"A Mother's Reckoning Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy" Sue Klebold - Lacks Any Onus for Son's Atrocities

Ground zero for mass shooters in schools, the mother of Dylan Klebold grieves but doesn't concede culpability in any way for his murderous rampage at Columbine.  Sue Klebold professes grief & remorse for her son and his victims but considers herself & her husband, Tom, collateral damage & denies any inclination or knowledge of her son's plans to commit a massacre at his high school.  She was stunned by the bomb making equipment and arsenal discovered by police in their home.  My intent in reading Sue Klebold's memoir was to gain some insight into what may have prevented this tragedy & the mounting school shootings that have occurred since.  Sue receives a sympathetic letter from a young boy telling of being bullied "I'm not surprised it happened.  I'm surprised it didn't happen at my school too and that it doesn't happen everyday at schools."  This prescient letter portends today's students not only fear being killed at school, they expect its likelihood.  In May, Paige Curry, a student from the Santa Fe High School where 10 people were killed was asked by a reporter if she was shocked by shootings.  Her candid & chilling response "No,…it's been happening everywhere, I always kind of felt like eventually it was going to happen here too."  My conclusions having read "A Mother's Reckoning" is to levy blame and blood on her hands.  I also found Sue to be a narcissistic liar making my blood boil.  Sue wrote "I believe I am a profoundly honest person - sometimes to a fault."  She also wrote "He'd {Dylan} always been the kid we could rely on to do the right thing."  Dylan & Eric Harris, the other shooter, were arrested for breaking into a van and stealing equipment.  In school, the two used computers to retrieve locker combinations & broke into lockers.  The school gave the boys a week suspension which both Sue & her husband argued as too harsh (white privileged parents perhaps?)  That year, Dylan was caught scratching a student's locker & received another suspension & a $75 fine for damages which Tom argued was too costly.  Dylan's English teacher called Sue in to discuss a very disturbing paper for its violence & vulgar language.  Sue wrote "I never wanted to leave a meeting without an action plan.  Sue asked 'So, you'll call us if you think this is a problem.'  Obviously that's why you were notified. Sue never had Dylan show her what he wrote & passed the responsibility back to the school.  The night before the shooting Dylan asked if Eric could sleep over.  Sue noted Eric came  at 10PM carrying in large duffle bags he could barely lift yet she never questioned what was they contained.  The day after the heinous murder-suicide, Sue had her monthly hair appointment.  She felt it necessary to be well groomed. She called the salon and asked for her appointment at closing.  She was horrified by the press painting her in a bad light the next day or why this would appear so abhorrent.    Sue blames Eric and defends Dylan, "Eric was a failed Hitler. Dylan was a failed Holden Caulfield.  Sue failed as a parent and blood is on her hands for the victims & families whose lives Dylan destroyed. There is an important aftermath take away.  Ethical parenting means being responsible for knowing when your child is troubled and that an invasion of their "privacy" & persistent questioning/listening is mandatory followed by professional help to prevent these preventable tragedies.