I'm a mom before anything else

I've been contemplating writing about Jami Hicks since she went missing Sept. 3 with her stepfather. The girl is 12. The stepdad is now dead. After a two-week romp across the country with this child, he fatally killed himself in her presence Sept. 15. My first instinct was that he was having some sort of sexual relationship with this child, whether it was willing on her part of flat-out rape - in any case, she is 12 and his step-daughter, which is so perverse. From news accounts, it appears this man may have been molesting this little girl over the course of years.

http://www.nbc5i.com/news/3731729/detail.html

News accounts tragically indicate the mother may have had some inkling as to what was going on and didn't do anything to stop it. She found porn of teen girls on the man's computer (he was supposed to be some sort of preacher) and apparently the police were called at least once to the house earlier this year when an older step-daughter was popped by the guy when she tried to keep him from Jami. CPS has taken the children away. They haven't mentioned the older daughter, but maybe she is of age, I don't know. WBAP this morning reported, too, that the girl had told her mom about inappropriate touching (if nothing else) and the mother didn't boot his sorry ass out of the house and call police or pick up her children and leave.

That is what truly bothers me deep down - this mother failed her children. I don't care if we're destitute living at the Salvation Army shelter - but NO one is going to hurt my children and me know about it. I am so mad right now at the thought of it. When I met Army of Dad, I was newly divorced. During our first conversation, I told him that I was divorced and had a 2 1/2 year old son and if he didn't like that, then he could take a hike because my son will come first in my life no matter what. I think that may have been one of the things AoD liked about me - I loved that little boy more than my life and I would gladly lay it down before I knowingly let someone hurt him. I worry about my neighbor who is recently divorced. She has two little girls - one is 12 - and a little boy. I worry for her that she will trust a man again and him do something to her girls. It is just a fear you have as a mother.

I pray for Jami Hicks. She was most likely molested, witnessed the suicide of her abuser/step-father and now can't even return to her home and her mother (not that she was evidently much of a mother). What must this child be enduring? I hope she can get through it and be stronger for it. A Steel Magnolia. Let's hope that she is one.