Have you heard the latest sensationalized news story?   A 45 year old suburban mom, tired of hearing her 10 and 12 year old daughters fight in the back seat of the family car, made good on her threat to leave her kids on the side of the road in the business district of White Plains, NY.  Thankfully, both children made it home safely; the mother of the children, Madlyn Primoff, is being charged with endangering the welfare of a child.  You can read the full story here.

Public reaction to this woman's behavior has been extremely strong.  I've heard all kinds of suggestions on how she should have dealt with the backseat bickering, coupled with expressions of intense anger regarding how irresponsible her actions were.  Personally, when I first heard the story, one thought ran through my head.  There but for the grace of God go I. 

Perhaps I'm in the minority here, but parenting my children often proves to be far more frustrating than I ever imagined it would be.  Couple that with the fact that it is a 24/7 job and it sometimes becomes more than I can bear.  I have often had thoughts of walking out of my house, down the street and getting on the first bus to Anywhere-else-but-here.  No, I haven't acted on these thoughts.  But I don't believe for a second that it is because of my own virtue that I haven't.  I believe that a combination of adequate coping skills, prayer and the mercy of God have served to get me throught those seemingly unbearable parenting moments.  And I pray that they will continue to do so. 

Honestly, I feel sad for Ms. Primoff.  I'm sad that she felt that the only option she had at that moment was leaving her girls on the side of the road.  And I'm sad that she is now the victim of a thousand pointing fingers.  I have no idea what circumstances drove her to do what she did.  I can only be thankful that I haven't had to walk a mile in her shoes.  And I pray that God would bring some good out of this situation for this family.