One Missed Child
BLOOMINGTON, Ind - A couple were so excited to see the film One Missed Call, they left their 3-year-old sleeping in the car as they went into the theater. Luckily, another patron in the parking lot saw the child and after buying tickets, went back out to check on the girl. At this point, the little girl was standing outside of the vehicle. The police were called and when they arrived, the mother of the girl had already came out to the car after finally remembering her daughter. No charges were filed at that time and the little girl was released to her parents.
“We don’t believe that they’ve had any prior contact with either law enforcement or with child protection services, and that’s probably something that factored into the officer’s decision at the time … to return the child,” Bloomington police Capt. Joe Qualters said. Prosecutors are deciding whether to file charges. I don’t know what is a bigger crime…the couple forgetting their 3-year-old, or the couple paying to see One Missed Call.
In either case, they should both be beaten.
Yeah - that’s a hard call there. I’ll have to drink, I mean think on it!
True, sort of on topic story: My middle brother was hit in the head with a falling church window when he was nine. The plate glass sheared his scalp off in back, so there was a trip to the hospital and rather a lot of stitching and freaking out. My parents arrived at the ER (which was twenty miles from our home) in two separate cars.
Cut to late that night, after my brother had been released, groggy but recovering. I hopped in the car with Daddy, youngest children hopped in the family wagon with Mom. Half an hour later, we got home to a phone call letting my parents know that nobody had made it home with Injured Middle Son. He was passed out on kiddie dope in the waiting room.
Oh, also? Mom used to leave us in the car while she went into the grocery store. In Houston. In July. In a Ford Maverick with black interior.
So, yeah. It’s not like paying to see One Missed Call or anything, but it might explain a lot about how jacked up i am and why Middle Brother is in prison. Better mark that little girl’s name down for future reference. That way, if she becomes the Kumari or Jaileen or Imp of 2025, we’ll totally know why.
That’s sad, Imp, but rather amusing considering the brother who was left behind was the one reason everyone was at the hospital. One would think he’d be the first one put in the car and made sure he was comfortable. I’m glad YOU turned out seemingly well and obviously intelligent.
oh, it’s not so much sad as just funny. My parents are actually good parents - but sometimes good parents do dumbass things, like forget their kid’s in a car while they pay to see a crappy movie.
I drove a Maverick Grabber for 4 years. Loved it. Hated it.
Wish I had it back.
We were left in the car all the time - this was in the 60’s & 70’s. We’d even walk to the local store and pick up beer and cigarettes for our parents. They were good parents too, for the most part, but back then, this stuff was okay in the eyes of society, and perfectly legal.
My parents flew to Las Vegas about once a month (we lived in the Denver area) and they’d tell us how horrified they were at how many kids were left in vehicles in Nevada, in the dead heat, while their parents were in gambling. (Pot calling the kettle black????) But, Vegas was not kid-friendly back then, and leaving your kids in the car wasn’t either. back then…
My dad dropped me off to get my hair cut when I was 9…Left me there until he remembered to get me…a couple hours later.
My parents weren’t award winners, but they were decent parents, and sometimes, decent parents just space.
Are you my daddy?
It’s possible. I throw my seed around quite liberally.
My first car was a ‘73 Maverick, with 3 on the tree. I didn’t care for mine - always a Chevrolet fan, myself. But, when you have no car and your grandparents offer to sell you one, really cheap - you take what you can afford to buy at 16 years old.
The whole being left in the car thing - I have mixed emotions. First, the “when we were little” stuff - times have changed so drastically. Yes, parents did things differently when I was a child, too. I don’t think I was ever endangered by their actions. But now, I feel that I could have been in some serious danger were the same instances to happen in today’s environment.
The biggest problem that I have with this couple leaving the child in the car is — people will bash your windows out to steal your purse and your packages — most people cover them up or hide them to deter robbers — so why would you leave your child in the car for someone to steal? Did they not value her more than their possessions?
Next, did the child even know “where” the parents were? Did they say , “O-kay Susie, if you wake up and me and dad are gone, we’ll be in the movies. Just wait in the car for us.” WTH. The little girl was outside of the car - and probably scared to death. Bad parenting, I believe. I think some stiff education should be given to those two. I don’t necessarily think the child should be removed from the home. The parents should get a good smack on the head and a wake up call. All parents make mistakes - I pray they learn from this HUGE one, value their child, and make better decisions from this point forward.
This is REALLY disturbing to me. Not enough to take the kid away, but I think Child Services should keep an eye on this family. Imp, it seems like in your case, your parents each thought that the other was taking your brother. Add that to the fact that there were so many kids to keep track of, and that they must have been stressed and frazzled as it was already. I don’t see that as disturbing as this. The fact that the child got out of the car terrifies me. He/she could SO easily gotten hit by a car. And for one parent to forget a child is one thing, but for BOTH parents to forget the child at the same time??? Just sounds very disturbing to me. Why are they even taking a child that age to see One Missed Call? I’ll admit it though, looking back I may have taken my child to a scary movie when he was a baby, in my younger and more irresponsible days, so I can understand that mistake. But still, as a young 20 year old mother, raising my son alone, working full-time, I never forgot my child anywhere.
Very disturbing. Like I said before, some people should not have children(.)!!!!!!!
I might be over protective of my kids, which I’d much rather be than otherwise. I even take my kids (1 and 5) out of their carseats during a quick stop at a convenient store.
Having kids is easier than raising them, and I think people tend to forget that.
That should be on every high schoolers handouts, for the parents and students. Very good point.
And as far as removing them from their carseats for quick stops — stay ever vigil — good for you. I was told so many times, when my son was a baby - just let him stay in the car we’ll be right back out. No way. What if someone had grabbed him or jumped in the car and took off. NO WAY!
I did at our little community store, once, pull up to the front doors and leave him in the seat long enough to stand at the counter, and buy a pack of smokes. The store doors were open, my truck door was ajar so I could quickly get in, and the counter was probably 15 - 20 feet from the front end of my truck. And still I kept looking outside to make sure no “unsavory” characters had pulled in beside my truck. And even, then, I only left him because he was so sick and had finally fallen asleep on the way back from the pediatrician. I couldn’t bare, (for both our sakes) to wake him up, to make a 45 second trip that was 20 feet away.
And, to the honest selfish side, I always liked to take my son in with me, to show him off. You never know who you might run into at the store that has not yet seen your own special miracle. My son is my miracle and such a precious gift and blessing bestowed upon me. I wish every parent felt that way about their children.
You’re right Pooh, it is hard to believe that so many parents don’t feel that way. How could you not, when you look at this little person who you created, who depends on you for every single need they have? I dont understand what goes on in other people’s minds sometimes.
That’s the whole problem - NOTHING is going on in their minds. At least, not in regards to their children.
Funny how that’s my motivation also. lol
Quick story: I was waiting in the car at a 7-11, with my kids, while my wife went in to get something (not the greatest neighborhood). An SUV pulls up next to us, a woman walks out, and leaves the car running with 2 kids in their carseats. After my wife came back out, I pulled up right behind her SUV, and sat there waiting for her ignorant ass to come out. As soon as she walked out, I said, “What is wrong with you? People like you should NOT have children”. Boy did she have the dumbest look!! I bet she didn’t even know why I said that.
Great. My online biodad is a lawn sprinkler with promiscuous home furnishings.
And you people wonder why i’m like this.
Oh man, this reminds me. A coworker of mine put her two small children in her minivan (this was about a year ago). She was about to pull out of her driveway when she realized she forgot something inside the house. She left the car running, ran inside, got what she needed, and returned to find the van and her kids GONE. After calling the cops, she got in a neighbors car and they started driving around the neighborhood. Well, a couple of minutes later they spotted her van in the parking lot of a grocery store. They pulled in, and a lady was outside of the van, holding her baby (the other child was in the car)! My coworker grabbed her baby, handed her to the neighbor, and proceeded to beat the shit out of her until the police showed up. And this lady is the NICEST person you could meet. Always has a smile on her face and everything. I was so glad it turned out the way it did. The kidnapper was one of those crazy ladies who wants kids of her own or whatever, and she spotted my coworker going back in the house and took the opportunity. Goes to show you that even one moment of letting your guard down could cost you your kid’s life.
I am very protective of my children. when I was a single Dad I would have to drive 908 miles one way to get my daughter in Ohio, it made for one hell of a trip during Christmas time driving 3600 miles in one week, but my ex would not put her on a plane or drive her even 5 miles to help me out. I guess she thought it was safer for me to drive 1800 miles round trip 1/2 the way in the snow. I did this for 6 years before I took her back to court to get her to help me out.
My daughter got so mad at me because I would have to bring her into the mens room with me and also had to drag her out of the car everytime I went in anywhere even if it was just to pay for gas. What else could I do? I know now that she is 15 that she understands, but she still thinks that she has been scared for life about the mens room thing.
I think of myself as a good dad but even I forgot my youngest daughter at the babysitters after work one day and did not remember until I got all the way home. Man I felt bad because I though what if I would have left her in the car or something.
Yes, even good parents do some really dum things.
warrman69 - every parent makes mistakes and some wrong decisions - but, it is those of us who constantly try to make the right choices and decisions who dwell on our past mistakes.
We are so very conscious of wanting our children to be safe that we keep kicking our own asses after we realize we made a mistake. While we must recognize our mistakes and correct them - we eventually have to let ourselves off of the hook, too. We did make the best decision, we could at the time, with the knowledge we had then. I know that “we” did that because we are loving parents - then and today.
Now, that doesn’t make them good or correct decisions - but we weren’t mean, uncaring parents. Just new to the job. My poor child is an only child. So a lot of learning went on for me, as it did, for everyone’s first child. Thank the Lord for looking out for my baby when I made decisions.
That is what blows my mind - I still feel guilty for shit that happened 10-15 years ago. How can those POS hurt kids on purpose and live with it, even repeat it. WTH? I’m still kick my own ass, ya know?
I have 2 boys 3, and 11. I many times especially in the winter, I live near Buffalo, NY have wanted to leave the boys in the car when I need to get just milk, or pay for gas, etc. I just can’t do it my mind runs the possible scenarios, what if… It’s just not worth the what if’s for me. I hate pulling my lil one out of the seat when it’s 20 below, and the older begging please let me stay in the truck! I can not imagine forgetting my kids, but my boys have big mouths! We all make mistakes, but I think in this day and age leaving your children in the car is too risky, also forgetting them …umm maybe you need some ginkgo biloba .
I live in Japan and the biggest problem during summer time is parents leaving their kids in the car to play pachinko (slots). I ‘ve been here for 2 years now and unfortunately this story is not uncommon. We always comment that when it’s summer time, let’s see how many kids will be left in the pachinko parlor’s parking lot this year.
Oh, memories. First car I ever tried to steal was a Ford Maverick. lmao
No really. My grandfather had this yellow maverick and my much older cousin and I decided to take it for a little ride without grandpa knowing. (this was late 70’s and Yes, very fucking stupid). We managed to push the car out of the drive way, across the cattle guard, and up the gravel road about 1/8 mi. (remember I grew up on a farm….pushing a fucking Maverick over a cattle guard is not easy)Our plan was to get it far enough down the road and my older cousin was going to hot wire it. Of course we got caught, and yep, was made to push it all the way back….
You can bet your ass I never tried to steal another car.
I would have loved to grow up in your town, Hippie! Sounds like a blast!