NO sympathy for Dursleys (was RE: Speaking up for Petunia)

[kyliemckenzie1225]

No: HPFGUIDX 83637

<susanmcgee48176 wrote:
<Well, I have been so angry at the way the Dursleys have treated 
Harry 
that it took me a long time to have ANY sympathy for them.

But I will tell you (as the mother of two) that the time between 
about 12 months and 2 years is the MOST difficult. The kids are 
mobile, and NOT rational. You canNOT reason with an 18 month year old.
Some kids are real easy; some kids can create havoc in an eye blink. 
I've had one of each. You'd think two adults with help from other 
adults could easily deal with one child..well, let me tell you, I was 
totally exhausted for a good two years. So....we can have sympathy 
for Petunia.> <snip>

Kylie responds:

Your generosity to Petunia makes you a kinder, gentler sort than 
me... In GoF after Cedric is killed and Voldemort returns, and Harry 
is in the hospital wing, JKR tells us "Mrs. Weasley set the potion 
down on the bedside cabinet, bent down, and put her arms around 
Harry.  He had no memory of ever being hugged like this, as though by 
a mother."

How incredibly sad that, even if Petunia despised Lily, she could 
offer no physical comfort to a small child at any point in his life, 
even just out of respect for the fact that he is family, the 
grandchild of the people who gave her life and raised her.  I have no 
sympathy for the so-called "plight" of the woman, being asked to 
raise her own nephew.  Family comes with some responsibility, and 
children need love.

kylie