“She’s an unfit mother.”
“She’s a monster.”
“She’s a tramp.”
Some want to break out the scarlet letter and have it tattooed to the young Xenia mother’s chest.
Why so much hate?
Tehan’s pastor has called for compassion, and her husband has talked of understanding.
And it is not like Tehan or her married boyfriend, Tre Hutcherson, have done anything to us.
They didn’t abandon us.
And although they cheated, it wasn’t on us.
But we do feel betrayed.
Their actions split the social contract that says “don’t make me care for no reason.”
Not only did their actions lead to the abandonment of a 1-year-old child, but it got us involved.
The masses wouldn’t have cared if the lovers abandoned their lives the “normal” adult way.
People do it all the time.
Responsible adults end marriages, say goodbye to loved ones, resign from jobs, sell cars, pack boxes, withdraw cash, forward addresses.
Instead Tiffany and Tre broke the rules.
Real people don’t abandon their cars after telling their husbands they are out shopping for baby clothes.
Real people don’t trade in their sweet, red Volkswagen Beetle to drive down Interstate 75 in a 2002 Chrysler Sebring with 190,000 miles.
Real people don’t shack up in a cheap Miami Beach motel, saying nothing while the nation searches and church members pray.
Their bizarre actions got us involved and made some of us care.
Those same actions made some of us — even those with huge planks in our eyes — extremely judgmental.
It’s funny how concern can turn into disgust.
And it’s tragic how a young, obscure church mom can, in many minds, transform into a child-abandoning home-wrecker.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2384 or arobinson@Dayton DailyNews.com.
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