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Originally posted by Kailassa
I'm sure most people who've had long-term responsibility for a child will remember at least once when they fell down in their responsibilities as parents.
I've always tried to put my kids first, and I just couldn't live with myself if I let anything bad happen to them, but I've been less than perfect.
Once I forgot to pick my daughter up from child-care.
Once I ran to answer the phone, leaving a child in the bath, found a fire had started in the living room. Baby nearly drowned.
Once I left my two young sons at the supermarket and had put away all the groceries before I realised the house was too quiet.
Once I lost my 4 year old at the beach.
Yes, they were all my fault. But chronic exhaustion and being a daydreamer played a part too. I can only thank god that I was lucky, my incompetence didn't kill them.
Most parents, especially overworked single mums with no support, are going to make a mistake. If no-one who made such mistakes had children, mankind would quickly go extinct.
I'd suggest we give most parents who allow their children to die this way the benefit of the doubt. They made a terrible mistake.
And they will pay in grief for the rest of their lives.
On the other hand, I'm glad it is now illegal in my state to leave any child in a car while you go to the pokies.
That's pure stupid selfishness which I see no excuse for.