If Only They Knew

Colin,

There is a study out that has compiled statistics for the rate of child abuse in comparison to the rate of SIDS. To your Daddy, these studies are pretty much pointless since the two have absolutely nothing to do with each other. SIDS is the unexplainable death of an apparently healthy infant. Child abuse is a purposeful act by an adult trying to exert some warped sense of authority and control over a child. One should be treated with compassion and understanding for the families involved in such an horrific loss. The other should have the offending adult(s) strung up and beaten as badly as they beat the child(ren). The lead author of the study uses the word "challenging" when describing raising a child, especially an infant.

“These kids are physically vulnerable because they’re small,” says Dr. John M. Leventhal, lead author of the study and a professor of pediatrics at Yale Medical School. “They are challenging for some parents to take care of because they cry, it’s hard to understand what they want and parents can get frustrated, exhausted and angry.”

Wow, this person must be a genius to have figured that out. Of course it is challenging, but the challenge makes the reward that much sweeter. To use the excuses of frustration, exhaustion, and anger is just pathetic. Every parent from the dawn of time has been all of these things at some point in time, but that does not give any one of us the right to abuse children...especially infants. If only these offenders knew better, they would understand the heartbreaking loss of a SIDS parent who would sell his or her soul in order to have their child back. Instead these people beat their children, sometimes killing them. To sat that “We need a nationwide effort to enhance prevention” is akin to saying we need a nationwide effort to use common sense and have some inherent moral fiber that prevents abusing children...and that is a sad statement indeed. If only they knew the true pain of having the most precious thing in their life die for no reason, with no discernible cause, leaving parents with no peace...then maybe the abuse would stop.

No study is needed to describe the pain of losing you, Colin. All Daddy has to do is look in the mirror and convince himself that there must be a reason.

I love you!
Daddy