Missing Something?
I am so glad to know that I’m not the only parent who has accidentally left a kid somewhere. I admit to having backed out of my driveway and realized that the baby was still asleep in his crib. Hey, we have a lot of people to get into the car! We now do a roll call before leaving the garage. I have gotten as far as the van in the grocery store parking lot, without realizing that one child did not make the switch to the new cart, along with the rest of our cargo. Try shopping with seven kids in tow and see if you don’t purposely leave a kid by the end of the trip! Never, ever in my life, have I made a trip to another state, leaving a child behind. I know it sounds like a no shit type of statement, but it happens.
The Parreno family was immigrating from the Philippines and running late to catch one of their many flights. Apparently, communication is not their strongest family trait, because their child got left behind. According to the father, Jun Parreno, it is a classic case of “I thought you had the baby!” The part I am baffled about, is that they got all the way to their next destination without the knowledge that they had even forgotten the child. Their excuse that the family had been split up in the plane, doesn’t fly with me (no pun intended.) If you were on a plane and had kids (in this case only one,) wouldn’t you make damn sure that somebody in your group had the child in custody at all times?
Tags: air travel, airport, communication, forgetfulness, missing children, News, planes, travelRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Catch All
7 opinions for Missing Something?
Lucy
May 18, 2008 at 1:15 pm
That’s the stuff of nightmares, isn’t it?
In the stress of early motherhood, I was once found in the middle of the night, looking for the ‘other’ baby … I only had one at the time.
Losing one doesn’t bear thinking about. I count heads a lot, and I only have three children of my own. I think if I had seven with me, I’d have to tie them together somehow!
Half-Past Kissin' Time
May 18, 2008 at 9:31 pm
I have one story from my own experience, but it’s still too painful to tell (made me feel like *(&%), even though she wasn’t away from me but 30 seconds. My brother-in-law (also one of nine kids) was left behind at a wayside when he was 8. Miles later, his mom was passing out cups for Kool-aid “Johnny…Susie…Lyle….Timmy…Kevin….Kevin?? Where is Kevin??” Kevin said he just sat down on the curb and waited; he knew they’d figure it out eventually. (Makes me feel like SuperMom!)
Ashley
May 19, 2008 at 7:02 am
I hate to judge them very harshly. When I was pregnant with my first I had nightmares about forgetting the baby somewhere.. I had a very, very scattered and somewhat ditzy personality and I was so worried that would translate into ‘terrible, forgetful mother’.. Thankfully it did not (for the most part). I have 2 now and have never left a child anywhere. But I can sort of see how this can happen. Once our youngest (2yrs) toddled WAY off at the ballfield and it was a case of “I thought YOU had the baby.”
Also, don’t you know they had a nasty arguement after this! I’ll bet that blame game lasted for weeks.
BMS
May 19, 2008 at 8:23 am
Erma Bombeck, in Motherhood, the Second Oldest Profession (which I admit, I probably find more inspiring than scripture most days) said something to the effect of:
“People will say, ‘What kind of mother would forget one of her kids in a shopping cart?’ Now I know 3 mothers who tried this, and none of them got away with it…”
This is why I stopped carrying a purse. I could either keep track of it, or the kids, but not both.
Kadi
May 19, 2008 at 9:38 am
I completely understand the point that all of you are making. I totally agree that stuff like that happens and doesn’t mena that we are bad parents. Notice, however, that in your stories, it is miles away or minutes later that you have that light bulb moment. The people in this story were hours and states away and the light bulb never got switched to the “on” position. And it was one effing kid, not multiple bodies to keep track of. I dunno, I just find it crazy. But apparently it can happen when your immigrating and have lots of big ticket items weighing on your mind.
I do feel sorry for them. The dad seemed very remorseful and grateful that his son was okay.
Kadi
May 19, 2008 at 9:39 am
Sorry, was typing fast and not spell checking!
Ashley
May 19, 2008 at 10:54 am
I know what you mean - it does seem kind of weird that they didn’t notice for so long..
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