Especially in trying circumstances, being a good mother is no simple chore. Every parent decides differently depending on their circumstances and deals with particular problems. One should not criticize or assess the parenting decisions of others.
Sadly, one mother recently went through the terrible effects of mom shaming when another parent acted quite aggressively involving the police.
Meet Melissa Shields Henderson, a five-year single mother whose situation many can identify with. She is a Henderson had to find a means to support her family while guaranteeing their well-being as her kids couldn go to school or childcare because of the epidemic. She also regularly must make tough parenting decisions since she is a divorced single mother.
Henderson had to work 23 miles from her Blairsville house in a health spa in Blue Ridge, Georgia in May 2020. She took the difficult decision to leave her 14-year-old daughter Linley in charge of her four younger siblings as she had no other choices.
The Georgia legislation states that children 13 years of age and above can be left alone and in charge of their younger siblings for up to twelve hours. Henderson thought she was perfectly within the law.
But one of those days Henderson was at work and Linley was learning remotely, her four-year-old brother Thaddeus briefly disappeared to play with a neighbor down the street.
Fortunately, Linley brought Thaddeus safely back home after noticing his away within 10 to 15 minutes. But unbeknownst to them, within that brief interval a worried parent had already reported the authorities.
Henderson was suddenly met by police when she got back from work, who told her about her son’s solo trip. She had no idea this episode would have major repercussions.
Henderson discovered she was handcuffed two weeks later, driven to jail, and humiliated by being booked and assigned a cell. She came out of this experience depressed and without the means to support her family.
Henderson’s lawyer sheds light on the complexities of the case in the video below. It’s important to understand the full context and the challenges that Henderson faces as a single mother.
To support Henderson in her ongoing legal battle and help cover her expenses, a GoFundMe campaign has been set up. She is currently working part-time due to the fear of another arrest, which limits her ability to provide for her children.
Let’s come together as a community and show our support for Henderson and other single mothers who face similar challenges. No one should be judged or shamed for the difficult decisions they make as parents. In times like these, empathy and understanding go a long way.
