"Monster Mom"

[AnnW]

This column was in yesterday's paper....what things stand out to you when you read it?

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/features/hoffman/1590927

[Amy]

This Rosen guy sounds like quite a spin doctor. She obviously likes all this attention from the media and is trying to stay in it while trying to make herself look better.

[JAK]

I've not seen the video... what exactly did this woman do to her daughter? I read a small article in the newspaper about it the day it happened (that they were looking for the mom and daughter) and it just said she had abused her daugher- but that was it.

[RCT]

"I thought, you know, I'm not the babe I thought I was," she said. "I thought I was better looking. So not only am I hated by everybody -- I'm not as attractive as I thought I was."

These quotes stuck out in my mind...
I think it sounds like she is very self centered.....and Yes she should be sorry...but she is only sorry because she was cought on tape...she almost said that in the end of the interview in her statement

"And there were two other children who were found being starved to death by their parents. I made my mistake on video.

JMHO

[Diane]

and I highly doubt if that was the one and only time it had ever happened. :rolleyes: Her misfortune (as she said) was that she got caught on video. I do wonder however just how many other people hit/slap... abuse their children just like Toogood did... and are just lucky enough not to have gotten caught. Honestly... I've seen some instances with my own eyes. I also heard a parent cuss and swear at her 3 children at Target one night while they were in the toy department because they wanted something (not unusual) that she wasn't willing to spend the money and buy for them. She ended the conversation telling them what big pains in the a$$es they were. I cleared my throat so she'd notice that I was standing there and I shook my head back and forth as I gave her a not so nice look. She walked away saying something about how people should mind their own business... :rolleyes: I followed her for a while and I think I scared her a little bit thinking that I might/could turn her in. She walked out of the store without buying anything and, of course... the kids were kicking/screaming. I'm all for spanking and repremending a child when they're not behaving... but to beat on them the way she did was absolutely not right or necessary. I honestly do believe though that their are many guilty parties out there who are just as guilty as Toogood... I hope she get's what she deserves and doesn't get off with a little slap on the hand. Also... hopefully she's learned something from this.

diane... :wave:

[kat]

She swore that she has never hit the boys, and that video was the one and only time she ever struck Martha.

Then why did she so obviously look around the parking lot to see if anyone was watching before she laid into that little girl. Please!

[RCT]

What stood out for you Ann? feel like the conversation was just getting started....;)

[Jeff]

Originally posted by kat
She swore that she has never hit the boys, and that video was the one and only time she ever struck Martha.

Then why did she so obviously look around the parking lot to see if anyone was watching before she laid into that little girl. Please!

I would agree... I haven't hit my children but I have lost my temper in the parking lot before and raised my voice and "gone off" on them. Afterwards I sat in the car looking around thinking oh I hope noone just heard that. It didn't even cross my mind to look around first. Kinda wish it had. Maybe I would have kept my mouth shut. Sounds to me like it could be a pretty normal thing for her...

[AnnW]

First, I was really struck by the fact that she was more upset that she wasn't a "babe".

The thing that really has struck a cord with me though is the national outrage over what this woman did. There have been far worse cases of child abuse reported, but I haven't seen people become as enraged over those as they have this one....I can't figure out why that is.

[KarlaB]

Originally posted by AnnW
There have been far worse cases of child abuse reported, but I haven't seen people become as enraged over those as they have this one....I can't figure out why that is.

I agree there are far worse cases of child abuse happening every day, but as far as people not becoming as enraged about it I think it could be that they didn't actually "see" it......a video wasn't repeatedly played on tv for them to see. Maybe for some it's out of sight out of mind or when they hear about the other cases they can't actually "picture" it or they just don't let their minds "go there"....????

[winning_mom]

I believe this is not the first time she has done this.It seemed too natural for her.It's like she knew she was going to do it.As far as her talking about her looks,I think she is trying to divert the attention away from abusing her child so she comments on how she looks.That is very cold hearted! She seems to be a very self centered person.She is getting way too much attention on this one.There are alot more cases out there but the media has visions on this one so they can't let it go.What provoked this if it wasn't the store clerk or her daughter misbehaving as she stated?She hit the girl for a non pprovoked reason?She doesn't deserve her kids.I agree with spanking.BUT in a REASONABLE manner.There is a difference between spanking and plain beating your child.Someone should put her in a back seat and let someone "punish" her for no reason at all. Just because they are angry. Thats just my opinion. I hope she gets what she deserves.