Today, a 20 year old 'mother' has been arrested for the death of her 13 month old son.
The story broke yesterday, that a 13 month old had gone missing from his home, less than a mile from my house, and that it was a stranger that had abducted him while his mother and grandmother slept. About 4 hours later they found a baby's body near a cemetary less than a mile from the house. It was the abducted baby. There were stories of a man walking down the road around 12:30 in the afternoon holding a baby in a blue blanket.
In my racing mind it meant there was a child stealer on the loose in my neighborhood. That made my work day creep by.
Finally I got off work and sped over to my in-law's house to pick up Dink. I hugged him for a long, long time with tears welling in my eyes. All I wanted to do was hold him and never let him go. He eventually got tired of me squeezing him and starting batting at my head telling me to 'peas put me down mommy' I did, and went into the bathroom and wiped my eyes, and splashed some water on my face so Dink wouldn't see.
I then drove him home and had the conversation about strangers. "If anyone you didn't know touched you or tried to take you, you better scream, bite, kick, & hit; as loud and as hard as you can." I know he didn't fully comprehend the situation, but it made me feel slightly better.
As we got out of the car to walk into the house, it broke my heart to see Dink so excited by the circling news helicopters thrumming right above our house. Seeing the joy in his eyes, but knowing why they were there. It was a very bittersweet moment.
I was terrified to let Dink sleep in his room last night. I felt like I had OCD, I walked through the house checking, and re-checking the windows and doors, over and over again. I know the liklihood of someone coming into my house last night was slim to none, but I couldn't stop myself from worrying. There was still no one arrested, and they didn't have any suspects until this morning. So everyone thought the stranger/murderer was still out there. I went to bed, with his video monitor turned way up, so I was sure I could hear every little sound. It was a rough sleep, but I slept. Waking every so often, checking the monitor, seeing him sleeping so peacefully in his bed, falling back asleep...repeat.
I woke to the news that the baby's 'Mother' (and I use that term loosely) had been arrested for 1st degree murder. While it made me sick to think that there are people in the world who could do such a thing to such an innocent baby, in a way I was glad. Knowing there isn't a strange man creeping into people's houses to get their kids.
I want to take this time to let you know, if you are having a hard time with your child, please, PLEASE call a friend/relative to come take the kid for a little bit until you cool off. If you decide you no longer want your child, you can take them to a hospital or fire station and drop them off, no questions asked. There is also a place here in St. Louis called the crisis nursery that will watch them if you have no one else to do it. Also, if you should have an unfortunate incodent that results in a child's death, just please, call 911 and let them handle it. You never know if the child's life could be saved, or yours. (I know that last part is a little sketchy, but hopefully you all understand my meaning) And even if they aren't old enough, start teaching them about stranger dangers & what to do.
So please, when you next see them, hug your kids, and never let go.
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