AIBU to be horrified by this story of child abandonment?

[Bullseyebutnotthenineties]

Has anyone seen this story? Sorry, struggling to link it.
A french mother and stepfather in Portugal abandoned their/her 3 year old and 5 year old in the woods.
Apparently they blindfolded them and told them they were playing a treasure hunt game and to wait, then take the blindfold off when they’d hidden the toy/prize.
They then left them there 😢
The boys were found on the side of the road by a lovely Portuguese man, who cried during his interview when talking about the boys. They were crying for their real dad apparently
The real dad, resident in France, had informed the authorities that the boys had been kidnapped by the mother (who has custody of them) and taken out of the country. She also left her other 16 year old son at home in France.
The couple were apparently found two hours away sitting on a terrace having a coffee and pastry.
The boys had little backpacks on with a bottle of water, change of clothes, sandwich and piece of fruit in.

There are no words, those poor poor boys
What on earth could make a mother do this?

@Phoenix1Arisen a gun to her head yet goes 100 miles away for coffee and patisseries??

You can self refer and children can go into temporary foster care. However for many, it isn't that simple because SS will look to wider family, the ex etc and while people can pass tick box assessments, they can also be abusive in subtle ways. A lot of poor MH is linked to situations that many faced on the 'Stately homes' section and those struggling, often don't have family they can trust. Then there's the stigma. What surprised me, when I first worked in children's services, that those under CP had parents who had decent jobs and looked good on paper.

Oh that’s horrible, poor little things xx I can’t imagine how any sane person would do this .

their dad had supervisory contact

at least they are with a foster family now

Far far worse stories than this , a father killed the mother of his child recently then threw his 2 year old over a high bridge who survived the fall but died of starvation and exposure with broken bones , yet doesn't make the news

They’re both horrific stories, but why compare?!

Some mothers prioritise men over their children sadly. I would take a guess that the new partner didn’t want the children. Horrific though, glad someone decent found them.

Yes you can, I’ve seen it happen in my professional life.

What could make a mother do this ? Putting her boyfriend before her children. A boyfriend who doesn’t want the children.

sadly I know a few people who were left with dad because mum didn’t want them once they were with a new man. It’s certainly impacted them but not necessarily all negatively.

I think stories where mothers are involved in an evil deed are reported more because people can’t understand how a mother can do that. Whereas it’s more accepted of a father sadly.

even on this thread people are desperate to excuse her because the thought a mother can do that is so awful

Agreed.

If I had to guess the fact they made out means the devil is still in them. Similar to witch trials where if you die you are innocent anything else means you're a witch 🙄

She had a million options other than this.
My 4 yo would know this is wrong.

The older i get the less liberal i am.
I hope they go after her hard.

I read about this yesterday and was sad and horrified in equal measures. I don't understand people, I really don't. If you didn't want your children couldn't you volunteer them up to social services or hand over the care to their biological father? I don't think a lifetime of the best therapy will ever undo the damage done to these poor little boys. I imagine they have been through alot prior to being dumped like trash. The mother and her husband sound insane. Just heartbreaking.

Why?

Oh, I'll read up on that one. Where's the thread?

Why would you BU to be horrified … would have thought most people would be!

No sane person would behave in the manner she has. Actually, she might well be sane but then she must be evil. So one or the other.

Ahhh, well that makes this OK then! 👍

Nobody would do this. It’s completely bizarre. Especially as she packed their lunch first! She must be mentally ill.

That happened in America.

Why would it make the news here?

It seems that the stepfather has a history of violence and domestic abuse. One of the children also has bruises and the stepfather is suspected of mistreating him.
Being abandoned, while heartbreaking, might have been instead of something worse. Hopefully, they'll be cared by someone who is capable of loving them.

She packed their lunch so she could pretend that they were all out on a hike and the children wandered off and went missing.

The children being found ruined her plan.

Sure, she may have mental health issues, but lots of people have mental health issues. Mental health issues does not mean someone is insane.

It’s so cruel, I don’t understand it. Really just can’t fathom it.

Same, DH once said people should have to get a certificate before they can have kids. I used to think this was cruel, now fuck it, bring on the tests for sociopathy.

didnt he throw him in the river?

How would that work? It would probably take them 2 or 3 days to die from dehydration. When was she planning to report them missing?!