A Minnesota family is breathing a big sigh of relief as their 2-year-old son was found safe yesterday after being left at the lake by himself. When leaving Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis, both parents thought the other had him. When they arrived at their destination, they discovered he was missing.
Police were called, a search ensued, and fortunately the boy was found safe. He'd been alone for an hour, and the horrible things that could have happened -- especially around a body of water -- are unimaginable. How could they? we wonder, but the truth is, it could happen to any of us.
I'm constantly counting my kids ... and I only have two. As busy as life is, I can completely imagine thinking my husband and I agreed on one thing, and finding out later that wasn't the case. Throw in hectic summer outings when you're trying to remember sunscreen, snacks, and floaties, and it's easy to see how chaos can ensue. I'm surprised more kids aren't accidentally left behind.
I've had plenty of brief moments at the market or somewhere without one or both of my children where I have to reassure myself that, yes, I did let my husband know I was leaving, that I did double check he was keeping BOTH of them. I'm not saying it should happen, but it's easy to see how it could when we let ourselves get too busy or too distracted.
I've found over the years that when it comes to parenting, I have to slow down and minimize distractions as best I can, or chaos will ensue ... and it still does. Fortunately, most of the time, that chaos has only resulted in minor things like forgotten sippy cups or misplaced lovies, but I know if I'm not extra vigilant, I'm just one sippy cup away from something like this happening.
Can you imagine how a family could leave a child behind at a lake?
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Comments 34
We work as a team and my husband puts our toddler in the car and I worry about putting in our baby. We usually double check everything so no I could not see how a family could "forget" a child!! A purse or an item yeah a kid no!
I can see how it could happen. Miscommunication happens, accidents happen. Can you imagine getting home and getting out of the car and both of you going, "I though YOU had her!!!!" Glad this had a happy outcome.
Sounds like they were traveling in 2 vehicles, each one thinking the kid was in the other car. When they met up, they realized the child was missing? It's terrible but glad it turned out ok.
Please never say "I would NEVER" it realllly sets you up in the universe for some humbling experince. Did I leave my kid. No. However, and my kids are older, we did have a hear stopping experince last week. My youngest had been sleeping over at her friends house around the corner. I was in the back yard working in the garden my husband was in the office.. I came in and saw it was kind of late so I sent him over to fetch her while I showered.. So I am in the shower and I hear the door slamm open my husband who is normalllly as calm as reflecting pool going nuts screaming her name I come out of the shower He is saying she left her friends house three hours ago! her parents dont speak English so he couldnt much ..she is not in her room she is not in the tv room or sisters room...she in in the guest room asleep under the covers at the bottom of the bed! she came into the house was tired and wanted the guest room because it was darker. five minutes that aged me!
If they were traveling in the same car that it beyond unacceptable. Making it to the car and thinking the other had the child I can believe, leaving in the same care not acceptable at all. We had a family in our church that had on more than one occasion left behind a child (age range 1-8). After we found their 1 1/2 year old alone in the hall upstairs and them gone they were warned, they leave any of their children behind again and child services would be called.