A friend in need...

[>Charlotte<]

I'd like to point out that calling Mom the "bad guy" because of the terrible things she does (or doesn't do) isn't a very realistic opinion, nor does it seem fair.

If I, for instance, were acting like this mother is, calling me the "bad guy" would be perfectly reasonable because almost all of the voices in my head have assured me that I am in excellent mental health. Did not. Did too. Did not. Did too. Shut up. No, you shut up. Where was I? Oh yeah.

The mother in question, however, has been diagnosed with a mental illness. If that is a valid diagnosis, one can hardly expect her to respond to "tough love" (Christian or otherwise) in a normal manner. Responding to her bizarre behavior with resentment or hostility or accusing her of being a bad person makes about as much sense to me as blaming a person with a bad cold for sneezing. Yes, I understand taking her medication would help and I understand she is refusing to do so, but it is also my (non-medically qualified) understanding that that in itself is a symptom of mental illness.

If anyone wants to help these people by insinuating himself into their lives, casting a mentally ill woman as the villainess doesn't seem like a very charitable way of going about it.

 

[Peanuts200788]

I'd like to point out that calling Mom the "bad guy" because of the terrible things she does (or doesn't do) isn't a very realistic opinion, nor does it seem fair.

If I, for instance, were acting like this mother is, calling me the "bad guy" would be perfectly reasonable because almost all of the voices in my head have assured me that I am in excellent mental health. Did not. Did too. Did not. Did too. Shut up. No, you shut up. Where was I? Oh yeah.

The mother in question, however, has been diagnosed with a mental illness. If that is a valid diagnosis, one can hardly expect her to respond to "tough love" (Christian or otherwise) in a normal manner. Responding to her bizarre behavior with resentment or hostility or accusing her of being a bad person makes about as much sense to me as blaming a person with a bad cold for sneezing. Yes, I understand taking her medication would help and I understand she is refusing to do so, but it is also my (non-medically qualified) understanding that that in itself is a symptom of mental illness.

If anyone wants to help these people by insinuating himself into their lives, casting a mentally ill woman as the villainess doesn't seem like a very charitable way of going about it.

I agree with you; I believe in God as well but if those children are in danger or aren't being taken care of, don't you think Dad should have done something in THEIR best intrests. If he knew what was going on in the situation, which clearly he did because he lived there, shouldn't he have taken them somewhere or removed them from the home until mom got the help and was properly rehabilitated??....Just my thoughts.