The woman did not say she had a 12 month old, she said she had a one year old. Don’t forget that a child is considered to be one year old right up through 23 months. However, even at twelve months old there is a lot you can do to begin changing unwanted behaviours. For example at twelve months old you would likely use mostly redirection. Just because a child is only twelve months old does not mean you would still allow them to strangle the dog or exhibit other unwanted behaviours does it? You would either remove them from the situation, or remove the situation from them! And even a twelve month old can understand tone of voice and many words.

For an older toddler, say 18 to 24 months there are many, many ways of being what I would consider "strict"   I don’t know your definition of "punishment" but I do not believe it is unreasonable to put an older one year old in time out (approximately one minute for each year of the child’s age) or to even (gasp!) give them a  swat on their bottom to get their attention.  If you are not reasonably strict at a young age you will very likely end up with a hellion as early as age three.

I do however suspect that you were thinking 12 months old, perhaps forgetting that a one year old can be much older than twelve months. And perhaps you consider strict to be bordering on abusive. But I consider strict to mean simply consistent enforcement of proper behavior and rules. You don’t have to abuse a child to be strict!

Please know I am trying to write this with a friendly tone of voice and a smile!  :-)  Have a great day!

She is not insane, but she definitely has psychological problems and for once I think the welfare of the children should come before the rights of the mother. I do not believe she is psychologically capable of providing the care that those babies need. And she obviously is not monetarily able to care for the needs of even the children she has now, let alone eight infants.

I always wanted a lot of children, but we could not afford it. I had to wait until I was forty two before I was financially able to afford a child, even though I desperately wanted tham. I was lucky enough to be able to get pregnant and I have a wonderful son. But I do not expect anyone else to pay for my child. He is my responsibility, and I don’t think I should have to help pay for anyone else’s children.  Knowing how much I wanted children, but also knowing I did the right thing by not having children I could not afford, I feel very angry when irresponsible people expect the rest of the world to pay for their selfish wants.  I think she should be evaluated as to whether she can provide adequate care in all areas, psychologically, physically and monetarily.  When it is determined that she is not able to, (as I’m sure it will be if the truth is actually told) then the babies should be put up for adoption so they can have a stable, loving upbringing by parents that are emotionally stable and capable of giving them what they will need,