Parenting Advice from the Mothers of Serial Killers

Every parent seeks out advice at one point or another. If they don’t do it ahead of the birth of their first child, they absolutely do it at some point during the panicked nights, tedious days, and stressful months that follow.

In most cases, advice is sought on how best to rear a child without completely screwing them up. Still, there’s a lot to be said for learning from the mistakes of others. That’s why I decided to compile advice lifted from the childhood stories of some of our most infamous murderers.

After all, anyone can grow up to be a killer, but it takes a mommy to make a monster.

Never Underestimate the (Commercial) Value of Your Child

Kathleen Maddox did not set out to be a mother. She was only 15 when her son was born and listed him as “No Name Maddox” on his hospital birth certificate. Kathleen traveled with her unnamed child back home for her mother to name him. Kathleen had married a different man, Bill, towards the end of her pregnancy and, once her mother had given her son a first name, added their newly minted surname: Charles Manson was officially ready to…