left at any hospital, no questions asked. The law enacted (is the only one in the United States) read "child" instead of "infant" or "newborn" and since July, 26 of the 31 of the children legally abandoned have been aged 11 - 18. When the story was written the state was expecting more abandoned children in reaction to news stories that the law would be rewritten to include an age limit.Most of the children abandoned at local hospitals have been "difficult" - mentally ill, struggling with delinquency, and five of the youth were from other states. What is terribly sad to me is that these families must be desperate to even consider leaving their children, and did not realize that there are social services out there that could have helped.
What is truly strange, is that one of my daughters happens to be reading "Unwind" by Neal Shusterman, which is a great story about what it means to be "alive" in a society where unwanted teens can be salvaged for their body parts, unless they can survive until their 18th birthday, when they can no longer be unwound.
I have to say that these two stories have made some very interesting dinner conversation this week, not to mention a couple of well-behaved teens!
Photo credit: kr4gin
2 Comments:
At Wed Jan 14, 12:00:00 PM 2009,
Anonymous said…
Wyoming,
I am writing to ask a question about abandoning teens. Would it be considered abandoning of a 17 year old boy has been in and out of trouble since he was 12 with 3 felonys before age 16 a mother for years fights to try to keep him home then finaly the courts lets him come home. Then the child gets into a arguement with mother backs her up against the wall and call her a f---kin B---h. mom says get out! Two days later the boy comes home and asks if he can move to Missouri with his Aunt. I said I guess thats your choice. I have fought with this boy for a long time he would stay away from home 1-2-3 and sometimes 7 or 8 nights in a row wouldn't listen but he had good grades in school was do go graduate in December 2008 mid-them 3-A's 5-B's 1-C it sadens me to see him take this rought. He went to Missouri to live with my sister and now they are trying to sue me for child support and say that I ABANDONED him! He turns 18 Febuary 12 the day before we go back to court. In Missouri since he has been there his grades are 1-B- and 5-F's. I have paid for a bus ticket for him to come back my sister refuses to put him on it and he refused to get on it she tells him I'll have him put in jail again. Which is not true, I love him very much and want the best for him I just don't know what happened. I have 2 other children that are great. I'm just tired frustrated and don't know what to do????
T- from Wyoming
At Fri Feb 13, 09:38:00 AM 2009,
Nancy L. Brown, PhD said…
I am so sorry to hear this story. All parents and children love each other and sometimes when we cannot express that love, or feel let down by someone we want to be perfect, it takes a lot of work to "find the love" again.
I can only suggest counseling, which can happen long after kids are grown. Good luck!
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