February 20, 2008
Henrico Mom Faces Charges in Crash
Geez, I really want to say something here, but I’m afraid I’ll get myself in trouble….so….Here’s the the story, just plain straight from WRIC.
A Henrico County mother is facing several charges after allegedly driving drunk with her four children in her vehicle.
According to police, 37-year-old Robin Barron drove to The Playing Field on West Broad Street Monday night. Barron allegedly left her four children, ages nine months to nine years old, inside her car while she was in the establishment.
After Barron left the bar, she allegedly drove, intoxicated, with her children in the car until she crashed on West End Drive. No one was hurt in the crash.
Barron is facing one count of drunk driving and four counts of felony child endangerment.
Hello,
Obviously, the actions of Robin Barron are inexcusable. She endangered herself and her children not only by driving while extremely intoxicated, but leaving them unattended in her car. A nine month old cannot be left alone. HOWEVER, I am a mother of two boys and as I read about more and more of these cases of neglect and outlandish behavior on the parts of moms, I must ask myself why it happens. The issue of postpartum depression is a whisper in our country. I have been in several mom’s clubs and have many friends who have given birth. I see a recurring phenomenon, where many “normal” moms become very different after children are born. Depression, suicidal thoughts, sudden marital problems, and neglect towards their babies and toddlers. These new moms are often isolated from support systems because they are far from family and feel strapped to the house because they have no friends or it is too much of a hassle to take the kids out of the house. I find it hard to believe that Robin Barron is so much of an alcoholic that she would resort to what she did to obtain a drink or three. She can drink at home. I believe that it is a cry for help that many moms are needing, just not acting on. Mental illness, even if temporary, is covered up and brushed off as inconsequential. Then people wonder why perfectly wonderful moms are drowning their babies, leaving them at home, and other brutal acts that they would otherwise never dream of committing. The media is ready to report in a reactive manner, but not enough time is devoted to giving information to new moms who feel trapped and helpless. Hormones change drastically after child birth and too many women do not realize that there are others in their situation and that there is help available when desperate thoughts arise. Instead of looking at Andrea Yates, a drastic case, or even Robin Barron, another “crazy” mom as evil, selfish people…perhaps the media and the mental health professionals should spend their resources and time on educating mothers. Most of us wouldn’t dream of harming our babies, but if a mom turns to drugs or alcohol to cope they may commit unspeakable acts against their children out of fright and desperation, not hate or insanity.
Shouldn’t this be looked into?
I agree with both Jona_H and Amy in different ways. Certainly, the mother was wrong to drive drunk, endanger the children, and leave them in the car. Thank the Lord, nobody was hurt. The whole situation does beg the question,”Why?” At the very least, she should have left the children at home with a babysitter, and called a friend or a cab to pick her up after she became intoxicated. The actress,Brook Shields, has tried to publicize the significance of post-partum depression. I do think the stress of parenting a new baby together with 3 other older children can be daunting, as this woman was doing. I wonder about her family network and support. If I were the woman’s attorney I would order blood estrogen and progesterone tests just to see if they were “normal” or still very low estrogen as they can be after having a baby.