When will it end?

Whenever I read a headline like "Brooklyn teen busted in beating death of girlfriend’s 23-month-old baby," I literally think to myself, oh but when will it end?

When will children be protected by those who should love them most, and care for them the best?

When I was a writer for TheGrio.com, NBC News' African-American oriented news site I literally wrote an article entitled, "How to know it's safe for a boyfriend to watch the kids."

If there was anyone more taken aback by the fact that such an article needed to be written it was probably me. Maybe it's the part of me who loves kids that is instinctively saddened and outraged, maybe it's the fact that I'm a former childcare provider, I'd like to think that it's my human instinct of compassion which makes me care so much.

Then I think to the little Mya Carr who was allegedly beaten to death by her own father for as the media reported "soiling herself."

There are so many children in need of protection, in need of defending, and obviously therefore devoid of the love and care you'd expect would nurture their bodies, minds, and spirits.

As Yolanda Adams once sang, "What about the children?"