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Baby left in hot car in Layton dies
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Actually, I can't believe half of the comments on here. The ones that say things like, "It's impossible to forget your child in the car".
Everyone is different. Don't assume that a person COULD not forget. Because there are very few people out there who would purposely do that to their child. Do YOU know anyone who would want to leave their child in a hot car to die on purpose? I don't.
Children wander away get curious - get hurt and sometimes die. Sometimes, as a parent I get caught up in the moment of whatever I am doing, so many tasks to complete - so little time. We do it at work and at home.
Mistakes are made - lessons are learned. That was her child. This mistake I am certain, was not done on purpose. Those of you who look at her mistake with such a firm opinion on what her punishment should be - should perhaps look further. Look in the mirror and imagine for just a moment if this was you - would jail time fix your mistake. Would it lighten your burden?
Truly - without comment - take just a moment and put yourself in her shoes. And then make eye contact with all your children to make sure they are not out on an adventure they shouldn't be on. You wouldn't want to carry a similar burden.
To send this lady to jail because we believe she "deserves" it is vindictive and hateful. God will hold you accountable for such attitudes.
BOTTOM LINE: Always get your children out first, NO MATTER WHAT!
Now put her in prison for a long time. This little child was tortured to death.
I am also scarred for life by that discussion. My wife was about four months pregnant at the time and after reading each fact pattern, I imagined myself doing something like that. Luckily, that hasn't happened so far, but I still can't be quick to judge someone who just made a mistake, albeit a serious one.
Or perhaps as someone mentioned: EDUCATION! When I was a young mother, I was appalled to learn that my dear friend (also a good and well-intentioned mother) thought it was perfectly okay to leave a sleeping baby in the car while she did a "quick" trip to the grocery store. It is easier, yes -- but not safe. It may not prevent every death, but it may prevent more.
1) Mercy cannot rob justice.
2) The law of ACCOUNTABILITY.
Regardless of what we want or think, these two LAWS will be exercised on that "great and dreadful day."
She should be required to tell her story over and over again to appropriate groups. That could help other parents. The state could even put her on a billboard like the one where the sad looking lady says "Hit(kill?) a pedestrian, change your life"
or have her and others who have done that make a video. We all need to be reminded--over and over.
Jail seems inappropriate. She is changed forever as are those close to her. Just leaving it does not seem enough.
To somehow get the word out to others with her help seems a more positive approach.
It didn't sound like a normal situation in that they were worried and looked in the wrong places. From their response, it didn't seem so safe losing a 12 yo boy back then either.
Just saying...if they could lose track, assume, and forget to check, I think it's possible for anyone to.
I just hope all of you self-righteous perfect people will never have the same judgment you judge with meted out to you.
Those who say they have never forgotten anything important in their life are liars.
They're just lucky that their forgetfulness never had such tragic consequences.
The mother has already suffered enough. She deserves our prayers and our sympathy, not the hate and revenge expressed by some of the bloggers here.
No good can come either to the victim or to society from prosecuting this loving mother because of a tragic accident caused by simple forgetfulness.
You should be ashamed of yourselves for having such hate in your heart.
Wow. I've heard more justification for this horrific act than I would like to already, but that takes the cake.
What, exactly, is so simple about it? This kind of cavalier attitude towards GROSS NEGLECTFUL PARENTING is exactly how these things continue to happen.
This issue needs to be treated with the appropriate amount of contempt (notice I am not calling for the Mother to be condemned, just her actions) in order to serve as a warning to parents in the future.
It can not be thought of as even remotely acceptable to leave your children in the car for any length of time under any circumstances. If they are not first in your thoughts, then you need to take a hard look at where your priorities are.
Bottom line.
You say this could never happen? I am protective to the point of crazy sometimes with my four children. Yet last summer, I forgot my own sleeping son in the car for about 2 minutes. He was in the backseat, and was not normally with me during the 30 minute drive I had to make to the doctor's office. Luckily my husband met me at the hospital, and asked where the kids were (they were usually with a babysitter). I sobbed for several days about my forgetfulness and what COULD have happened. I was hysterical to near vomiting, and still feel that when I think of the situation.
Do not cast stones at this woman, unless she was neglectful on a daily basis. She will suffer for the rest of her life for her mistake. Imprisioning her will do no good to anyone involved.
If it weren't for global warming, this mother would still be holding her child...
Do me a quick favor plese, go check your car.
Then come back in, turn off your computers and watch your children.
I cannot understand how the mother forgot her child for 2 hours! It is totally unfathomable to me, a parent for over 22 years, who has never forgotten her children in a car or anywhere else. Safety has always been foremost in my mind as my children are my top priority. NEVER LEAVE A CHILD IN A CAR, WITH THE CAR ON OR OFF. If you get out, the child should get out whether it's one second or 10 hours. That's the best rule of thumb to live by. Yes, we all make mistakes but hopefully none so tragic that a child of our own or in our care dies. How senseless and what a tragedy to all. I have compassion for the mother and all the family, but most especially for the poor little baby. So sad and tragic. I do not believe the mother should go to jail (unless it was intentiona)but I do believe she needs to get serious help-NOONE could have a memory problem that bad. I hope she can forgive herself, I know I never could.
I do not know the circumstances here, and so I can not say what should happen. I hope the authorities make the right decision. I just hope this article will cause parents to realize that it is not wise to leave children in cars. Take the child in first, then the groceries or whatever. It is better to have milk spoil than a child hurt.
Just like dads and everybody else in the world. If you're not smart enough to do it, DON'T FREAKING HAVE ANY KIDS!!!
Install a sensor to prevent stupid people from driving.
Everyone has different opinions. Get over it.
ALWAYS NEVER LEAVE A CHILD UNATTENDED IN THE CAR. I HAVE A SON AND HIS 18MONS OLD, GUESS WAT IM 18 YRS... BUT I MAKE SURE NOT TO LEAVE MY CHILD IN THA CAR IF I HAVE TO I OPEN THE WINDOWS AND TURN ON THE CHILD SAFE LOCK OF THE DOORS....
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