Posted on 06/29/2006 1:07:30 PM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at grandforks.com ...
so anybody who has their child at day care is a monster-
Who do you people think you are!
done with freerepublic, unfortunately-I'm tired of the constant judgement by people here. Not every body makes a million bucks
There might actually be something to this. It is a tragic situation. It seems to be easy for us to be judgmental on these things, but since it seems to happen with some regularity to people who are otherwise "normal, good parents", there is clearly a need for solutions. Thank you for thinking in terms of solutions.
Then we need to get rid of the airbags to prevent babies from dying.
That's not a good answer, but doing nothing is inexcusable.
Thank your lucky stars you are not a parent in a society that now requires two incomes to keep heads above the water - and/or that you are not doing two full-time jobs at once (job outside the home and job of parent in the home) that can leave you stressed, frazzled, rushing and prone to make mistakes - even tragic ones.
The old Cheyenne prayer comes to mind; "Great Spirit, help me not to judge another until I have walked in their moccasins many moons."
"send a text message to the parent."
and the message begins - "Hey dipsh*t,..."
Not a bad idea though - the seats could have plugs that could plug in to the car's electrical chasis, just like the newer clips they now have installed in the crevice of the cars backseats.
I've had it the other way around were after I handed off the younger one to my wife, or another family member - I'd be a few miles down the road and get that striking fear that he was forgotten even though everything was completely in order. I just figured that was the undercurrent of my consciousness working correctly.
It must be comforting to know one is infallible
I consider this to be more the fault of government mandating child car seats and that they be placed in the rear seats of the vehicle. It is very easy to forget a silent, sleeping child in the back seat of a car, especially when you are gearing up to face the stress of the coming work day.
Add to that the feminaziation of our society that would make this woman feel she needed to work anyway. Then the overtaxation that almost requires double incomes.
Yes, this individual woman carries a lot of responsibility, but in the interest of protecting children our government has set up children to become victims!
If we waited until we could afford to live on 1 income for 6 years (that's if we only have 1 child) we'd never have kids.
We can afford to have a child. We just can't afford not to work and have a child at the same time. We don't live extravagantly. We don't own lots of expensive toys. We both drive used cars. We don't take expensive vacations. If we're lucky we get back to Ireland every other year to see his parents.
But we do need 2 incomes. Perhaps this lady is in the same boat.
It does get a little tiresome of reading some of these posts and reading how many individuals have the answers to all of everyone else's woes.
If the authorities would actually do their job and stop buying these lame excuses for child murder, we'd see an astonishing number of parents suddenly find their memories and tend to their children. Instead, the wonderful authorities are aiding and abetting these sad excuses for people to get away with murder...
Oh, please. It's not the fault of the "Nanny state" that this woman forgot she strapped her own infant into the backseat. It's the mother's fault. It may be against the law to put the kid in the front. I bet its also against the law to leave your child in the car all day. Is that another example of the Nanny state?
"A monster like me, I guess. My 3-month old goes to a day care once a week, and will go three times weekly this fall."
There is a lot of evidence that suggests that SEVERAL days a week in day care can actually be stimulating and good for a child.
Much better than being alone with a babysitter that ignores the child.
Just be sure and give the child LOTS of your time when you do have him/her with you.
And I also wish women would rise up and demand that taxes be lowered, or whatever it takes, so it does not take two incomes to raise a family. However, if many families would give up the bigger house, the new car every 5 years or so, etc...one could afford to stay home.
Lady, I called no one a name. I do not think folks are monsters for working and putting a child into day care. I could not do it. I chose to live "beneath myself" for a few years to be at home and raise my babies. But I will not judge anyone else who feels they have to work.
I was appalled too to see the name-calling begin immdediately, but honestly, what kind of person does this hideous thing?
Hmmm...who says she didnt think of her child? My supposition is she thought the child was safe at day care...yet, was not.
This isnt the first instance of a child being left in the back of a car.
If you play out the lack of sleep, quiet child, morning rush, preoccupation, and subconscious feeling of routine scenario...it's not implausible.
I doubt this woman is heartless...and, for her...odds are her life is ruined.
I'd take 1 day a week. This monster here has to take her 2 month old angel to daycare everyday. Some of us have to work full time.
You are right, accidents do happen and there isn't always a monster involved in a child's death. I imagine no one is hurting now more than that mother. As I drove my 6 yr. old twin grandchildren to summer camp this morning I forgot to turn on the street where I should have turned. About 5 minutes later I realized my mistake. I just took a longer route and no harm was done. I wasn't particularly stressed or in a hurry. Sometimes my mind just wanders, even when I am driving. An overly tired, stressed out new mother who probably didn't get a good nights sleep could make a tragic mistake and still be a decent person. Lots of FReepers are too quick to judge someone harshly.
If your child is your top priority, these things would not happen.
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