It's not everyday you hear about someone accidentally leaving their child at a Chuck E Cheese and not realizing it until HOURS later, is it? Well, for one little girl and her parents this is a reality.
You see, mom and dad are not together. So when the mom left, she more then likely thought her daughter was with the dad. And when dad left? He probably thought mom had his daughter. So they both went home, leaving their 3 year old daughter at Chuck E Cheese. On the nightly news (which aired at 11pm), they realized what had happened when they saw their daughter's picture on their television!
The little girl had gone up to a manager to ask for a drink of water, and the police were called.
What's a little upsetting, is that when the little girl's parents arrive? They were allowed to just take her home. No charges or anything against them. The party they attended at Chuck E Cheese started at about 4pm, and everyone left at about 8pm, and they didn't realize their daughter was left behind until 11 pm. That's a long time! Did neither of them want to call their child and wish her a good night before she fell asleep? I certainly would have!
Do you think the parents should have had charges pressed against them?
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Comments (32)
Well that's odd. They should most definitely improve their communication. THe question is why did they just leave without talking to the partner and the child about where she's going to stay, and without making sure she's taken care of if she's not with them??
Whoever left first probabaly made the biggest mistake, the other probabaly thought the ex-partner had taken her with them.
However it might have been an accident. If the child said she was going with the other parent but sneaked away for example.
Yes, let's add another child to the already strapped foster care system. Maybe I am naive, but I get the feeling that if there was a reason to suspect neglect or abuse, they would not have been allowed to take their daughter home. Just because no charges were made does not mean they won't be monitored on a temporary basis. I don't know enough about the story to judge these parents. Maybe they really did think the other had her. Before leaving, I would have made sure my husband knew I was gone and to get our schedules in sync. He would have done the same. However, not everyone is a perfect parent and sometimes people make stupid mistakes. As for calling, not everyone is going to call their kid to say good night. Let's skip jail, just burn them.
It was an accident. Out of all places to leave a child, Chuck E. Cheese is the safest because they have stamps and can't leave unless they have a matching stamp with their child. I don't think this child should be taken away from their parents. I'm sure they feel horrible. I can totally see how that might happen, but the parents should definitely learn to communicate better.
ok when i first read the title I was ready to get upset with the parents... but as I read it I found that the OP has made some rather harsh judgements.
The parents are human. It seems likely that this is something they have done before and there was simple a miscommunication as to which parent took her home. Like Dad thinks its mom's night, Mom thinks its dad's and no one bothers to clarify. Or maybe they had an arrangement made in passing and the lines got crossed.
Its not negligence, its a failure to communicate.
I am a fosterparent, and there is no reason for this child to be put into the system. And why should mom and dad be charged? Its not like they left her there on purpose!
However, I do think that the parents should be monitored a bit and maybe have someone check in with them to see if there is something that can be done in the best interest of the child so this does not happen again. But press charges and put her in foster care? Uh no.
Charges against them? Accidents happen, miscommunication happens; it does not make the parents neglectful, abusive, or terrible people. I can't count how many times my friends, siblings, and me have accidentally been left in a grocery store or library, things happen.
It was a lack of communication and sucks but no I don't think they should be charged.
I'm just thankful that nothing bad happened to the poor little girl, it could have been a lot worse.
How horrible a child got left behind but thankfully she was safe and nothing happened to her. Hopefully in the future, despite their differences, the parents need to decide to communicate better--should confirm with the other parent that their kid is safe before leaving. I'm glad the situation didn't escalate. More often then not, according to a friend who is a social worker, neighbors, friends, others call for help when none was needed and children taken away unnecessarily. The last thing a kid who was left behind needs is to be taken away from her family. In this situation, no, I don't believe the parents should have been charged.
"Did neither of them want to call their child and wish her a good night before she fell asleep? I certainly would have!"
Good for you.
I never knew most parents went out of their way like that every single time their child is being watched by someone else? I think this was all just an honest mistake and maybe a miscommunication,
Nope, they shouldn't be charged. It was an accident. Luckily, they left her at a great place for kids!!! lol.
Oh my. I don't think there is anything to charge them on, but why wouldn't they have planned on who the child was staying with that night...
I mean, yes. It's a horrible situation. But at the same time, they both thought the other had the child. They didn't really think to check with the other to actually see, but it's also not odd for parents to assume that the other parent has the child. My parents are still married and they've accidentally left me or one of my siblings at church or something when we drive separate cars and it's assumed that one of went with the other parent. Luckily it didn't last that long and they quickly realized what was going on because they actually called.
OMG Noo... I'd feel like a horrible parent if I ever did something like that when I have kids. Kids feel forgotten. Parents should be more responsible.
Of course they shouldn't be charged! It's a mistake. They probably feel awful enough at what happened without having a criminal record added on top of it. Accidents happen and nobody's perfect - my dad forgot to pick me up from school when I was little because he thought my mum was collecting me and my headmistress had to take me back to her house and call him - should he have been charged with neglect?! Of course not - it's miscommunication/forgetfulness. We don't suddenly have perfect memories and communication abilities because we become parents!
I don't think there should be charges, its not like they forgot her there and went home together, they're divorced and if they left the place without even saying "bye" to each other then they're obviously not on very good terms - but its not like they were neglecting the child.
Hopefully this teaches them they just need to communicate better, especially in terms of their kid
"I certainly would have." The most common statement made by people who don't have children to pass judgement on the parenting of those who do. Throwing rotten tomatoes from the cheap seats.
Scary! But I still ask myself this question a lot on situations like this, how do parents forget their children at these places? I mean, kids are "noisy" and running around laughing , screaming, or asking for things (attention) all the time. Unless their kid is super quiet but still, idk, just wondering :)
Why should they have charges brought against them for that?
That would be horrifying to see your child on the news! No, I do not think they should be charged with anything (mistakes happen), and I bet that this sort-of mistake won't happen to these two again.
They need to pay a fine. Do you realize how many children go missing every year? How many lunatics are out there just looking for a way to get into the child's world, and then you'll never see your kid again? These people obviously don't have a clue. I would have taken my child, or handed her over to her father, physically. A three year old isn't just left sitting someplace while you leave. Has no one heard of telling their child goodbye?
I used to go to Cubs when I was a kid, and one night... no one showed up for me. IT was like half an hour later and the head Cub leader whatever they're called told me to come to his house next door and we'd find someone to come get me.
My mom was working and evening shift, and it was right after my dad left and I was only 8 and didn't have his new number memorized. I kept calling my grandparents, but they had dial-up and I kept getting the busy signal.
I think my mom wanted my grandparents to pick me up, but they got the night mistaken or something. Anyways, my mom shows up at my grandparents house to pick me up and I wasn't there. I think at the same time I had a brain wave of what my dad's number was and he, my grandparents and mom all showed up at the same time.
It happens.
How do you know that the kid was forgotten?
It was a mistake, unfortunately one that's commonly made. Things like that happen when there's a lack of communication.
No, it was a horrible mistake.
It was a terrible mistake, but it was a mistake nonetheless... It wasn't out of malice. I don't think charges should be pressed.