@Cupcake Of course I realize an infant can die in a moment, in an accident, the parent turns away for a second, or falls asleep, or any number of mishaps that I would never suggest a prosecution nor would I think to blame the parent. I would only feel empathy for the parent.
My husband’s cousin’s two year old was run over by the woman who was the car pool driver from nursery school that day. She backed right over the child in the driveway of his own home with his mother standing right there unaware he was behind the car. No one blamed the driver or the mother. The driver was tortured for years, probably the rest of her life by her own mind, we all felt terrible for her. Even the mother tried to comfort the driver (a friend) for a while, but she had her own grief she had to deal with. If instead she had crashed on the way home because she was drunk, I think all of us would have held her culpable, and maybe the law also.
I have zero understanding of drinking alcohol when responsible for an infant. The infant is completely dependent. I don’t understand smoking weed, or anything like that. 4 ounces of wine with dinner is different, but enough to be drunk? Too drunk to drive? Just because it’s common doesn’t make it acceptable. I’m not sure how common it is. Maybe we should do a Q on that. Like I said, I’m not saying they should be prosecuted, I’m only saying it does change how I view the situation.
My girlfriend FINALLY got her shit together when they took her kids away. The court’s actions might have saved their lives, or someone else’s or maybe extended hers. She died at 51 from all that alcohol abuse. Liver and kidney failure. The children went to their dad’s when they were removed, they weren’t put in foster care or anything like that. They were ten at the time I think. My friend’s mom flew to town eventually so the kids could be back in her house. Luckily, she had that help.