Parenthood?

This is 4 year old 'Veronica', the subject of a custody dispute in the USA who has finally been surrendered by her Native American father to the adoptive parents who have raised her since she was a baby.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/23/us/native-american-custody-dispute/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

This story is just about the most awful I've come across in years. If you read up on the background, it's clear this is a political fight. It has been about principle and points of law, not about a child at all.

Is this what we think children are? Property? Chattels? Something to fight over?

This dispute has gone on for most of Veronica's life. Does anyone really think she won't be marked by it? Yes, she is just four but we were reminiscing in my family on Sunday about how much children pick up at that age. It was my nephew's 30th birthday. We sneaked into his house while he and his partner were out for a birthday lunch, put up banners and balloons, set out the fizz and the cake and lay in wait for them to return. Unfortunately, we forgot we'd parked the car across the street. Some of us wondered if he would notice it. As his father reminded us, this was a boy who could at the age of 4 identify any car by make and model, tell you what the numberplate meant and which part of Europe it was probably made in. Anyone want to bet that Veronica has noticed and stored away being shuttled between birth and adoptive parents, trips by plane to different parts of the US to meet carers, lawyers and judges? I'd say start the therapy now. What a terrible way to treat a child.