What we most likely have here is a case of the overworked, under rested parent going about his daily business like a zombie. I’ve been there myself. but the worst I ever did was get out of the driveway without buckling the kids into their car seats.
We had a case several years ago where a local mom, principal, left her child in the car where it died of heatstroke.
Brenda Slaby Left Baby In Car - Oprah Show June 25 2009 - Tips On How Moms Can Slow Down
http://www.everythingoprah.com/2009/06/brenda-slaby-left-baby-in-car-oprah-show-june-25-2009-tips-on-how-moms-can-slow-down.html
Brenda’s First Day Back To Work
On the first day back to school after summer break, August 23, 2007 Brenda Slaby was in a big rush to get everything ready for the school new year. Her husband Gary usually brought the children to the babysitters and pre-school but because of a dental appointment he asked his wife to take the youngest daughter, 2-year-old Cecilia to the sitters for him.
Brenda left the house at 6:00 A.M. but realizing that it was too early to drop Cecilia off at the babysitters house she decided to stop at the store to grab doughnuts for the teachers.
With her mind on all of the things she needed to do at work to start off the new school year she forgot about the babysitter drop off and drove directly to the school.
She spent the day inside the school working, attending meetings, having her lunch break, and even talking to others about her children. She felt like she was having a great first day back, never remembering that she had left her youngest daughter in the car.
A Mother’s Worst Nightmare
At 4:00 P.M. one of the teachers ran into Brenda’s office to tell her that her baby was in the car. Brenda and other teachers ran out to the car screaming, but it was too late, the toddler still strapped in the carseat was lifeless.
The teachers made efforts to cool down and revive the toddler but she had died of heatstroke. That day temperatures reached 100 degrees and Cecilia had been in the car for close to 8 hours in the stifling heat.
Brenda and her husband Gary were both shocked and devastated. Gary said that he doesn’t blame his wife for what happened and that on occasion he had made the mistake of forgetting the girls at the babysitters. He knows that Brenda would never intentionally do anything to harm her children and blames what happened on change in routine combined with a hectic lifestyle.
“What we most likely have here is a case of the overworked, under rested parent going about his daily business like a zombie.”
Yep.