According to police reports, Julie Powers Schenecker, a 50-year-old Tampa mom, shot and killed her two teenage children because they were “mouthy” and talked back. Most moms are familiar with the frustration brought on by disrespectful children. But clearly, killing kids before they get to that wonderful age where they realize you were right about everything, and they were wrong, is not only a crime, it’s insane.
Whether Schenecker snapped due to illness, isolation or stress — we don’t know. Many of us attempt to make sense of this senseless crime in order to feel better. We hope that reasoning will reassure us that we’re different, sane, less likely to lose it altogether.
Personally, I’m not worried about snapping. If I was able to make it through the days when my babies shit all over the rug the same week my steam cleaner broke, I can make it through anything.
But if you feel yourself ready to commit a felony because your son says something rude, don’t reach for a firearm. Try these ideas instead.
This article appears in Feb 3-9, 2011.