'Hiroshima in the Morning' about Rahna Reiko Rizzuto's Decision To Leave Her Family...
I was watching The Today Show this morning when they interviewed Rahna Reiko Rizzuto, a woman who ultimately left her husband and two small children to live in Japan and live a different life than simply wife and mother. She asks the question, "How do any of us decide to leave the people we love?"
I cringe at the thought of ever leaving my son! I could never ... I would never.
The irony of watching this was that earlier, before leaving to take my son to school today, the top news story was about Charlie Sheen's children being 'taken away.' My son (who is 8 almost 9 years old) said, "Mom, that's really sad that they took his kids away." I explained that we, as parents, have certain responsibilities and that if we really do bad things, the courts sometimes have the authority to make those decisions. Sometimes it's a good thing/ sometimes not a good thing. I have very mixed feelings about the court's involvement in 'Family Law' and I don't really respect Family Law Attorney's, judges or the whole system and I feel for anyone dealing with it. (I had my own experience that is thankfully behind me now but it was brutal!)
But I digress. I told my son he never has to worry that would happen to him. He said unprovoked, "I know, that's because I have a GREAT Mom." He is my heart. I could never leave him. I give a lot of people a lot of slack but mothers (or fathers) leaving children befuddle and horrify me. There is nothing in life that I selfishly need to do now, while my son is still relatively young, that would take me away. If I had a serious problem... drugs, health... and thought he would be better off without me in his life day to day that would be different. But she did not. So, although I'm sure if I read her book, I would have some compassion, I still cannot help but judge. WHY would an intelligent, healthy person EVER leave their kids? Kids need their parents. And what is the message we give when a book such as hers receives rave reviews, critical acclaim? In this situation, I'm sorry, but I think her decision was unnecessarily selfish... whether her book is a good read or not.
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