I would like to say something today (it may be a long one)

[Anordinarymum]

and not just because I am a mother, no, more than this, because I am human and I am sorry if this has been discussed recently - I feel the need.

On 12th February 1993 my oldest child went across the street to play with another boy at his house.
I was pregnant with my third child, born April 8th and I was at home with my middle child who was about 17 months old.

I heard on the news about a baby missing in a shopping mall in Liverpool and felt very sad.

When my husband came home from work that day, I went across to collect my son who was sitting on the counter top in his friend's house and they were eating ketchup sandwiches which made me feel sick - apparently the other boy's favourite food. He didn't want to come home, I mean... who would when there was such a good alternative?
I told the mum I was taking the dogs out and she said he could stay there until I got back.

Forgive me... I remember everything about this day acutely.

I took the car and drove to the woods where my dogs ran about and I remember this awful feeling in the pit of my stomach and cried a lot.

Later the enormity of that day was a horrible reality and my heart and soul went out to Denise Bulger/Fergus and really, it has done ever since.

I think about that innocent baby a lot. I lost my own child in 2017, the one I was pregnant with on that day. He was killed in a car crash aged 24.

My life sort of ended that night and it has taken something out of me that I will never get back - anyone who has lost a child will understand this.
I remember thinking that I understood a little better how she must feel since I lost him.

I watched the programmes on TV this week about James. I had always felt the two boys deserved a better life and did not feel the same anger as Denise Fergus felt, but having watched the two programmes I now get why she wanted them to pay something for their crime, and feel she should have been listened to and heard.

RIP James

I couldn't read and run without offering my real and sincere condolences on the loss of your son, regardless of when it was.

I cannot imagine (nor do i want to) the pain both you and Jamie's mum must have felt at the loss of a child, irrespective of age.

I'm probably wording it awfully but i hear what you are saying. Sometimes, the most non descript days, become etched on our minds for the most banal of reasons, especially where our children are concerned and yet they have the ability to carry such weight when we look back on them and not always for the happiest of reasons.

Apologies i put flowers and somehow those green bottles appeared. Could mnhq delete my post purely for those stupid green bottles!

Thanks for the reply. Appreciate your words. The post isn't about me really - it's more about proper sentencing to suit the crime. never mind guidelines they are supposed to follow, there are no guidelines for how to murder a baby are there?
Denise Fergus is a wise lady. I just did not realise how wise until I heard her speaking last night on the TV. She was right all along and nobody who should have - listened properly to her and heard what she had to say.