I also find myself conflicted on this case. I do think it's very likely that LC was in the throes of a mental health crisis or psychosis and if she comes out of this, will be devastated to learn of her actions. It's also a bit surreal to see the instant understanding, compassion for a mom who looks a certain way. I can't quite articulate it, and I'm talking more generally than specifically about this situation, but it's interesting how people look at HER Facebook photos and instantly declare, "She loved those babies so much." I'm sure she did, but can we really trust Facebook highlights as an insight into anything??
Chris Watts looked like a doting dad, the California doc who tried to run his family off his cliff with a Tesla, if there's anything these cases have taught me is that "#thankful and #blessed social media posts rarely paint a full picture. It also bothers me a bit to read optimistic comments that LC's kids "knew" this wasn't their real mommy, that they weren't scared or frightened. But we know what it was Chris Watts, the dad, that at least one older child purportedly said, "Daddy no." Fear and confusion from the parent she knew and love. I don't think I can be caught up in hopeful, clouded bliss that the C kids, the victims, felt nothing but love and rainbows for their beloved mother in the moments of their demise, and not that they may have petrified, confused, sad, to be harmed at the hands of a parent they trusted, just because we may have sympathy and compassion for someone suffering from perhaps some sort of psychosis. I don't think the victim in the final, brutal moments of their lives at the hands of someone they rely on and trust for safety, security, comfort, and protect from harm, has any ability to distinguish if its the result of a selfish family annihilator or a parent out of their mind. It might make us feel better to imagine they knew they difference and didn't suffer, but I think it's an awful lot of assumptions about the victims' last moments with their beloved parent, that may make some people feel better to believe, but I'm not sure that's the case.