The Disposable Child

I don't know what to think about this story about parents dropping their teenage kids off in response to the Safe Haven Law. Minnesota has a Safe Haven Law that allows parents of newborns to drop them off at hospitals etc, no questions asked if they feel they can't deal with a baby. I understand and applaud this law, I think it is a win/win situation for everyone. The babies have the chance to grow up in a loving home instead of being killed or abandoned by the birth parent.

However, Nebraska is taking it a step further and allowing parents to drop off a child of any age. The people interviewed for the story obviously have been struggling with their child, but I am sorry, who doesn't struggle with a teenager. Surely there are other programs that can allow for the parents to get help for their child without adding the additional burdon of abandonment. I can only imagine what a teenager would feel if their parent basically said, "Sorry, I don't love you enough to help you through this rough time. "

From a Fox News Report :

Todd Landry, director of Health and Human Services' 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 has been in danger, Landry said.

Too simplistic? Probably. Mark and I survived the teenage years relatively unscathed. Our kids are well on their way to becoming productive (we hope) members of society. But what kind of society are we when we let people to dump their children simple because they are "difficult"

I know that this happens all over, even without a law. I believe the lawmakers had the right idea in mind, to protect the children, however, when we let government take over what should be a family and community issue are we really doing it for the kids?