Children being left in cars

[jtee]

100s of children die each year because parents forget their very young children are locked in their car.

I recommend that parents view this 2 minute NBC news story simply so you, as a parent, see how devastated this mother is about having her 2 year old die in the car because she forgot. Not sure how to prevent something like this because when someone forgets, they forget.

http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?...a&f=00&fg=copy

I can only imagine how many years it will take for this mother to have a normal live again. 10+ maybe? Can you imagine how her husband\father reacted as well the rest of her family. When mistakes like this happen, it rips a family apart.

I doubt she was bad parent, but I sure hope that her tragedy some how helps other parents understand that a simple oversight by a busy parent can cause a child to die, and they need to make it a high priority that their child is safely out the of car FIRST every single time, not last.

[Terrible2]

Damn that sucks. I probably would've off'ed myself right there. I can't imagine what would happen if I made a mistake that caused my daughter's life especially something as torturing as being strapped in a chair in a air type area where temperatures reach 150 degrees. wow ... its sad.

[jtee]

It is very very very sad. I would think the mother would need to be put on a suicide watch.

What I think is important is that we all understand that being careless can have deadly results. They imply in the story that she was juggling a lot, over committed, and somehow she forgot her 2 year old was in her car that day.

[tater03]

I seen this yesterday. I cannot imagine how this mother must be feeling. I just find this whole thing so sad. Especially when it is an accident and not a irresponsible parent that just leaves them in the car because they don't have anyone to watch them. This happened not to long ago where the mother couldn't find a babysitter so she left her two children in the car and they died from the heat while she was working.

[Kaytee]

hmpf: can't get it to play!

Anyways I can't imagine either. I am not saying she was a bad parent because I don't know her or her family. But HOW DO YOU FORGET YOUR CHILD'S IN THE CAR!!!!???!!! I just don't get it. Mistakes happen of course, but to forget is just beyond me. Again I don't know what was going through this mothers head at this time. And I surely can't imagine the guilt she must be feeling now. Truly is sad

[fallon]

I agree with kaytee, I'm not really sure how you forget but being overstress can do horrible things to you and your mind. I wouldn't be able to live with myself, that's for sure. I think it should be noted that when you have a lot on your plate and things are starting to get crazy, ask for help because if this women had this whole thing may have been avoided. IMO

[jcck2007]

this should be murder at least to the 2nd degree, but again we heard there are actually case parent kills their kid or kids on purpose because of their personal problem , this is the worst, extreme thing can happen to parenting, even worse then just left little ones on the street

[jtee]

Originally Posted by fallon

I think it should be noted that when you have a lot on your plate and things are starting to get crazy, ask for help because if this women had this whole thing may have been avoided. IMO

Good point. We of course don't know exactly transpired with this mother, but it is my thinking that when a parent is overloaded, that is when mistakes occur that cause very bad things to happen to children. It is important that a parent be more self aware when they are stressed and\or over committed while small children are lacked to them. People start to cut corners, become forgetful, etc, etc. The odds start to become pretty bad when it is a lifestyle problem, rather than an exception. Maybe with this parent it was a one time thing, like getting struck by lightening, or maybe it was lifestyle problem, and she became more and more careless as result of being over committed day after day; and that fateful day, she didnt' get enough sleep that night, the person takening care of her 2 year old was sick, she had to work, she planned to take the 2 year old to grandma's, but ran inside the school for just a moment, and that was when she totally forgot her 2 year old was in the car.....

[fallon]

it's so sad, and to many people feel as though they're failing if they can't do everything, especially parents.

[steph2005]

Originally Posted by Kaytee

hmpf: can't get it to play!

Anyways I can't imagine either. I am not saying she was a bad parent because I don't know her or her family. But HOW DO YOU FORGET YOUR CHILD'S IN THE CAR!!!!???!!! I just don't get it. Mistakes happen of course, but to forget is just beyond me. Again I don't know what was going through this mothers head at this time. And I surely can't imagine the guilt she must be feeling now. Truly is sad

Once I was getting the kids out of the car and there was so much going on I sat my daughters car seat down and went to get my son out my boyfriends mom was talking to me and I was totally distracted i started walking Kyler into the store and just left my daughter there in the parking lot by the car. my boyfriend noticed and grabbed her but if he hadn't been there i dont know how far i would have got before I realized I didn't have her with me. Of course if I had been alone I might not have been as distracted and probably wouldn't have forgot her.