Leah Walsh

I try to keep this journal a happy place. It is, after all, a place where i post so many of Emma's photos and talk about being a mother. But i'm sad today, bothered by a news story that i had been following.

For those of you who don't know, Leah Walsh is a school teacher from up north. She teaches children who have autism. Looking at her photos and reading what family and friends have said about her when she turned up missing, made me understand what a beautiful soul this young woman had. Leah was reported missing by her husband who said that he had received a text from her earlier in the day, but was now missing.

My first thought?

I hate to admit this, especially on my happy little blog....but i thought "That b@st@rd did it."

I then saw this man, her husband on TV. Crying big tears, begging and asking for the safe return of his wife. Some folks were convinced that he had nothing to do with the disappearance of his wife. In fact, many folks believed that.

I didn't. And that truly bothered me that i didn't.

Too bad for him that a state highway worker witnessed him staging Leah's car to look at though her car had become disabled by letting the air out of her tires. The state highway worker reported what he saw and they found Leah's body, tossed into a ravine. This was about two days into her disappearance, i think...apparently, he and Leah had an argument about an affair that he was taking part in and in a seven page confession to police, he strangled his wife.

It has always shocked me that such a high percentage of violence occurs to women by the men that they love. Really, who hurts someone that you are suppose to love and cherish? That's not suppose to happen, right? But time and time again, these stories come out. Each with the same heartbreaking ending: a woman is killed by the man that is suppose to honor, love and protect her.

Domestic violence is nothing new. In fact, it can happen to someone you know, and you would never have a clue. Yes, some of these women come from situation which arent' the best such as poverty, but it seems that domestic violence isn't something that happens to just women who live in poverty. It happens to women from all walks of life. We can debate all day long about how these women should leave, how they should stand up for themselves, how they shouldn't put up with that type of behavior....but it's not that easy. It's truly not that easy. No one can imagine how difficult it is for a woman to leave a situation like that until you are in that situation yourself.

So how does one raise a daughter to never get into a situation where this doesn't happen? I don't know....i am hoping that a close relationship with a young daughter and a strong father figure helps. How do we help break this cycle? How many more times will we have to read or hear on the news about a woman who's life has been taken by a spouse or a boyfriend? Is it something on how we as a society raise our sons? Again, i don't know and i don't have a clue....i truly wish i did.

I feel so badly for Leah's Walsh's mother and family. They have lost their daughter to a violent act committed by her husband. There is no rhyme or reason to this or to any of those situations but i am sad for a talented, caring, beautiful young woman who's life has been cut short and for a mother and a family who's heart much ache like i can't possibly imagine.