Columbine killer's mom tells story in magazine essay - KDVR

In the first detailed public remarks by any parent of the two Columbine killers, Dylan Klebold's mother says she had no idea her son was suicidal until she read his journals after the 1999 high school massacre.

[Early Riser]

Sad

[gail from Philly]

This poor woman. I hope she has been getting help for herself. She too has to live with what her child did.

[lin]

I can believe this can happen in a family.
I'm sure looking back on things now the signs
are clear. In many ways her loss is more horrifying.
Tough for any mother to live with.
My sympathy is with her.

[Chris Molling]

It is important for me as a parent to have the Mom's perspective on the horror. I have a tendency to oversimplify the crazy behavior as others without remembering that God gave us free will to do good or to do evil. When someone chooses evil even a mother may not know ahead of time.

[Rob]

I can honestly believe that "mom" did not know her son was having so many problems; was depressed or even suicidal. In today's society our children are quite capable of hiding a lot of things from their parents and mainly because the parents hands have been tied by laws that forbid certain types of punishment or invasion into their young lives. Society dictates that both parents must work to mee the demands of this economy. Mom and Dad do their best to provide a stable home, quality time to their children, while at the same time working outside the home. I dare say, the damage done to the many families who lost their children will be remembered in this nation for many, many years. The time has come that we, as parents, must pay closer attention to our children's behavior and insiste on answers when a peculiar behavior pattern starts to emerge. We must seek professional help for our children and stop taking a blind eye to their changes (believing this can never happen to my child). There is no doubt that Susan is hurting just as much, if not more, than the parents of the Columbine Victims. She not only lost a son, but she has to live with the fact that her son took the innocent lives of many children who had their full lives ahead of them. We must forgive him and help Susan get through this. We will never stop praying for the young students who died, but we must come together and help each other get through this now and in the future. We need each other, just as those two young men needed guidance and support 10 years ago. Something was missing from their lives and what they replaced that vital missing tool with was far more devastating than we would have ever contemplated. I pray for peace in the families of the victims and to Susan.

[teribealor]

I my name is teri and Ive been watching videos and reading articles of the horrific tragedy tat happen ten years ago. I absolutely think tat it could have been prevented. but I feel bad for all families I have a son tat is three and wen he gets tat age I'm watching him very closly cause I don't want my son to be killed or be a shooter I would have whoop his tail for tat or grounded him if he was tat age. It could have been peer pressure but I really don't understand why everyone has to wait 10 years later to say something.

Thank you
teri

[Billie from Indy]

It is good to see no negative remarks or rants of rage directed at this woman. She has had a terrible time of loss and tragedy. I hope she can find peace one day and know what happened was not her fault. Kids today do not talk to their parents or peers, they just act out of anger, rage or hurt.
I pray that everyone involved in this tragedy has the love and support needed to heal. God bless all of them.

[Wilda]

I always hoped the family of those boys received some kind of closure. Maybe she can at least let it go a little now. She has a right to miss her son. She has a right to love him. The pain, anguish and shame must be unbearable. I can't imagine what those families have gone through. May God bless their homes and lighten their hearts.

[carly tilley]

the problem with some of these kids that were killed.some of them were probably mean.i have seen so many parents that say not my kid.wake up ur kids r bullies they didn't deserve to die,but if thier parents would have stoped them from being mean to others this could have been prevented.so the parents of the kids kiled also share part of the blame.

[GDietz]

I just want to say it was horrific what happened that day but I don't think the mother is to blame for what her teenage son did. Nobody can control what one might do no matter how horrible it is. She lost her son also and on top of that she has to look all those victim's family members in the face that has to be hard to do. I think she feels bad enough dealing with what her son has done and the lost of her son, nobody should be angry with her. I am a mother of two children and I think if it would have happened to one of my kids I wouldn't hold anything against her because she wasn't the one who pulled the trigger. Responsibility lies with those two boys that killed themselves.

[GDietz]

Wilda wrote:

I always hoped the family of those boys received some kind of closure. Maybe she can at least let it go a little now. She has a right to miss her son. She has a right to love him. The pain, anguish and shame must be unbearable. I can't imagine what those families have gone through. May God bless their homes and lighten their hearts.

I agree with you and if losing her son and what he has done isn't punishment enough I don't know what is! People should have empathy for the mother's of those two boys.

[GDietz]

teribealor wrote:

I my name is teri and Ive been watching videos and reading articles of the horrific tragedy tat happen ten years ago. I absolutely think tat it could have been prevented. but I feel bad for all families I have a son tat is three and wen he gets tat age I'm watching him very closly cause I don't want my son to be killed or be a shooter I would have whoop his tail for tat or grounded him if he was tat age. It could have been peer pressure but I really don't understand why everyone has to wait 10 years later to say something.
Thank you
teri

It does take time to heal and I think I would have waited also for the fact that when it happened it was so tragic what would you say then if you were the mother that could possibly help any of those family members. Ten years later the victim's family's know more facts and can now hopefully forgive those boys. May God bless all who is involved!

[GDietz]

carly tilley wrote:

the problem with some of these kids that were killed.some of them were probably mean.i have seen so many parents that say not my kid.wake up ur kids r bullies they didn't deserve to die,but if thier parents would have stoped them from being mean to others this could have been prevented.so the parents of the kids kiled also share part of the blame.

I don't think any of the parents are to blame its the two boys that took the guns to school and shot at those kids that are to blame.

[Hayley]

This is a very tragic event that goes to show you that we never really know people like we think we do. Even our own children. Things in life happen and we have to look for the positive, such as that mabey parents will be more watchful of their childrens emotions. I hope another event like Columbine will never happen and my prayers are with the Klebold family.

[Tommie Case]

I feel remorse and sympathy for the lost children and teachers and injured and their families. Also for the parents of the boys who took the lives and injured people in the incident that day including theirselves. For some of the parents to blame the boy's parents, I believe is wrong. We do our best as parents and try to raise our children right. But sometimes there are children and people who need help for mental issues that a parent may not be aware of or a person. And things like this incident occur. I know all of the families have suffered loss including the family of the boys. So let it go and let them rest.

[bryan]

jesus said that he would forgive anybody so we should do the same

[JancyCO]

carly tilley wrote:

the problem with some of these kids that were killed.some of them were probably mean.i have seen so many parents that say not my kid.wake up ur kids r bullies they didn't deserve to die,but if thier parents would have stoped them from being mean to others this could have been prevented.so the parents of the kids kiled also share part of the blame.

I don't think bullying was the core issue with the murders that happened. True, bullying is terrible and parents should act against it, but hold on here! What amount of being picked on makes it ok to shoot a bunch of people? Instead of looking to place blame somewhere and shake your finger at others, just take responsibility for yourself and do the best you can. I think that's what all parents are trying to do.

[jackie from illinois]

ok well as a mother myslef u will never fully know what a child goes threw day after day and never knowing if a kid is depressed i am a mother and i foronecant read my sons mind! I wouldnt think my childwould go into his school and do this!I want to think well of my son.And i want to think that he would rather think of my son helping someone.Me myself would think that that is what any parent would want to only think well of there child and i dont think that this mother had any idea what her son was feeling or what he was going to do!

[cjrian]

This is a vanity article. An attempt to mitigate the guilt that come with this horrendous crime, by family members. The parents of Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris are not guilty of any crime ofcommission, but of the (non-prosecutorial) crime of Omission, they are. They did not know or understand their own children. They did not know, or chose not to know, just how mentally ill their children were. They did not or chose not, to know what was in their own house. They did not or chose not, to know what was on their childrens web pages. They did not or chose not, to know their own children.

It is the sin of Omission, not Comission.

I feel for her, but have little sympthy.

[Mountain Man]

I too am glad to not see a bunch of negative remarks about her too. She shares some blame but she is paying everyday of her life. She deserves forgiveness.