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Depending on extenuating circumstances. If she had post-partum depression and needed to get away before she "did something" worse, then I think it would be something a couple could work through. And definitely a lot more forgivable than the alternative. But if there wasn't an underlying cause, it would be a lot harder.

That's so incredibly sad. No, I don't think I could forgive DH for that and he wouldn't forgive or trust me either! We love our children so much. Even if we needed a break, we would find family or a babysitter...for a few hours only.

There's obviously something deeply wrong if she decided to abandon her children.

My initial reaction is no f-ing way!

I know that everyone needs a break now and then, but I have a very hard time believing that there isn't a better way to get it. Family, a babysitter, a friend, a neighbor, a therapist... If you are really that desperate, there has got to be someone who can help.

When you have kids, it is an 18 year commitment to put their needs and well being first. You don't get to just drop them off and leave the state. I'd be calling a divorce lawyer asap.

I don't think I would be able to forgive and overlook the situation he put our children in. It would take a lot of communication, therapy, and trust to move on from this. I understand being stressed out but there is also alternatives to abandonment!

@hilsy85: 100% agree!!

While it's hard for me to comprehend, I have no idea what was going on in her life at that moment, so it's hard for me to make a judgement. And like pps have said, dropping them at a daycare is much better than the alternatives of just leaving them at home alone or worse. If she was experiencing Post-Partum Depression or Psychosis, at least she had the wherewithal to recognize that her feelings weren't right and she needed to get her kids to safety. Too many people in that frame of mind wouldn't. Yes, she could have taken the kids with her to her family, but she may have realized that even traveling with them would have been unsafe.

If it were me and my husband did that, I'd need to understand where he was when it happened. If he did it because he honestly feared for the children's safety by staying with them, then yes, I'd forgive him. But I would also make sure he got extensive counseling and that we worked through the issues together. If he did it because he was tired of being a dad? Yeah, no...buck up, dude. See ya in divorce court.

I think it depends. If she didn't have a support system and was alone with the kids 24/7 I think I can understand and possibly forgive.. Would be hard to trust her again though.
It's hard to take care of kids without family nearby. It's good that she ditched the kids in a safe place instead of doing something drastic.

I've had some friends with deployed husbands and kids at home...the stress is enormous. 10x more than anyone else deals with in real life. It's just unbelievable and enough to make anyone crack. Perhaps especially someone who isn't that mentally strong to begin with. A lot of them get very depressed and struggle to just get by day after day. She must've just snapped. Unfortunately, she should've reached out to her FRG or a counselor on base instead of leaving her kids.

@HeatherlovesKenny: I agree. Like PP have also said: she was not in a stable mental state obviously...but to me it's like: all the more reason to leave her....scary:/

i want to say no, but probably would cuz i know my husband would have had a really good reason for doing that - even if that reason is that he's so stressed out and couldn't take it. and like @hilsy85 said at least she left them somewhere safe instead of drowning/hurting them like i've read in the news.