GainesvilleMoms.com

Do you think that these kids should have been separated from their mothers? I understand there is an investigation, but it seems like this would create even more stress for these kids. I think this could have been handled differently. The reason they are giving for taking the kids is that they would be more truthful about the case. It was not because they were in imminent danger. If that were the case, I would understand the removal. And where are the kids? Are they in foster homes? Can you imagine what they must be going through?


http://www.miamiherald.com/519/story/497340.html

These poor kids are victims in this whole mess. And I can't even think how traumatic it is for them.
I definitely think that the police need to get to the bottom of what is going on, but I guess it is difficult to figure out which is the best way to do that. And who really knows what that is?

Its really a tough situation. On the one hand, these kids are obviously in an environment that is potentially unsafe. So they need to be removed from it, no question.

But on the other hand, the State is about as good at raising kids as it is at fiscal responsibility. That is to say, these kids aren't necessarily going to be better off in an orphanage or foster home.

I don't see why they couldn't have put all the women and children into a barracks or group area. That way the suits could investigate, the men responsible can be tried, everything can be sorted out, but the kids don't have to go through the trauma of forcible separation.

OH, and for the record -- after hearing some of these moms speak on TV, I am convinced there is something hinky with them. It was seriously Stepford Wives all over again. Chilling, quite frankly.

I thought the same thing - that the kids and the moms should have been removed together. Not that you can make the moms leave. But they could have been given the option of leaving with their children. And I watched an interview this morning with three of the women. They definitely seem off. Not that I am judging them for their beliefs or anything like that, but it is beyond that. They seem withdrawn and mechanical also, so I see what you mean about the Stepford Wives thing ...

I was going to start a thread on this very topic after watching Meredith interview the 3 moms this morning. I however - am in agreement with the state/police. I would allow the 6 moms who walked away from the compound to be abel to at least be with their children through the day under light supervision but these moms who went back to the ranch - I believe their children should be kept from them until an investigation is complete. The two mom's that talked were VERY wierd!!! They were unemotional and knew the right words to say but that was it. Did you notice - they all dressed alike - their hair was alike - they were clones of each other. You could tell by the way they answered the questions - very methodically - they have been brainwashed for their entire life. These mom's are just like the abused girlfriend we're talking about on the other link. How many women go back when they are getting physically abused. These women are what I would call is mentally and emotionally abused but it's a different form of abuse. I agree the kids should be away from them - but - I also agree with Nathaniel that the state isn't good at raising kids either!

This is such a sticky situation. I think I agree with separating the kids from their mothers, at least for now. It appears that many of these woman grew up being brainwashed into believing the principals of this society. So what do you think their natural instinct will be when talking to their kids about the pending case? I just read an article the other day about the woman returning to the compound. They called the media shortly after and several of the woman began to talk. Except that each of their stories sounded similar, too similar. As if they had all been rehearsing what to say.

I don't believe that, for the most part, these kids would be in immediate physical harm if they stayed with their mothers. Although who's to say that they wouldn't beat their kids for talking to the wrong person or saying the wrong thing. We don't really know enough about this society or it's beliefs to know if the kids are truly in harm.

This whole thing makes me so ticked! I'm sure the children must be terrified...especially after being told that everyone in the outside world is evil (as I have read they have been raised to believe). But these mothers don't protect their kids...I mean...they let them be "married" as soon as they are old enough to reproduce...12-13 years old! It's just sick. It makes me so mad that they are trying to claim religious persecution too...I don't know why they have been allowed (and in Arizona and Utah still allowed) to operate the way they do...last I checked having relations with a child is illegal...they are saying that many of the teenage girls they took from the compound are pregnant...it's just so sad. The authorities are having a hard time trying to even figure out what child belongs to what mother because they are changing their names and stories...I think that is why they separated them..to try to get some straight answers....I hope they don't let the children go back there....

It makes me sad, because regardless of what happens to those kids, the deck is stacked against them. All of them.

They were raised in an unusual environment. And perhaps they weren't at all abused... except for being married at 12 or 13, which sounds like abuse to me. But either they are returned to this toxic environment and the people who nurtured it, OR they get turned over to the state, which is AT BEST a roll of the dice.

I hope it works out for these kids and teenagers, but they are going to need a LOT of luck.

Friends don't let friends join cults! I think we can all agree on that.

one commentator said this morning that this case is being handled no differently than any other suspected child abuse case. the child, i this case, children, are removed from the home. the reason this one is in the news is simply because of the number of children that have been removed.

i don't understand why the children were not just removed from both parents in the first place, why were the mother transported and assured they were going to be given more information and only later told they could not be with their children?

there is no easy way to deal with a child abuse investigation.

From what I understand, these children are raised being told that all of the outside world is going to hell. Can you imagine how traumatized they must be? They already think the outside world is evil, and going to hell and now we are the ones who have torn them from their mothers.

It is really sad because they only know what they have been raised to know, and so none of this makes any sense, no matter how you explain it to them.

i was raised to believe that if you committed any sin, you would go to hell. there was no confidence in my salvation at all. i went to sleep every night praying for forgivness for any sin that i may have committed during the day. we all have been taught something during our childhood that we have figured out differently as we matured.

i turned out ok, i think...

maybe if these children are exposed to loving care givers, it will show them that everyone is not evil.

Like someone said, it is a sticky situation. I feel so badly for everyone, especially the children. They must be scared! And I couldn't imagine my children being taken away from me. But, hopefully the gov't will quickly resolve the messy situation. Of course I believe in freedom of religion, but if it involves abuse then something has to be done. I just pray for them!