Legalized child abandonment in Nebraska

Most places now offer a legal option to drop off an unwanted newborn baby at the hospital without any legal pursuit or even any questions asked. I think it’s wonderful and I wish more people would use that option so I could stop sobbing hysterically over stories about babies in dumpsters or bushes.

But what if the option is for older children too? Nebraska has created a new legal option that allows parents and guardians to surrender their older children and teenagers. According to Momlogic:

In two separate incidents over the weekend, a 44-year-old woman dropped off her teenage nephew, saying the boy had behavioral problems that she couldn’t handle anymore. The woman is the boy’s legal guardian.

In the other case, a mom dropped off her 11-year-old boy, saying she could no longer care for him.

On the one hand, I realize that it’s better than having the parent or guardian snap and kill the child and it’s better than a lifetime of abuse, but I can’t help but wonder how much therapy would be needed for any child old enough to understand they’ve essentially been dumped, like a dog at the pound. Who does that?

I want to be relieved at these kids being given second chances, but what ARE the second chances? They become wards of the state? Get sent to foster homes? What happens to these kids?

And how do they ever deal with being tossed away by the people who are supposed to love and protect them?

Somehow, my heart still aches, just as much as it does over the dumped babies.

(Image: flickr)