Mentally Retarded Parents
| Author | Message |
|---|---|
| Anji Basket Case  Age: 35 Gender: Female Posts: 15914  | OK, so I was just watching I Am Sam and I thought it would make a good discussion thread. Of course, I bawled my eyes out, as well. So, should mentally retarded parents be able to care for their children, and can they? Of course there are more extreme cases compared to others, but do you think (for those who have seen the movie) that in an extreme case like I Am Sam, the parent should be given full custody? For those who are unfimiliar with the movie, a mentally retarded mand with the brain capacity of a seven year old has a custody battle with child services over his seven year old daughter, who is already smarter than him. (It's an awesome movie. Go watch it if you haven't seen it.) |
| tyco Jackass  Age: 37 Gender: Male Posts: 1117 | yikes... sounds scarey. im so gonna go watch that lol i think no... but it is sad. unless he has somone to look after him and his daughter there is no way he could cope on his own... |
| Lyn-Z Geek  Age: 35 Gender: Female Posts: 434 | I think they should be able to keep their children. The government should provide in-home care for the children and the disabled parent. Why would you take them away from their parents? Its not like they are abusing them. Children need their parents, and parents should be able to choose if they want to keep the kids or not. |
| tyco Jackass Age: 37 Gender: Male Posts: 1117 | Lyn-Z: okay fair if they have help with there children.. but if they dont then they cant look after them its unfair for the child and the decabled parent. |
| Anji Basket Case Age: 35 Gender: Female Posts: 15914 | The issue in I Am Sam was that Sam was retarding his daughter, Lucy's, growth and development because of his own retardation. |
| lyrical_mess Falling In Love With The Board  Age: 33 Gender: Female Posts: 5278  | Anji: Can you expand that? I didn't see the movie. But is it like the court is saying that because his capacity is that of a seven year old, he's holding her back from growing and learning because of his interaction with her? |
| tyco Jackass Age: 37 Gender: Male Posts: 1117 | lyrical_mess: i can see why that would happen.. without a stable mind the child has nothing to learn from.. |
| Anji Basket Case Age: 35 Gender: Female Posts: 15914 | tyco:See, the child goes to school and she is bright. The point of the movie is that it does not take an able minded person to love and care for a child. I know lots of people whose parents are retarded, but certainly are dumber than them. That does not affect their growth in any way in my perspective. |
| Anji Basket Case Age: 35 Gender: Female Posts: 15914 | lyrical_mess:Yeah, basically. |
| lyrical_mess Falling In Love With The Board Age: 33 Gender: Female Posts: 5278 | Anji: A child doesn't need some no-nonsense nurse/teacher person. He needs a parent. And seeing your parent (what happens to the mother?) only on weekeds or visiting could inhibit growth more than being with a mentally handicapped parent. |
| tyco Jackass Age: 37 Gender: Male Posts: 1117 | lyrical_mess: but think about the child... how is the child gonna grow up? how can they both look after themselves.. the child is 7? and he has the mental age of a 6 year old. i couldnt look after myself at 6or7.. |
| lyrical_mess Falling In Love With The Board Age: 33 Gender: Female Posts: 5278 | But the government could provide live-at-home assistance, they way they do for some senior citizens. |
| tyco Jackass Age: 37 Gender: Male Posts: 1117 | lyrical_mess: oh yea i agree.. if that applicable im all for that. |
| spill_no_sick Falling In Love With The Board Age: 31 Gender: - Posts: 8588 | that's an awesome movie and soundtrack Anji, you're really cool, when I go on my post-highschool roadtrip I'm stopping in Canadia anyway, the government should totally offer help of course, the government couldn't do much, I think the best way is to draw attention to the need by doing those public service announcements it worked when they drew attention to homelessness....now we just scapegoat instead of volunteer |
| NeoSteph Basket Case  Age: 37 Gender: Female Posts: 16494 | The human body is incrediably resiliant and when we are missing an atribute we need we learn how to cope without it. Like a blind or deaf person can still interact with others. Obviously in some cases of mental instability caring for others is not only difficult but impossible and as much as everyone would love to believe love isn't all you need. The main problem when it comes to mental problems is will the childs position make her the carer. But with social care and support from other sources that needn't be the case. |
| Emily Kaulitz Falling In Love With The Board Age: 30 Gender: Female Posts: 5014 | I haven't seen the movie, But It sounds like a good one. B) I'll watch it sometime then come back here when I have. But, I do think that mentally retarded parents can care for their children. So what they aren't as smart? They can still love their child/children. I know, they can't take care of them so much... But why wouldn't the other parent help if the Mom/Dad is mentally retarded? Or, couldn't the goverment give them a nanny or something? I think they should be able to take care of their children.... They may be mentally retarded, but they still have feelings. |
| ha_ha_you're_screwed Geek  Age: 33 Gender: Female Posts: 151 | That movie, I Am Sam, made me cry. I think that mentally retarded parents should be able to take care of their kids, maybe a social worker coming down and checking on them once a week would make it more reassuring. If these disabled people had the intent to have children, they have a right to what they want. It might be more difficult but they deserve a chance at living in the way they want to. |
| ha_ha_you're_screwed Geek Age: 33 Gender: Female Posts: 151 | tyco: I think the point is that a child would be more affected (mentally and physically) if he/she was taken away from their parent. I understand it is a risk and she might not be as bright as expected but she would be happy and with her father, who she loves. |
| Lucifers Angel King For A Couple Of Days Age: - Gender: Female Posts: 4751 | i think it totally depends on teh mental condition, i have seen "i am sam" and he could look after his child. but not everyone with mental condtions can look after themselfs let alone a child. |
| Remarkable Rocket Falling In Love With The Board  Age: 36 Gender: Female Posts: 5761 | In my pyschology class.. we leanred that.. absolutely YES a person with mental disabilities can care for a child... depending on the severity of their symptons. |
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