When I hear that a baby has been killed it makes me sick. When I hear a caregiver is responsible for a baby being killed, it makes me furious. How dare someone we trust to care for our children put them in danger? My heart breaks for the families that endure such a tragedy. I am sure they had no idea the person they entrusted was capable of such a thing. How can we be sure these people are who we think they are? Of course, you can do background checks and call references but is that enough. What’s out there to ensure this doesn’t happen to other innocent kids? Are there signs we are missing that might help us prevent this happening to our own kids? There are many questions but are there any answers?
One of the most publicized cases is that of Louise Woodward. She was a nineteen-year-old au pair charged with involuntary manslaughter after the death of Matthew Eappen, an 8-month-old baby she was entrusted to care for. While she claims she was, innocent she did admit to dropping the baby that day and being “a little rough with him.” She was originally charged with second-degree murder but had that reduced to involuntary manslaughter after an appeal. Woodward went free after serving 279 days, returning back to England and living out her life as a free woman.
While there was much debate on whether she caused Matthew’s death with her actions day, (older injuries were found after the autopsy) I feel 279 days is not nearly enough time to someone convicted of killing an innocent child. I have no idea what really took place that day but based on what I have read I think she is guilty.
Caring for children is challenging and even more so when they are not your own kids. I find it interesting that the judge on the appeal had this to say “the circumstances in which the defendant acted were characterized by confusion, inexperience, frustration, immaturity and some anger, but not malice in the legal sense supporting a conviction for second-degree murder.” What I take that to mean is she should not have been taking care of these children. I found it disturbing that the parents had threatened her with being fired just days before due to her poor behavior as their nanny. Days away from letting go of the person responsible for taking their son away from them.
What a tragic story and one that I don’t feel was the parents fault, just because someone has a poor attitude doesn’t mean you think they are capable of murder. As parents we need to take every precaution we can to protect our kids. While we would like to be there every minute to be sure, they are safe and happy in most cases there is a need for some kind of caregiver. This is where you need to take the extra steps to be sure it is someone who will care for them the way you would.
Take advantage of service like citinannies.net when you are in search of a new nanny, they offer personality tests that can help you be sure your are hiring someone you trust. Parents can have a hard time dealing with difficult children, babies who cry for hours on end or pre-teens pushing your buttons. Parents love their kids and so it is much easier to look past these things. A babysitter or nanny who is just getting to know your child may have a tougher time dealing. They can react in less then desirable ways and in extreme cases like the one mentioned above, even deadly. I keep replaying the words in my head “confusion, inexperience, frustration, immaturity and some anger,” used to describe Woodward. Then what was she doing taking care of someone’s children?
As parents is possible to overlook less then desirable traits in desperation for a babysitter. I am not saying the parents of Matthew Eappen did this but I have so many questions in my mind when I start to think about the what if’s, whys and how’s. One thing that is certain, when the time comes that I look to find someone to care for my son I will remember a case like this and take every precaution.
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