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I missed this thread (and the news story altogether) when it first came out, but from the perspective of a child protection social worker, I will just say that based on the facts we have, I most certainly hope her children are NOT taken away from her for any length of time. She definitely could use some support in learning appropriate parenting skills and how to access relevant services available to her, but it sounds as though she's trying to do the best she can for her children in the only way she knows how. Yes, it was dangerous and the children could have died, but who do you think you'll be punishing by taking the kids away? Not just the mother, that's for sure. Support and education are what's needed here, not removal of children.

I will be honest, it makes my stomach turn how easily people can say 'take the child away', even if it's only for a short while. I don't think those outside the field realise just how detrimental it is to a child to be taken from their parent - it is a course of absolute last resort, not a punishment to be doled out when a parent makes a mistake, albeit a big one that could have had dire consequences. I can tell you that there is nothing more gut wrenching than taking a child, who is too young to understand why, away from his parents. Can you imagine someone ripping your child from your arms because of a poor choice you made, either out of desperation or from lack of knowledge? Ugh, it makes my skin crawl.

I don't mean to direct those comments at anyone specifically, but having been on the professional end of situations like that, it makes my blood boil when I see people so easily suggest removing a child from their parent's care. It is a huge, huge step that has massive negative consequences for everyone involved, most significantly, the child.

@Ree723: agree with you. In my old school district, we had a lot of foster families and the kids they took in temporarily. And even with the "best" foster parents, these kids are seriously messed up when they are removed from their parents (for obvious reasons!). I would get so sad when I would read their essays talking about missing their mom or dad. =(

@NovBaby1112: Agree.

I don't think anyone (or not many anyways) thinks that she was trying to be a bad mom or that she should have her kids taken away permanently or taken away to punish her. I just worry about her having the kids before she understands very basic childhood safety. She almost killed her kids. I know she didn't mean to, and she was trying to do a good thing. But that doesn't make them less dead if that passerby hadn't heard the kid crying. That sort of serious lack of judgment is really scary and makes me wonder what else she simply doesn't know. Does she leave her LO alone in the bathtub while she makes dinner because she had a busy day, for example? She seems to have the will to be a good mom, but not the knowledge. As soon as she can not put her kids' life at risk by her ignorance of basic safety, then I agree she should get her kids back.