I know it's only the news but

[paperdoll]

This is maybe a bit trivial or indulgent compared to some of the posts I see in this category but I find I am spending more and more time sneaking off to the loo to cry about it so I just need to post and get it out.

I can't stop myself from dwelling on some of the horrible sh*t, particularly relating to the abuse and murder of children, that I read in the papers and hear on the news. No point trying to avoid it, it is everywhere. Just now (one tiny example of many that have been building up lately) I read a brief article about Neil Entwistle, who is accused of murdering his wife and baby daughter (9 months). The baby died from a gunshot wound to the stomach.

Just typing this is making me cry again, FFS. What kind of world is this? DS is 9 months and although I think of myself as fairly rational, sometimes it scares me so much that he's so innocent and trusting and sweet, and people can be so monstrous in so many ways. I don't want to become overprotective or get things out of proportion, but having DS has just really made me a lot more susceptible to news items along these lines, and a lot more prone to fits of incomprehension and despair. I don't know how to keep him safe and myself sane. Sometimes it seems like an impossible job.

I mean, shooting a baby in the stomach - that's beyond awful. How can something like that even be possible? aargh -- tears, snot, blah. I am blowing my nose on a dishtowel I feel ridiculous but also as if it is legitimate to be upset about this, does anyone else get in moods like this ever? Or is it just me?

Not as if there aren't real problems in our lives to worry about, without all this too.

I can't look at those stands where they want you to sign petitions against animal cruelty because the pictures make me cry, and that picture of the vulture and child made me physically sick, I was in pieces

I avoid the news.

VS- was that the pic from Africa by the photographer Kevin Carter?

If so- it was a 'set up'- I read something about it somewhere- will have to see if I can find it.

I don't know, colditz linked it on a thread previously, it wasn't the vulture thing that got me, just how poorly the kid looked.

it must be the same one. the child was from a camp in the sudan- KC said that he watched the vulture prey around the child waiting for it to die for approx 20 mins- and that he tried to shoo it away. He said that he left not long after that and did not know the plight of the child.
Cue hysteria of how he could take a picture but not pick up the child and take it to safety.

Real story is that he visited a camp in sudan with some UN staff- most of the women on the camp ran to meet the staff etc and one child managed to crawl away from its mother for a few minutes. during that couple of minutes the vulture landed and looked at the child- KC quickly took a pic and the vulture flew away.

KC went on to win a pulitzer prize for the pic- but the UN said that the child had never been in danger from the bird and the story was exageratted.

KC commited suicide a few years later.

Wow, I'd never heard of the vulture story. Grim.

But good news if that wee baby is slightly on the mend.

Oh god me too, I thought I was alone so nice to know there are other poor folk like me out there too. I know the reality of how rare these things are blah blah but it really upsets me sometimes and I lie in bed dwelling on it. Weirdo.

I felt like this when I was pregnant. There was one story in particular in the news 6 years ago, which I won't repeat because I don't want to upset you, but I used to lie awake thinking, WHY? HOW?? I found the uncertainty of other people's goodness very worrying, and I was completely overwhelmed by the amount of EVIL out there.

NOw that I'm not pregnant though, and even though I have small children to worry about, I am just thankful that everybody in our lives is good, and we have not come across any of these hideously sick people.

Fairymum, The Guardian covered Jamie Bolger's death in the most excrutiatingly and upsetting but painstaking detail. The tabloids didn't even come close.
(Details printed during the court case)

Lyra - the baby in the story I read wasn't even five months old

Yep, same one Slayerette

I cant read them anymore, I just end up doing my own head in.

Cruel, cruel world where children are victims like this.

I have read so many news articles that have made me physically sick.

Greenelizabeth, it might be the same one too. I heard the story on the radio when pg with DS1, who's nearly six.

i recently received a story with all the gory details about Jamie Bulgers horrific death from a "friend" on facebook.
made me cry.

i also used to find that dh (now ex!) didnt really get it - i used to go on about every story that wound me up, and he used to just shrug and say "well dont think about it then".

Men sometimes seem unable to empathise with others' situations, no?

DP doesn't get it either. He chooses not to believe any of it happens.
As I said earlier I try hard not to think about it and I avoid horrible stories. It's the only way.

It does seem to affect women more than men, although admittedly we have a pretty small sample here on this thread. I guess either they are less able to empathise, or they are just better able to make a firm decision not to let the bad stuff into their heads.

I try to remain detatched but it's impossible when I look at DS and how little and soft he is. Then it all seems horribly relevant to real life.

I Googled "good news" earlier. There appear to be a few sites out there that specialize in positive news stories, but a quick look gave me the impression that they are scraping the barrel somewhat. Lots of slightly sickly "heartwarming" stuff; not enough about evil being vanquished, little babies escaping unscathed from villains, etc. I guess it just doesn't happen enough.

Anyone else recall the story last year about a couple trying to snatch a new baby from its buggy, but failing because the mum was having none of it and fought them off single-handed? I found that strangely encouraging, although I recognize that (a) it must have been seriously traumatic for the poor mum, and (b) it is awful that they tried to do it in the first place. Despite that, it made me feel good that she saw them off with a solid right hook, and the bambino was safe and sound.

I think you must find super-human strength when someone threatens the safety of your child.

Absolutely. Hope I never find out though.

I think abot little James Bulger everyday now since hearing the full horrific story recently (was only 5 when he was given his wings) I had serious trouble with it and would cry constantly about it then realised that theres nothing I can do now but look after my own 2yo DS and light a candle for James on 12th Feb.

thanks goodness there are more good people than bad eh? but they don't reach the news.

I am the same, but not just with news stories but also fictional stuff too.

I cried last week at the May/Dawn/Summer storyline on Eastenders

Hi all,
I know this thread is a few days old but Im just going through the same thing. I cried last night because of the little three year old girl who died of neglect. Her parents owned a pub and have been given 12 years. I couldnt sleep last night and I was wide awake at 3am this morning. I kept thinking 3 years of that kind of treatment. Where was the family, friends? The biological dad? The health visitor. I mean I disnt think much to mine personally. She was the only one not to notice that something was wrong but to be fair I told her I was ok, and she did visitIt makes me feel sane to know that there are others out there that feel the same.