A hand that rocks the cradle

A 34 year old mother threw herself and her 2 1/2 year old son over a passing bridge onto the fast coming traffic lane of 401,she died on the spot and her son died while being transported to the hospital.She left no suicide note,she told no one,she didn't stop even after being persuaded by a passerby who stopped his car and pleaded.She hugged her son to her bosom and jumped.When I read the news I went through a gamut of emotions.Anger at what had befallen a young innocent child and perhaps sympathy at what really might have provoked a mother to take such a drastic step.I'm a mom myself and I could not even for a second think of ever harming my child so it baffled me out of my wits.She was said to have been under lot of stress and depression and having separated from the boy's father.
On the day she performed the ghastly act she was said to have appeared calm,collected,tragically determined and fetched the boy from his father's house,boarded a bus to the set destined place and performed the final act.There was no indication whatsoever of any bitterness about the separation,nor was there any domestic abuse,she had lived in a shelter for somedays but then moved back with her family.What drastic moment would have made her decide it was all enough not only for her but even for her son?What made her decide this was the best for her as well as her child who hadn't even begun to discover what life had to offer?I can understand that at times people are driven to brink of desperation and entertain suicidal thoughts.And some go through with it on a impulse of the moment and others might have premeditated on it and resort to it after exhausting all other avenues.But that doesn't make any suicide less tragic.

I don't know what would have pushed her to literally over the edge and to take such a momentous decision regarding her child's life.She was described by all her family members including the father of the diseased boy as a wonderful mother who loved her son more than her life.She was under depression but had no history of any psychosis.Did she feel that kid would not be loved or cherished after she was gone and hence his life would be miserable so the best way was to take him with her?Perhaps no one can answer these questions as to what made her do the thing she did.But for a moment I though of that child.The bond between the mother and her child is said to be the most sacred bond.It's a bond which is formed on unquestionable trust and abundant love.Maybe the said day the boy would have happily held his mom's hand and stepped into that bus,this was his mom a person he trusted more than anyone who would never harm him.Would he have been frightened when his mom took him over those rails of the bridge or did he even grasp the concept that he would be falling down into the zooming traffic lane in the next few seconds?I felt for the little guy.

This wasn't the first time I had heard of mothers who can kill.But everytime I'm confronted to face the fact that such things happen I feel sick in my stomach and feel ill.Can love kill?apparently it can.When I was in my high school one of the lady in the neighbourhood killed herself as well as her 2 kids by consuming poison.She had left a note saying she had no money to feed them,her husband had left her and seeing no means to continue a living she decided to take this step.For a long time it was a hot topic of discussion in the city.Can you justify taking lives which are not your own be it of your own kids?can love be so strong and cruel at the same time?
But no amount of whys which we can ask and perhaps find the answer in each and every such situation won't bring solace,lost lives never come back.I held Ina a little tighter yesterday as she slept and sent a prayer for the little soul hoping he had found happiness and peace atleast now.