Over a decade ago, there were ads on TV that ended with the phrase, “Never Shake a Baby” spoken by a gentleman with a rather somber voice. Being a person with a somewhat dark sense of humour and not finding the ads at all constructive(well duh I know not to shake a baby), when the Princeling was a toddler his favorite game was never shake a baby. I’d jiggle him and say “never shake a baby”! in the same kind of tone I use to get the dog to bark asking “who’s there?” The Princeling thought it was hilarious, he’d giggle his head off and when he stopped, I’d do it again!
In the wake of the Kahui Twins case, it’s been suggested that those ads return to our screens. I can’t see the point. Putting ads on tv that tell you not to shake a baby and why are not going to stop child abuse.
All I’ve heard in the last few weeks is that these offenders need more support and instruction on how to care for infants and children. Child abuse is violence against children, it’s about power and selfishness.
Take the Kahui case. Chris Kahui is currently awaiting trial for the murder of the twins, killed it’s alleged by shaking injuries. Those babies didn’t die because Chris and his whanau didn’t know not to shake babies. They died because they cried, they died because they had needs that those around them were too selfish to fulfil. Their mother Macsyne King left them in their fathers care, along with an older brother because she needed a break, what she actually wanted to do was go out partying like she didn’t have 3 children in her care. She wouldn’t come home when sent for and wouldn’t come to the phone. She might not be standing trial, but she is more guilty than Chris Kahui in my opinion.
I’ve had two children, I know how hard it is to live with broken sleep, to be constantly feeding, changing, burping and rocking a child. I felt as though this tiny entity was in control of my life. Sometimes I resented being dragged from a sound sleep, ok often I resented it. I was bone weary, felt fat and unattractive and my life was no longer my own, but I didn’t kill my babies.
In fact most of us go through the same and worse and we don’t kill our babies.
Putting ads on tv, is like legislating against spanking. It’s a band aid, a public way to show something is being done when it isn’t. Putting ads on tv isn’t proactive, it’s pandering. If ads are going to go on tv, how about putting something realistic out there, like:
If you abuse your child, we’ll convict you and put you in jail with these guys, then show the resulting beating of the offender by prisoners who oddly, hate child killers.
If you kill a child, you’ll be living with a life sentence, even after you get out of jail, nobody will forget
It worked for drink driving to show the realistic effects.
