Ya know, I just dont get it!!

catloverin_ks

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I read an article in the paper about a man leaving his toddler in the car after a family outing. Im sorry, but seriously how can you forget your child? Its sad to think that child was left in the heat, to die! Yes, he died. How can one do that? I just do not get it!! Makes me so mad when I read a story about this, and yet it continues to happen. UGHH!
 

annasmom

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I can't understand it either! Even when I am driving alone (which is rarely) I am obsessive about checking the backseat to make sure my girls aren't back there. It's just a habit. However, my sister did leave her baby in the car once, I pulled up about 5 minutes after she did and said "are you planning on getting Ava out" (she was about 4 months.) She felt like dirt, but it has never happened again.
 

butterflydream

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I rarely understand how someone can just 'forget' their child in the car...I mean for one, a toddler, they make ALOT of noise if they aren't sleeping and 2 gosh it's your own kid.
 

catsknowme

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I've known other people who have forgotten their child. Once, a co-worker chatted with me in the grocery store parking lot, and her older children were fighting, so she quickly loaded them up in the car & drove them home. BUT she forgot the youngest, a toddler of 18mos., in the shopping cart!! We were yelling at her to stop, but she drove off & I couldn't chase after her because I had my own 2 girls to keep an eye on. My older daughter wheeled the shopping cart & I drove the little one home, sans carseat, since I didn't have an extra. My friend was flabbergasted - I caught up to her as she was pulling in her driveway. And her older girls were so busy fighting over Barbies that even they didn't notice the youngest was missing.
What a horrible burden for a parent to have to bear, esp. when a death occurs. I wonder if the man was just too tired, careless, mentally incompetent or drunk, or what? If only other family members had realized his mental condition and provided assistance in the childcare.
 

jennyr

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I had a boss once who left his toddler asleep in his car seat after an outing, because they didn't want to wake him up. They checked a few times, and he was OK, then they went out and the little boy had strangled himself to death with his car seat strap. The family of course never forgave themselves. You should NEVER leave a child alone in a car for even a few minutes.
 
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catloverin_ks

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Originally Posted by jennyranson

I had a boss once who left his toddler asleep in his car seat after an outing, because they didn't want to wake him up. They checked a few times, and he was OK, then they went out and the little boy had strangled himself to death with his car seat strap. The family of course never forgave themselves. You should NEVER leave a child alone in a car for even a few minutes.
Man, thats sad!! I wouldnt ever forgive myself either!! But I have a 2 y/o daughter, and even if shes not riding with me, it is a habit to look in the back seat, during my drive or after I get out. I just feel "weird" if I dont.....
 

phenomsmom

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I don't have kids but I can't imagine forgetting that your kid is with you! Hello you put them in the car!!
 
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catloverin_ks

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Originally Posted by Phenomsmom

I don't have kids but I can't imagine forgetting that your kid is with you! Hello you put them in the car!!
EXACTLY!! I have been tired and such after doing outings or whatever, but I have yet to forget my child!!
 

april31

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i dont get it either. u just dont forget your kids im sorry. once when my first daughter was little my family went somewhere and she rode with my mom in her car we left first half way there i had this horible thought what if my mom forogt her!!!! i got so upset that i made my husband pull over untill my mom passed and flagged her down to make sure she had her.
 

3calicos

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Wow... that is just sad
I know my mom has left her kids behind sometimes (she had 5 girls) but never in a car. She left my little sister behind at a grocery store when she was watching all 5 of her kids and 3 of my aunts kids... that's a lot of kids for one person to look after... Luckily for my mom my sister was okay! One of the store clerks took pity on her and bought her an ice cream cone for being such a good girl.


I don't understand why you would leave someone behind in such weather... poor baby
 

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I can't imagine. That must be awful for someone to go through. I'm sure they don't do it on purpose, but their mind must be somewhere completely else if they can forget the most important thing in the world to them.

I couldn't imagine my sister doing that with my niece, she is so paranoid as it is!
 

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There was a case like that in Philly, it was some rare thing for the grandfather to watch the child, he didn't even put the child in the back seat, his wife did, then he got into the car, and was supposed to drop the child off at daycare. The 9mos old baby was asleep, he had to stop somewhere 1st, and then got in his usual routine of driving to work.... completely forgot the baby, and only remembered when daycare called & asked the parents if the child would be attending tomorrow since she was out today. It was a horrible situation, they were going after the grandfather like he was a predator. And I'm not defending his actions, but everytime you saw the family, the whole family was in pieces, and the grandfather was beyond consoling. And I should add, that his daughter and her husband were against him having to go to prison on account of his horrendous mistake. So very sad.
 

katiemae1277

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something very similar to Heather's story happend right around the corner from me, the father didn't usually take the child to the babysitter and for some reason this day he was, and forgot to drop her off and went to work etc, the baby ended up dying.... whats makes this story even worse was that the babysitter never called to see why the child was not dropped off, it might have saved her life
I also don't agree with prosecuting the parent/grandparent/whoever in these situations, I believe the pain and guilt is more than enough punishment, if they need to charge something, amybe a fine for negligence, but no prison
 
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catloverin_ks

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Originally Posted by LuckyGirl

There was a case like that in Philly, it was some rare thing for the grandfather to watch the child, he didn't even put the child in the back seat, his wife did, then he got into the car, and was supposed to drop the child off at daycare. The 9mos old baby was asleep, he had to stop somewhere 1st, and then got in his usual routine of driving to work.... completely forgot the baby, and only remembered when daycare called & asked the parents if the child would be attending tomorrow since she was out today. It was a horrible situation, they were going after the grandfather like he was a predator. And I'm not defending his actions, but everytime you saw the family, the whole family was in pieces, and the grandfather was beyond consoling. And I should add, that his daughter and her husband were against him having to go to prison on account of his horrendous mistake. So very sad.
This I can *kinda* actually understand-because they werent used to having a baby in the car. I feel for everyone in that situation!
But the guy that had a family outting with his kids, I just didnt get that!
 
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