[user104658]

Originally Posted by Livia

People had things much tougher in the past, I don't understand why it's so particularly difficult for people now. There are a plethora of agencies sticking their oar in, and if they were better at it, stuff like this would happen less often.

They did in many ways, yes, but at the same time, families and communities were closer. Today there are young women out there, stuck in a flat with one or more young children, and otherwise completely devoid of other meaningful human contact. No partner, no parents or other extended family, and neighbours / a surrounding community that couldn't care less or even look on with distaste (until something tragic happens, and then suddenly everyone is distraught...)

"Cabin fever" is a serious factor in cases like this. people are animals when it comes down to it and when animals feel trapped or cornered for too long, they do bat**** crazy things.

From my own experience, me and my partner have raised our kids thus far with zero support from anyone but each other (grandparents are not particularly involved, have never even babysat for an hour) and whilst we have other "parent friends", they're scattered across central Scotland, not a local community. Anyway... even that has been insane at times and we DO have each other. I have work as a "break", and there's scope for a nice long bath / the occasional long lie / just a shopping trip even, for either of us.

I can (fairly) confidently say I would absolutely never hurt my children. however, I'm also 90% certain that if I was doing it completely alone I would be pretty "broken" by now. I genuinely can't even imagine.

And that's as someone who ENJOYS being a parent and gets a lot out of it; honestly, not everyone is and does, is the sad truth.