Is it possible for a parent...?

Question

I've been reading the news where this mother in Houston forgot her 3 year old in the truck and he died because of the heat. How does a parent actually forget their child in a car? This is about the 3rd story i've read where parents say that they actually forgot their child in the car. Is that even possible?? I mean could you be that busy that you forget your child in the car?? I'm curious to hear from other parents...

Answer 1

When our daughter was 2 weeks old my husband was running some errands and had her with him in the car.  When he got to the grocery store, he and our older son were so engrossed in a conversation that BOTH of them forgot she even existed!  They went into the store and saw another baby that reminded them and they both ran out to the car to get her.  (They didn't share this story with me until weeks later!!! )  Personally, I have never forgotten a child.  I have killed several houseplants though.

Answer 2

I may be very busy and absent minded, but I've never forgotten my children are in the car. That is ridiculous. That equates to forgetting you have children. I may have a lot on my mind at times...but I always know my children are in the car and where they depart the car.

Just my opinion. We had a similar situation in my area...and I was amazed that the parent could forget the child was in the car.

Don't these people talk to their children?  

Answer 3

It was on the news here a month or so ago about a couple who left their infant in the car while they drank at a bar. Baby died!! Temperature in the car was in the 100's. THIS IS SICK!!!!!! That poor little soul. They said he had completely soiled and soaked through his diaper. I can't imagine why a parent would leave their child in the car. Selfishness maybe. They don't want to take the responsibility of being a parent. Maybe they are lazy. Who knows. If only all the couples in the world who want children and can't could have babies instead of these people. I don't get that!!

Answer 4

The only way I can imagine this happening is if you aren't usually the one that cares for the child or drops them off @ daycare. My daughter is with me 99.9% of the time. On the 2 occassions I've dropped her off @ grandmas. I felt as if I were missing an arm or something.

Answer 5

When I lived out west years ago, there was a story of a family who left their toddler in the car in the Arizona heat in the middle of the summer.  It was a family with a lot of children, and each person thought that someone else had gotten the sleeping child, who was about a year and a half old, out of the van.  Apparently, someone should have gone back out and checked, but no one did, and that child died within an hour or so.  

I think it's absolutely ridiculous.  I have two kids, and another on the way, and I can see losing track for a minute or so, but how could people not notice that their baby wasn't right with them.  Especially a toddler, that you are constantly having to watch anyways because they're into everything.  I know my son, who is 22 months, needs eyes on him at ALL times!!!  

It just seems to me that there are more and more excuses for poor parenting and for people who are either sick of being parents, or just so stressed out that they don't know what to do anymore.  

Answer 6

At 3yo, forget about them - I don't think so.

I like to see the best in people but no way you'd forget about a 3yo. I have 2 boys who are nearly 3yo, and if they are quiet I know something is going on.

No, you don't forget. Charges need to be given to the parents for neglect.

Answer 7

when my oldest son was born his mother had him in his car seat in a shopping cart and had walked away from him at the register to get something completely forgetting she had the baby. she said she wasnt used to having someone all the time. that was a long time ago. and i dont know how someone could forget their child but i know that the parents are aware that kids can die left in the car. and i would hope they wouldnt do that on purpose

Answer 8

I almost forgot my child was in the car once.  I was going to work, and for some reason my mind was on other things.  I can't remember what, now, but then it was important.  I was at my turn off to get to the parking lot of my office building when I happened to look in my rearview mirror.  My toddler was in the back seat and I had completely forgotten he was there.  I went up the road and took him to daycare and went to work.  It goes to show you that your mind can wander from even the most important things.  Does that mean I'm forgiving of people who let their babies die in hot cars?  Not really, because I know that many of the cases are stupid moms who are getting their nails done or whatever.  In a case like the Houston mom, though...we should give her the benefit of the doubt.

For the record, I wasn't talking to my son that morning, because he was sleeping...kids do that in cars sometimes.

Answer 9

I have a hard time wrapping my mind around this one.  

I remember reading where a mother left her infant in a car at Walmart not once, but twice!  And the same police officer found the child in the car both times at the same Walmart!  The first time, the child was placed in foster care for a few weeks while the mother went to classes, but she did it again right after getting the child back!  

I live in a desert climate and we hear one or two stories about this every year or so.  Making matters worse, all cars here have tinted windows, so it's unlikely that a passer-by would see a child left inside a car unless there was a lot of movement/noise.

But no, I just can't fathom it.  You forget your car keys.  You don't forget your child.

Answer 10

to Kellie W are you implying that parents who put their kids in day care can forget their kids because they put their kids in day care because if you are that's not true I put my daughter in day care and I would never leave her in the car in the heat by her self that is horrible. I don't know how parents actually forget their kids I personally think it's a load of c**p I think it was intentionally done I mean you forgot you had your child with you and you left them in the car for hours. if I got out of the car my daughter would be screaming for me even if she wasn't by her self.  

Answer 11

I can't imagine forgetting my child.  Sometimes when I leave her at home with my husband, I catch a glimpse of the empty car seat and have this momentary rush of "OMG where is my baby?!"

Answer 12

Forgive me if I take the "Dr. Laura" point of view on this one...

If you are always with your child, you can never forget them in the car! However, if you normally have your child cared for by others, I suppose it is possible to forget your child. Even in that case, I find it insane that a parent would forget their child.

I have 2 kids, and and one point, they were both under the age of 2. I was working from home part time. I was caring for them full time. There is no one (except for those moms who have many many children) who was more busy or more stressed than I was at that point! I cannot imagine "forgetting one or more of my kids in the car.

At the least, this is neglect, or manslaughter. At the worst, it is murder.