We are living in desperate times. Now, there seems to be an increase of babies and toddlers being found in dumpsters, left on porches of people's homes, at fire stations, in stores, at hospitals and in dangerous and safe places for them to be found.
It is always preferred that mothers, fathers or other family members choose to allow a responsible and trust-worthy family member to take guardianship of a child, allow close friends or god-parents, put them up for adoption, or take other reasonable and safe measures if they cannot and cease to be able to care for any child.
It is not my role or duty to judge any parent or family that chooses life for their child and the circumstances in their life. Times are hard and some parents are more than aware that eviction is near; the pink slip is being passed to them today; prices for food of any kind are too high and beyond affordable; living in a homeless shelter is not feasible for a baby or toddler; and, they realize that this child may be better off with someone else other than them. I respect that struggle and their choice.
I just want to increase the opportunity for parents, families or individuals to have a longer window to leave a baby in a safe-haven. It is only a few days in some areas and limited to infants that are only a few days old. Parents of babies and toddlers are facing the same crisis.
I would hope that it could be expanded to a month or up to a year. Most parents bond with their children; not all do; majority of parents strive to make the best choices for their children first and themselves last.
In Nebraska the way the law is written, it can be interpreted to mean any child up to 19 years of age.
Now, that is interesting. That makes it difficult for a parent to be anonymous if a child is old enough to identify the parent.
Some how, just how this struck me as funny. Not necesarily haha funny.
Love is like a box of chocolates; if you chose wisely you won’t be disappointed and have to spit it out. ~T
A nation of well informed men who have been taught to know and prize the rights which God has given them cannot be enslaved. It is in the region of ignorance that tyranny begins. ~Benjamin Franklin
I heard on the news the other day that a man whose wife recently passed away left his 5 children at a hospital, from ages 1 to 17. I didn't catch where it was though.
I think the safe haven law is so important, but I think what this guy did was abusive. Of course it is better than him getting so stressed out that he would start abusing his children.
It seems like something that churches should get involved in, since they are usually pro-life. I think that if churches claimed safe haven status, they would more likely be able to find a healthy family for these kids. Hospitals just turn them over to social services, and they get to run through the mill of emergency shelter, to respit care, to group homes, etc. This just makes an abandoned child feel even more lost and scared.
I also think that if parents are thinking of abandoning their kids because of financial stressors, they should really think things through. They could contact social services themselves and ask for help. There are always resources, families can go to shelters if they don't have a home. I know it's not ideal, but abandoning your child is the absolute worst thing a parent can do, short of physically harming them.
Children need and want their parents no matter what. Even abusive parents. A child who has interrupted attachment from its primary caregivers will suffer for the rest of their lives. For children, belonging to a family is a greater need than even food. Children can handle poverty much better than abandonment.