Motherhood is not a matter of convenience

All too often we hear about children being mistreated, neglected and abused.  All too often it happens in our country, our cities and even our neighbourhoods.  Even if it happened just once, it would be too often.  Today I read an article on how an Ottawa mother left her three daughters, age 3 years, 2 years and 9 months home alone for almost 20 hours.  The 9 month old was found laying at the top of the stairs when police arrived.

Even as I write this I lack the proper words to describe the anger and sadness I feel.  How does anyone treat a child this way, let alone their own mother?  The one person who is supposed to know her children better than anyone.  The one person who should be putting her children's needs before her own.  The person whose job it is to make sure those little ones are safe and cared for at ALL times. You can't choose to be a mom when it's convenient for you.  As soon as you see those two little lines on that test, your main purpose in life is to care for that tiny life you created.

There are so many women and men out there who would love nothing more than to become parents and to love and nurture a child but are unable to do so.  Then there are parents who take what they have for granted.  My daughter is two years old and every time I think of how terrified those poor girls must have been to be deserted by their own mother it makes me want to run into her room, scoop her up and hold her as long as I can so that she will never feel that same fear and so that she knows she is loved.

Simply because the children have been rescued doesn't mean their ordeal is over.  They were taken to CHEO to be assessed.  Being in a hospital at that age without parents and surrounded by strangers would be terrifying.  Where will they go next?  A foster home?  With more strangers? 

Yes children can be difficult and challenging at times but really all they ask for are clothes, food, safety and love. I think every child deserves at least that.