A Scarsdale mom who booted her 10- and 12-year-old daughters out of the car in White Plains, police said, and then drove off, apparently because the girls had been fighting, sparked a debate among readers. Based on the responses, opinion is pretty evenly split between those who thought the mother’s actions were completely out of line and those who could sympathize with what they assumed were her feelings of frustration at the girls, although they didn’t condone kicking the girls out of the vehicle.

Here’s the story by reporter Rich Liebson with more than 45 comments so far. Here’s what some readers have to say:

OK, maybe not the best tactic to discipline the girls, and maybe she should have done it a block from home, but to actually drive away and leave one of them is just stupid.

Guess this says why some species eat their young. At least mommy dearest stopped the car before ditching the kids.

I’m not saying it’s right, but I can see where it could happen in a moment of temporary insanity! A lot of damage to undo in these kids now.

I’ve had feelings that strong with my children. I understand how the mom did it. It doesn’t make her a bad mom. It’s an awfully hard job to be a mother. Kids really don’t know. Of course I never actually left my children anywhere, but I understand that moment of flipping out and making them get out of the car.

The streets of White Plains really are not safe for young children on their own. What a ridiculous thing to do. Grow up, mom!