I am reposting because the other was deleted somehow.

I don’t know how to feel right now.

Like so many of you, my heart is shattered. I keep picturing those three little babies, and I can’t stop asking, “How did we get here?” As a mom, it’s almost impossible to process.

Then I remember my own journey with postpartum depression.

I sought counseling. I accepted help. I never harmed my children, but I remember the darkness. I remember crying for no reason, feeling overwhelmed, and not feeling like myself. Unless you’ve walked through it, it’s hard to explain just how consuming it can be.

Because of that, this story leaves me torn.

What happened to those babies was horrific. There is no justifying it. Two precious children have lost their lives, one is still fighting, and entire families have been forever changed. My heart aches for every one of them.

But I also know postpartum depression isn’t the same for every woman. Some experience sadness. Some experience anxiety or rage. Some develop postpartum psychosis, where they lose touch with reality. Mental illness doesn’t fit neatly into a box, and neither do the people who suffer from it.

I know there is help available. I also know there is still so much stigma surrounding postpartum mental health. Women are often afraid they’ll be judged, labeled a bad mother, or have their children taken away if they’re honest about what they’re experiencing. That fear keeps some women silent until it’s too late.

So where does that leave us?

Do I believe she is responsible for what happened? Yes.

Do I believe it’s as simple as calling her evil and moving on? No. I don’t.

I think we can hold two truths at the same time. We can mourn these innocent babies with every ounce of our hearts while also recognizing that severe mental illness is real and, in rare cases, can end in unimaginable tragedy.

This isn’t about excusing what happened. It’s about trying to understand it so maybe, just maybe, another family doesn’t have to live this nightmare someday.

Today I’m praying for those babies, for the surviving child, for their family, for the first responders, for the medical teams, and yes, for the mother too. This whole situation is heartbreaking, and I don’t think there are any easy answers.

#PostpartumDepression #MentalHealthAwareness #PrayForTheFamilies #NorthDakota #ChooseCompassion