Sacrifice one child for another????

I think that I would have let go of the eldest also, but I tell you it would be hard. But I wonder what that kid felt like afterwards to know his mother let go of him.

I suspect I would do the same as you and release the elder one as he more likely to be able to fend for himself and can swim. There's a 7 year gap between my kids, but I have no idea what I'd do if it were smaller.

This is horrible situation to face.

Oddly, I was pondering something similar a little while ago. My partner is not the natual father of my eldest and I was wondering which of us should take care of each of the children if an emergency occurred. On the one hand, my partner is bigger and stronger than me and therefore more able to take care of the larger child. On the other hand, would he instincivly take better care of his own child? Let's just hope I never have to test my theories.

I remember that story. I can't even imagine being in that situation! I would not be able to let go of one of my children. I guess it would take someone being in that situation to see what your instincts tell you to do.

Honestly, I almost cried when I read your post. It was really a very regrettable experience for a mom of 2 helpless minors. God was really good and abundant in mercy. He let the 2 year old live no matter how neglected he got. If that happens to me, I might feel guilty all my life because my 2 year could have died and I let it happen.

Wow I don't think I could let go of any of my children. One never knows though until they are put into that position what they would really do. I could not imagine having to decide who to hang onto and who to let go. I have seen on TV that babies will naturally roll onto their backs and float when in water. I watched my youngest do it while we were all swimming at the lake. I think he was one when he fell in the water. He rolled over and floated until I could reach him. It was scary but he was fine. So maybe that is how the youngest survived until he could reach the hotel. It is a heartbreaking story with a happy ending.

God forbid that I am ever in that situation but I would be the same as you, I would rather us all die together than to try and choose to save the life of just one. I guess if it was my two boys and I have to give you an answer I would say that I would let the older boy go as he is able to swim, wheras the younger one has not learnt to swim yet.

It's a very rational idea to try and save one of the kids, I'm not sure I could be that rational if I were in that position. Because of my love for the kids I would most likely not let go of any of them and might get washed away with them. This makes no sence because you are sacrificing yourself and both of them this way, but I'm not sure if one could ever choose. Perhaps when you are in this situation you can, but at the time being I would not know.

Saving the oldest seems right because he has a bigger chance of surviving the cold weather and everything, on the other hand his chances are bigger to make it on its own too. This is just a disuccion so hard I feel like I can't give a good answer.
I can only hope never to be put in this situation and I'm glad the kid was saved.

How would he feel when his mom let go of him and they got reunited? Can he ever forgive her for not choosing him? That's a whole new discussion on it's own.

I'd never let go of my children or even consider which one had a better chance of surviving.

I have too many possible combinations of two to list off all the possible reactions I'd have if I was in that position with two of my children...if it was the two oldest we could pretty much all help each other. One big and one little....the big one could help me keep the little one safe. If I had just the two youngest, I think I could manage them both but if not I could tuck the baby under my shirt and hold the 3 year old. It would be the two middle ones that I'd struggle more with. They are almost 8 and 5. Both are built small but so am I so it would be hard to hold both. I'd either go down trying and we'd all drown or some kind of super strength would kick in and I'd be able to hold on despite the odds....actually that would work for any of the "middles" combinations.

Oh that is a really sad story. I really don't know what I would do in that situation. You know we may think we know what we would do but unless you are in a situation such as this, you just really don't know.

Right now though, sitting safe at my computer I think I couldn't let go of either one. That we'd all just die. But it seems like she made the right decision, because she still has both her children. We just never know do we?

I just pray that we never have a disaster like that anywhere, ever again. Very, very sad.