Baby found dead in vehicle. Mother apparently forgot to drop off baby at day care.

grandfolksherald.com ^ | Thu, Jun. 29, 2006 | Lisa Gibson

[rawhide]

A 5-month-old baby died in a minivan Wednesday after the mother apparently forgot to drop the child off at day care.

The tragedy was discovered about 5:30 p.m. outside the Wonder Years 2 day care. The baby's mother stopped at the day care after work to pick up the child and was told by staff that the baby had not been dropped off. She realized then that the baby had been in her minivan all day.

"The mother had forgotten to drop off the child at day care in the morning," said Curt Kreun, owner of Wonder Years 2. "She actually came in the building to pick up the child and then realized what had happened."

The child was in a car seat in the back of the vehicle, according to Sgt. Jeff Burgess of the Grand Forks Police Department. A Wonder Years 2 staff member made the 911 call, according to Kreun.

[maine-iac7]

Well she solved the problem.

That's just plain nasty

[yellowdoghunter]

I could not have said it better myself. And please know that I realize that sometimes things happen and people have to do what they have to do. But the point about living near family is one that cannot be said enough.

And just think what a great life your children are going to have being raised with those values, and also your grandchildren. God bless you.

I can handle the flack....:) What is most amazing is how far people will go to stick up for this mother, with not a word about how the child suffered and suffered, and screamed and screamed and is now dead. The mother may suffer the rest of her life, but she is still alive!

[justche]

I think you're right. At least where my daughter was born (Salem, OR) someone from the hospital staff goes out to make sure it's rear facing and installed or they won't check you oug.

[ansel12]

"Serious question: how many people here could have ever forgotten you had a child in the car with you? No matter how old or where they were sitting?"




I haven't, but I have done many risk taking activities, and I know that the more often you do a simple activity the more likely you will have a mind f**t, especially when that activity is a part of your daily routine.

Even though the consequences are the worst imaginable and would destroy a parents life, many of us recognize that something like this can happen.

[Iluvpopcrn]

I'm not going to be able to read through all these posts, but I wonder if it wouldn't be enough to just put a mother's purse or diaper bag in the back seat...then when she went to get it, she'd see the baby.

[yellowdoghunter]

I don't see raving- I see opinions. NO one here has any power in this situation, but we can post our feelings about it. Just tell me if ' whoops' would cut it in the following scenarios? " I forgot the baby in the bathtub, and it drowned." " I forgot to feed the baby for three days, and it died." " I forgot to give my baby its prescription medicine, and it died." Death is the important thing here. Death by NEGLIGENCE whether intentional, through stupidity, or ' whoops'. Why not just allow every parent one ' whoops' death of a child, for whatever reason? I am of the opinion that anyone who causes a helpless child to DIE because they were NEGLIGENT should not be allowed another shot with another baby. A baby is a valuable human being, with a right to live, or it's not. Tragic 'accident' or not- if it causes DEATH, should there not be some consequence beyond sympathy for the negligent parent? And if we're never supposed to 'judge'- why do we have a judicial system. Societies judge their own, and set standards for behavior. My OPINION is that this mother should not be allowed any more babies, and I'd say that if it were my own sister. I wouldn't care if she liked it- that would still be my opinion.

And we have a winner.....BINGO!

[Shimmer128]

I'm a single mom - I chose to stay home - It took a little looking, but I found work from home. (I'm no where close to what I was making in the 'corporate' world) But, quite honestly, except that I have an older (but still in good shape car) there's not anything that we don't have that I currently wish we did have.

Thank you! But I do admit that isn't possible for every single mom.
Most people just don't want to admit, they want the things more than to stay home and sacrifice their goodies for their child(ren)

[GLDNGUN]

Why aren't we allowed to make these decisions for ourselves?

I have no problem with being allowed to make such choices for ourselves. I still maintain that she is responsible for what happened and nobody else. Let's put it this way - if you were on a jury sitting in judgment of her, and her defense was that she forgot the child due to seat laws, would you find in her favor based on that defense?

[yellowdoghunter]

Excellent point, and I really do agree, however, isn't it telling that we suggest she put her purse in the backseat so she doesn't forget her child. Because, I mean, come one, she would NEVER forget her purse.

It is all about priorities. And please know that I really do agree with your point. And I am all for anything that will stop a child from having to suffer and die that way.

[Jeff Chandler]

All I'm saying is that your analogy is faulty, unless she is indeed driving with that cash every day.

If she had 100 grand in that briefcase, she would NEVER forget it was there, so the analogy is a good one. In fact, it isn't strong enough. 100 grand is of no value at all compared to a human life.

I'm a little hesitant to pass swift judgment on the mother here and condemn her to hell.

Your use of the phrase "condemn her to hell" is a nice rhetorical tactic. It makes the argument that a woman who could "forget" her 5 month old infant has not made her responsibility to that child her first priority sound like the ravings of a lunatic religious fanatic.

Nice try. No cigar.

[ican'tbelieveit]

Oh, one last point... day cares are a capital enterprise, and despite their best intentions, their driving engine is the bottom dollar.

[ClearBlueSky]

Thank you! I cannot fathom the automatic 'understanding' if a baby roasts to death in a car. Such understanding would NOT automatic if the death of the same baby occurred due to any other form of neglect or forgetfullness.
Why is there automatic sympathy and understanding because it was a 'commuting death'?

[djf]

I totally agree. It sounds like a horrible, horrible tragedy.

And while I have suffered a tremendous crisis of faith lately, I will still send out prayers for the child and the mom.

[AlexandriaDuke]

There have been some clever solutions to these tragedies on this thread. They all sound like good ideas.

But, what if there are unforeseen consequences? Like, baby gets strangled by strap of Mom's purse or something? Or car alarm causes hearing damage? Or something else?

That's why these should be OPTIONS to be chosen in the marketplace, rather than imposed by the omnipotent Nanny State.

[yellowdoghunter]

Hi there, I almost missed your post. Good to see you. And please know that I completely understand your point.

[soccermom]

Just curious --- would you apply the same standard to a child that died after getting into the medicine cabinet? Wandering out the front door and getting hit by a car? Do you see a difference between willful neglect -- as in ignoring your child because you're high -- and an accident? I happen to think my mom was a wonderful mother -- and a stay-at-home one incidentally -- but we certainly had our share of accidents as kids. No one is saying parents shouldn't be accountable, but to what extent? I'm so glad to know you and yellowdog are so perfect and I hope you never know the pain this woman is experiencing. But, should something happen to a child or grandchild of yours, I hope there won't be people like you piling on.

[GLDNGUN]

If she had 100 grand in that briefcase, she would NEVER forget it was there, so the analogy is a good one.

One would think that you wouldn't forget that sum of money. Then again, I'm not in the habit of driving around with such an amount on a daily basis.

Are you?

Your use of the phrase "condemn her to hell" is a nice rhetorical tactic.

No, I'm just being honest. ONCE AGAIN, I believe SHE IS RESPONSIBLE and has NO EXCUSE for leaving her child in the car. How many times do I have to repeat that for you?

What else do you want me to say? She was very neglectful and made a horrific mistake.

Having said that, the "cash" analogy is faulty and a cheap shot. Do I believe that she could have forgotten money in her backseat? If she could forget a baby, ABSOLUTELY!

Where I won't sit in judgment of her, is to smugly suggest that she values money more than her baby. Evidently, you and the Mrs. feel quite comfortable making such a call, despite now knowing anything about her other than what is written in this story.

[yellowdoghunter]

No mention of the child who suffered? Very telling.

[kcvl]

Andrea Boe, 34, thought she had left her daughter, Kate, at a day care center before going to work Wednesday morning, authorities said. Police said the mother drove to her day care about 5:30 p.m., after leaving work, and was told she had not dropped the girl off earlier.


The high temperature in Grand Forks on Wednesday was 78 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. The National Highway Traffic Safety Commission says temperatures easily can climb to more than 100 degrees within minutes in an enclosed car.


http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/state/minnesota/14924930.htm


******

SMPS ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF 2004 MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS AWARDS

Andrea Boe, Grand Forks, ND

[bwteim]

A kong time ago, Someone said something similar....

John 8:7. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.