Village Of Care And Support Lost To This Young Mother Letter Of The Week: From July 25

How very sad are the evidences in the Susan Smith trial. If it truly does take a village to raise a child, where was her village?

Where was daddy when the childish demands of his sons were tolling upon the frayed nerves of the mentally distraught young mother?

Were the children’s grandmas available with loving words, willing laps when the bogies of despair and loneliness were sucking mud from their mom’s empty emotion tank?

Were there any aunts or cousins to say, “Honey, rejection sure hurts, but throughout the long corridor of time, pain lessens and we grow! Want to come over and talk about it?”

Where were the hugs of friends when the despondent young mother, desperate with misery and the anguish of rejection, felt only the selfish demands of a young man could meet the needs of her lonely heart and acceptance of love?

Or the neighbor to say, “Hi, Suz. Need some time to work it out? Bring the boys over to play with my kids. Bring their jammies and blankies, and you take some time to walk in the park, or read a good book, or listen to soft music in a soothing bubble bath! It will all look better tomorrow!”

Where was the village? C.M. Baldwin Veradale

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