How sad is this?

That is very sad, I don't understand how anyone could do that. The 18 month old probably wasn't worried with being so young but the nine year old would have been teased at school and she is at the age where she wants to look pretty. That mother needs to take a good look at what she is doing.

It sounds like that woman had terribly low self esteem and was a bit too immature to be a parent. How in the world could you do that to a child. At nine years old that would be humiliating. I would almost say that is emotional abuse in my opinion.

That sounds to me like the mother needed big help, what a horrible thing to do, I'm sure she has caused a lot of damage to her kids especially the nine year old, Did she have a partner?? if so where was he in this?

There is no way that I could do that my own children. I just have one son, but to me, he is the handsomest guy in the world. If I had a daughter I'm sure I would think she was the prettiest girl. I would never do anything to try to make my kids look uglier. That's just cruel. I think there are things that are much more important than looks, but it still makes me happy to see my beautiful baby boy and know that I have such a special handsome guy. If I had a girl I'm sure I would feel the same way.