In their news article, “COVID-19 aftermath: Is child abuse going unnoticed due to pandemic isolation, weariness?,” DeMio and Mitchell (2021) address two tragic cases of child abuse. In Cincinnati, 3-year-old Nylo Lattimore was missed in December 2020, and only after 143 days, the child’s body was discovered in the Ohio River (DeMio & Mitchell, 2021). Nylo’s mother, Nyteisha Lattimore, and her boyfriend, Desean Brown, have reportedly killed the toddler and tried to hide their crime in this way. A similar case of child abuse described by the author in the case of 6-year-old James Hutchinson, who was run over with a car by his mother (DeMio & Mitchell, 2021). His body was found in the Ohio River as well.
Both cases of child abuse should be connected with an inappropriate parenting style. From the personal perspective, it was a neglectful style that presupposes an indifferent attitude to a child and an absence of rules and parents’ responsibilities. In general, this style is closely connected with delinquent behaviors. On the one hand, the way how parents raise their children substantially affects their behavioral patterns in the future and may lead to delinquency. On the other hand, the initial delinquent behaviors of parents may predict their parenting style when they have children. Thus, those people who neglect social norms, have a lack of empathy, or suffer from alcohol or substance abuse will likely choose a neglectful parenting style that may lead to tragic outcomes, as described in the article. In addition, even if hidden, delinquent behavior may become obvious in stressful situations. This tendency may be observed in the present day due to the pandemic when affected by emotional distress caused by isolation and financial difficulties, parents with initial delinquent behavior abuse their children more than before.
Reference
DeMio, T., & Mitchell, M. (2021). COVID-19 aftermath: Is child abuse going unnoticed due to pandemic isolation, weariness?Cincinnati Enquirer. Web.