Shannon Speaks

The 25-year-old Canton woman who died after Sunday's fatal custody swap in Milton typed this note to the Forsyth County Superior Court on Jan. 31.

On Jan. 31, Shannon Lawrence asked the Forsyth County Superior Court for a temporary protective order against Christopher Erdman, the father of her children and the man suspected of shooting her four times in the face and neck on Sunday. As part of that petition, which was granted but later dismissed, she typed the words on page 3 of the above PDF file. Visitors can pay their respects to the Lawrence family from 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Woodstock Funeral Home. A funeral mass has been scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday at St. Michael the Archangel in Woodstock, followed by a procession to Cherokee Memorial Park in Canton. Randy Lawrence, Shannon's father, said that a trust fund has been set up for his two grandchildren, Emma Catherine Marie Erdman …

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Sequoyah Speaks

When a Child is like a Cannonball

From teens to parents, Amy Feinberg discusses what it means to be caught in the middle of Mom and Dad.

Dear Parents of Cherokee County, Please refrain from using your kids as cannon fire. Do you know what happens when you launch something from a cannon and it hits the ground – or something else? Everything explodes. If your children love exploding, please go ahead. The truth is, we love being in the middle of your fights. Particularly your elementary school aged kids, they really like being in the middle of parent fights. Whether you are divorced, separated, or just having a fight with the spouse, do your children a favor: leave them out of it. When you're 17 and know everything, like me, and are apathetic to the world, parent fights matter less. When Mommy and Daddy act like babies, teens go to their room or they go out with friends. Plus…

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