BellaOnline Forums Relationships Married No Kids Nebraska's Safe Haven Law

I wondered if any of you have been following the news stories on Nebraska's safe haven law? The latest story I read is that Nebraska is trying to amend/clarify the law to include only children who are up to approximately 30 days old.

I am fascinated that some folks try to pressure me into wanting children, and yet people have been traveling to Nebraska from all over the U.S. to unload their children.

I know EXACTLY what you mean LoveChildfree! These stories coming out of Nebraska are horrifying. I always say to my husband (and anyone else that starts to get snarky with me for choosing to be childfree) "I wish everyone that HAS a child put as much thought into having them as we have put into NOT having them".

I feel so sorry for those poor kids who have been abandoned.

I heard that they are droping off teenagers and there isnt anything they can do about it!! I cant imagine having a child and then 14 yrs later driving 500 miles just to dumb them off!!! And people think I have no maternal instincts? Better to not have kids and love them all then to have them and not have any love for the child you birth!!!

I believe the law has now been amended so that only babies may be dropped off, but before the amendment almost all of of children surrendered were 5 years old and older. And yes, many were teens.

I feel awful for the children, but I also feel terrible for these parents who were at their wit's end with these kids. A large percentage of the children had a history of mental health problems; some had behavioral issues. The parents didn't know how to handle them anymore, and they felt they had nowhere else to turn for support.

Most of the people I know really romanticize having children, and they never acknowledge how difficult, even tragic, it can be for some people. To me, Nebraska's story is a loud and clear message that parenthood isn't for everyone.

I agree! Motherhood isnt one size fits all! I also think there should be help for the parents who need help with children with mental emotional and physical problems. I think there is a line somewhere that we have crossed in the usa. It is one thing to help parents who NEED help and another thing to every woman turn into a-baby-for-money-machine! There is a point where the parents have to take responiblity for having children and there is a point where the parents have done everything humanily possible and NEED extra help.