Would you have left your kids alone?

[Pleepsie]

Am I the only person to think that the parents of Maddy were wrong to leave their kids alone when they were out having fun.

 

Link to storyhttp://www.mirror.co.uk/news/.

 

The press has been very quiet on this front, but you can bet your bottom dollar that if it had been had it been a working class family whose child had gone missing then there would have been a national outcry and the papers would have demanded to know why it was allowed to happen in the first place.

 

I have never left my kids alone, and yes, it is a pain dressing them just to go for a pint of milk, but that is all part of being a parent. My mind boggles at the crass stupidity of Maddys parents leaving 3 toddlers all alone in a strange country, where they knew no one. Their behaviour has caused untold horrors to an innocent little girl.

 

I hope with all my heart that the little girl is found safe and well.

 

I also hope that her parents are investigated for leaving their kids alone.

[KOYAANISQATSI]

exactly, when would anybody with half a wit contemplate leaving them like that. I hope they realise they carry half the blame with their grossly inept parenting skills.

[DamnSaxon]

It was decidedly questionable leaving them alone like that - as the subsequent tragic events proved - though I suppose in mitigation they probably assumed that the holiday place was reasonably safe, as you would. At least they were checking them regularly, and the restaurant wasn't that far away, so perhaps they weren't entirely negligent. To the extent they were, they're already going through hell.

I hope with all my heart that the little girl is found safe and well.

And so say all of us, though the longer it goes on the more you despair.

[Twerto]

yes a very sad case indeed. and despite thinking they were foolish in there actions i do really feel for the parents and family just now.

 

Can only hope it resolves quickly and as little harm as possible has been done to the wee one

[moorit]

Am I the only person to think that the parents of Maddy were wrong to leave their kids alone when they were out having fun.

 

 

Everyone is thinking that now, especially her parents

 

It's happened,you can't turn the clock back, their judgement was wrong, they know that , but we live in a society where someone has to be blamed.

[Njugle]

Slightly tangential, but it seems like ITV are having a bit of a field day over this one, sending anchor to report. Footage from the Kirk etc., Not befitting the situation, in my humble opinion.

 

It was also reported yesterday that the portugese media were dwelling on the 'abandonment' angle too. I guess every parent who has ever left a young kid for 'half-an-hour' is shuddering a bit after this.

Let's hope she's safe and well.

[KOYAANISQATSI]

every parent who has ever left a young kid for 'half-an-hour' is shuddering a bit after this.

 

And well they might, at the extent of their own stupidity for risking the live of a child with a disregard that beggers belief. If the parents were smack heads who had left a methadone bottle for their toddler to chug down would the public be so understanding, I think not yet I would say misplacing medicine is a far less damnable error than completely abandoning them while you nip out for a resteraunt meal.

 

I just hope they do get the chance to not repeat it.

[RickB]

Its easy for us to find fault with the parents. most parents have nipped outside leaving thier kids in the house for a few minutes. I do however question their mentality for going out for a meal and only checking (I think) at half hourly intervals.

[Tomblands]

Taken from the BBC Website piece...

 

Celtic and Aberdeen footballers will show solidarity by wearing yellow armbands during their match on Saturday.

 

I know this is a huge news story, and whilst trying not to seem like an insensitive wooble, it has absolutely NOTHING to do with either of these teams. Have either of them done this for any of the *x amount* of children that go missing each year? What is different about this case?

[Rasmie]

this case is shocking and heartbreaking. and frightening...........I don't think the parents need further critiscism. I feel for them.

 

Personally I would not have done it - not even here in Shetland for half an hour. I won't leave young kids in the car - as everyone knows cars can spontaneously combust - rare as it it! As can holiday accommodation and houses.

This nightmarish scenario could happen here - quite shocked to see young bairns around the town themselves at night- all it needs some opportunist with say a yacht or take a van on the north boat.

Bad things happen, in less than a minute , but we must all be as vigilant as we can.............................................................................................

[Wifey]

This little girl's parents clearly felt their children were safe or they wouldn't have left them alone. They could never have anticipated what was to happen. They were in what was perceived to be a safe, family environment. The worst they could have imagined was one of the children falling and bumping their head.

 

None of us have been to this resort (I'm assuming). How many of us can say for sure we wouldn't have done the same?

 

We recently stayed at Centreparcs. You feel as though you are in a safe, closed, children friendly environment. I let my 8 year old daughter cycle around on her own. My only concern was she might fall off her bike and graze a knee. It never crossed my mind something sinister could happen. Would I let her do the same now, after what has happened in Portugal - not a chance.

 

I can very much identify with Maddy's parents. Their lives before this horror were similar to mine. I also have a 3 year old daughter, who looks not dissimilar to Maddy. I can imagine nothing worse that one of my children being taken and harmed - nothing comes close to being as bad at that. We shouldn't be criticising the McCanns. What they are going through is worse than a living hell.

[KOYAANISQATSI]

wifey wrote:

How many of us can say for sure we wouldn't have done the same?

Anyone not wanting to be criminally negligent with the life of their child I would say. And the parents are well deserving of the criticism if only to help dissuade other idiots repeating the bungle.

with or without kidnappers there's a lot of potential for disaster with leaving 3 year olds to their own devices for any period of time I'm surprised anybody who's had 3 year olds can fail to grasp this point.

[Wifey]

I really can't agree with you, KOYAANISQATSI. I think being critical of the McCanns is cruel. What they are now going through is dreadful and people suggesting the horrors their child is now suffering is all their fault isn't constructive.

 

And the parents are well deserving of the criticism if only to help dissuade other idiots repeating the bungle.

 

So you think it is important to criticise the McCanns to make sure no one else makes the same mistake? You don't need to say anything - you can be sure no one will leave their children alone in the same way again.

 

What is important now is finding Madeleine and supporting her distraught family. Leave the discussion of their parenting skills until a more appropriate time.

[KOYAANISQATSI]

wifey wrote:

you can be sure no one will leave their children alone in the same way again.

 

Are you absolutely sure about that now if you would care to place a bet I'll wager some headline or some social worker somewhere could soon tell you a different story.

Of course I'm aware of the parents feelings in this but I doubt I'm addressing them directly on this forum and I do not know them to offer my support.

How do you think I should approach this; by saying "oh well turd happens, us parents cant be held responsible for every child mishap and we shouldn't cancel a chance to see the local restaurants just cause we didn't make any plans for the kids."

Well pardon me, I must've wandered into the "compassion for people on the wrong end of the telly headlines" thread by mistake, I was meant to post on the "WOULD YOU HAVE LEFT YOUR KIDS ALONE" thread where of course the discussion of their parenting skills would most likely be the main theme, or shall I just wait here until you instruct everyone whenever the time is more appropriate.?

[ladyfootballer]

The Mcann family are Celtic supporters. It is brilliant that the club recprocates this with show of commitment to the situation. Neil Lennon has made an appeal on tv and the display today was totally appropriate. Celtic have done this on previous occasions as well. This is what football should really be about- not the prima donna sprootle of it all. Can't believe all the negative comments about the Mcanns on this site. It's like rapists - we can't blame the girls for wearing short skirts - it's the deveiant rapists that are out of control. The chance of gettting your kid snatched is still probably 10 million to one. We shouldn't change our ways to suit deviants. Society should find the way to resolve the deviant problem. We don't change society to suit the deviants !