NY - Christian Nunez, 8 wks, suffocates in rat-infested Bronx apt, 29 Jan 2007

[Boyzmomee]

I was speaking for myself and I made that very clear. If you want to have your children in a rat fest, feel free.

Not a wise choice.

 

[Boyzmomee]

Again- that's just you, it's not up to you to say who should or shouldn't have kids.

That poor child is dead.

 

[narlacat]

You continue to "presume."

I don't "look down" on people who do those types of work. I look down on those too lazy to work.

My son applied for a job as a stocker at Wal-Greens and to work at the lskating rink. We encouraged him to apply at the local dairy farms.

He is only 16. We have made him aware of the consequences of his choices. If he chooses Wal-Mart or delivering take out, instead of becoming a computer engineer, he knows what that means.

He will not be able to live as his parents do, he will not have medical insurance, and he will not be able to provide for a family.

It's all about choices and consequences, not worth.

Could have fooled me.

<<Yes, every parent desires their child to grow up and fill a menial job.

Ugh.>>

Where in the article does it state the mother was too lazy to work?

 

[Boyzmomee]

Sure I go there, but I'm going to make darn sure my kids aren't the ones working behind the counter. We're supposed to make sure our kids do BETTER than we did. If I can put myself through law school, I expect an awful lot from my kids. Part of that means I'm willing to pay for them to get into the best schools that they can get into. Also a part of that is that I left my job in order to stay home and ensure that they're getting all they can from school, the community, voluntering around the community and playing all the sports they want. But I'll tell you one thing, if I was living in a rat infested crap fest of an apartment, there's no damn way I'm bringing a helpless baby into that mix. I care about them that much.

Most excellent. I too, would not bring my child into a rodent infested home. As a parent, I believe that I owe them more than that. I love them more than that.

I want to launch a new life in a healthy and nurturing environment.

But hey, that's just me.

 

[narlacat]

That poor child is dead.

And so are lots of other kids that don't come from 'rat infested' apartments.

Think JonBenet.

 

[Boyzmomee]

Could have fooled me.

<<Yes, every parent desires their child to grow up and fill a menial job.

Ugh.>>

Where in the article does it state the mother was too lazy to work?

Wow, you are all over the place.

We weren't discussing this mother. The discussion evolved. You stated I was a snob because I looked down on people who did menial jobs.

I explained to you that I did not look down on those who are employed, rather I look down on those who are too lazy to work.

Mothers always work when caring for their children.

Try to focus a bit.

 

[Boyzmomee]

And so are lots of other kids that don't come from 'rat infested' apartments.

Think JonBenet.

I don't believe Jon-Benet was suffocated by her mother who was trying to protect her from rats.

 

[Boyzmomee]

Could have fooled me.

I don't think it would be that difficult.

 

[narlacat]

I don't believe Jon-Benet was suffocated by her mother who was trying to protect her from rats.

My point was, accidents can happen anywhere, it's not something that is exclusive to people who are poor.

 

[MissieMt]

I can't believe how nasty this thread has become. Makes me kinda sad.

So maybe she did live in a rat infested apartment. From what I've seen that is not too uncommon in big cities. Maybe she was alot better off when she got pregnant. Maybe she wasn't but hoped to be doing better in the near future. I doubt she intentionally went looking for a rat-infested apartment as soon as she had the baby. Ugh-what I'm saying is-maybe she was TRYING to be a good Mom. Thats better than what some people do.....

 

[MissieMt]

Oh, and by the way-some people like 'menial' jobs. I have a real estate sales license and my husband is an senior instructor for BAE Systems. I work at Winn-Dixie, as a cashier. Why? Because I like people, and I like working. And I have kids,but with a 'menial' job like cashiering the world isn't going to end if they are sick and I need a few days off.

 

[narlacat]

I can't believe how nasty this thread has become. Makes me kinda sad.

So maybe she did live in a rat infested apartment. From what I've seen that is not too uncommon in big cities. Maybe she was alot better off when she got pregnant. Maybe she wasn't but hoped to be doing better in the near future. I doubt she intentionally went looking for a rat-infested apartment as soon as she had the baby. Ugh-what I'm saying is-maybe she was TRYING to be a good Mom. Thats better than what some people do.....

Exactly.

We don't know that she wasn't.

 

[julianne]

I just want to say that "success" is measured differently to everyone. I've known people who've come from "wonderful" families, went to the best colleges & received their degree, got fantastic, high-level jobs & ended up miserable, dissatisfied, unstable, despressed and lonely people who basically hated their lives. I've also known people who have come from hard-knocks and had struggles, graduated from high school only, worked in a grocery store or other "menial" job and are happy, fulfilled, satisfied and have created loving, happy families who wouldn't change their circumstances for nothing. While a college degree can make you more money, and thus "happier" for some, it's certainly no guarantee.

I know college graduates who work those so-called "menial" jobs, to which our infrastructure depends on. I also know high school graduates who have secured themselves some posh, high-ranking corporate positions.
We all measure success and the things we value differently. It is what it is. I don't hope for a fantastic title for my kids when they grow up---what I hope for them is that create healthy, happy & satisfied lives and loving families for themselves. That's all.

As long as my kids live a blissfully happy life, I don't care if a high school diploma or college degree is hanging on the wall.

 

[White Rain]

I saw a movie on Lifetime kinda like this. A mom gave up her daughter for adoption after she lived in a place like this and the daughter was bitten by a rat. It had Valerie Bertinelli in it I think. Not sure if it was based on a true story or not but the movie was good, very sad though.

I feel very sorry for this mother, and for the child. I never put my infants in the bed with me, but even if I had I am an extremely light sleeper, so I feel that I would have known if I rolled over on my child. I'm not blaming the mom here, just making a statement.

 

[reb]

obviously if there was a bad rat problem, this woman should have found a way to get her & her child the hell out of there. but like i said in big cities, rats are very common. we don't know what this woman's story was or how hard she was trying to get out of this situation (if she was). obviously she was making an effort to protect her child. we have to remember that kids often get suffocated while sleeping with a parent, no matter what the scenario.. it can happen just as easily in an upper-class home without rats.

geez, if people who lived around around rats, roaches, vermin, or in less-than ideal circumstances.. never had kids, then that would probably be about 80% of humanity! however i DO understand that women should be responsible and not bring a kid into a bad situation, if they can avoid it... but again.. that means the overwhelming majority of humanity should not be breeding, since there are billions living in poverty, war zones, and in situations most americans would think are unsafe or unsanitary.
maybe only nice, comfortable, upper-class people with a university degree & 2 SUV's, living in the nice, sterile, safe, clean, culturally-devoid suburbs; both making at least $75K a year should be allowed to have children. and everyone else should be sterilized..............??

 

[Penelope631]

Grocery clerks = menial jobs

In California they top out at around $20.00 an hour..I don't call that menial..but maybe that is just CA.. I was a janitor for years at a university and made decent $$$ in Ohio.. So I guess what is concidered menial to some isnt menial to others.

 

[pedinurse]

man.
some of you people say some rude stuff.
i think i speak for 99.9 percent of mothers when I say that we want the best for our children and for them to be happy and successful in whatever career path they take.
i think it is harsh and demeaning for you guys to imply that a cashier, waitress, etc job is menial (that was said explicitly) or unacceptable (implied to me). you know, most pregnancies in the US are not planned. Even if it was, this mother had every right to bring this little life into the world. Just as you had choices when you had children. Sure, maybe her circumstances were not the best or even what you or I might consider "acceptable"... but that doesn;t mean that she didn't care for this baby, want the best for this baby, or do everything within her power to provide for that baby.
Accidents happen. And you know, in recent years I see more affluent families co-sleeping for whatever reasons than I do lower class families. And, for some pretty (IMO) stupid reasons. So, if one of them rolled over on his or her baby, would be fuss at them as much for just feel bad for them?
I say that in this situation we should look to comforting the mom and sending her our condolences rather than critizing her choice to have a child or her living conditions. Most likely, this mother did not CHOOSE to be living with her precious baby in a rat infested slum. It was probably just a characteristic of her circumstances and most likely a result of limited resources.

 

[pedinurse]

obviously if there was a bad rat problem, this woman should have found a way to get her & her child the hell out of there. but like i said in big cities, rats are very common. we don't know what this woman's story was or how hard she was trying to get out of this situation (if she was). obviously she was making an effort to protect her child. we have to remember that kids often get suffocated while sleeping with a parent, no matter what the scenario.. it can happen just as easily in an upper-class home without rats.

geez, if people who lived around around rats, roaches, vermin, or in less-than ideal circumstances.. never had kids, then that would probably be about 80% of humanity! however i DO understand that women should be responsible and not bring a kid into a bad situation, if they can avoid it... but again.. that means the overwhelming majority of humanity should not be breeding, since there are billions living in poverty, war zones, and in situations most americans would think are unsafe or unsanitary.
maybe only nice, comfortable, upper-class people with a university degree & 2 SUV's, living in the nice, sterile, safe, clean, culturally-devoid suburbs; both making at least $75K a year should be allowed to have children. and everyone else should be sterilized..............??

REB - I agree. AT LEAST SHE WAS ATTEMPTING TO PROTECT THE CHILD (as best as she knew how). There was a case here a few years ago where a mother (negligent / abusive) left her infant twins in the rat infected attic/basement (somehwere in a house alone) while she went on a meth binge. It was reported that they were bitten numerous times.
Besides. I know plently of "good" families that are educated and have more than "menial" jobs that abuse and negelct thier kids.
Sounds to me that she at least cared enough to take the baby into her bed to try to protect him. Some mothers would have just left the baby in the crib or baby bed because they couldn't be bothered.

 

[reb]

and i have met plenty of wealthy families who live in a 10,000 sq ft mansion with 2 porsches in the garage and full-time maids, housekeepers and nannies.. who should have been sterilized before they had a chance to procreate.

no rats or menial jobs... but still lousy, emotionally warped, neglectful parents.

 

[pedinurse]

I don't believe Jon-Benet was suffocated by her mother who was trying to protect her from rats.

OMG mt. dew just came out my nose after reading that.