Dateline Dayton — Child abuse is everywhere, even on comedy television shows. Last night I watched “In the Middle,” and the episode involved the eldest son having to take care of a baby for his sex education.

I must admit to not paying strict attention at the start, thinking about all the things I should be doing. However, I heard him say, something to the effect of, “What does taking care a baby have to do with sex education.”

A major problem many of today’s infants face is that both halves of the birth couple are unprepared to care for a baby.

For this reason, I have been suggesting that a license should be required. You must have training and pass a test to drive a car. Isn’t having and raising a child more important?

In the episode last night, the son wanted someone else to take care of the baby. He was shown swinging the infant around, handing it improperly and not taking appropriate care of the infant.

He didn’t want to take time to feed the baby, nor change its diaper. It got to the point, due to its crying, he took the baby apart.

Isn’t this exactly what some caregivers do with a real live infant? When the baby is crying, instead of dealing with the problem, they try other methods to stop the crying, many times causing trauma, injury, even death.

In today’s paper there were two stories about child abuse. One involved a mother being arrested after she claimed her son fell down the steps; however, investigators found injuries not consistent with a such an accident.

The other involved a young man being sentenced for involuntary manslaughter, in the death of an infant in his care.

Family Business

I just returned from a trip to Florida.

Our son was ill, and he asked if one of us could come down. Since Pauline is caring for her brother, I went. You couldn’t turn on a local television, without hearing about the Casey Anthony trial. Here is a mother accused of killing her daughter under strange circumstances.

On a lighter note, I’m pleased that big-mouth Lebron James and the Miami Heat did not win the NBA championship. James abandoned Cleveland because he wanted a championship ring. He felt the big three stars of Miami could get it accomplished. Maybe another year, but this year you didn’t have the team that could get past Dallas, even with Lebron James.

Now for an update: Mr. Mills, the man who was involved in the child custody case with Stacy Doss of California, was sentenced to one year in prison for welfare fraud. He pleaded with the judge for no prison time because he didn’t what his child to see him locked up. Shouldn’t she know him for what he is and not what he claims?

Mr. Hennessey may be contacted at pmhenn@sbcglobal.net