Toddler Runs Away From Home After Mom's 'Duh' Move

on November 23, 2011 at 12:59 PM

toddler alone If there's any kind of lesson parents of toddlers can take home from recent headlines, it would have to be this: Don't leave your kids home alone. Ever! Not even if they're sleeping, not if you think all the doors are securely locked, not if you're only going out to grab a carton of milk for 10 minutes.

Just ask the parents of Arizona 2-year-old Karma Diaz, who is thought to have wandered away from her home some time between 11:30 and midnight on Monday night while her mom and her mom's boyfriend were out "running errands." Thankfully -- miraculously, even -- Karma was found at around 8:55 a.m. on Tuesday, sitting on a neighbor's front porch. Apparently the toddler was none the worse for wear, either, despite spending hours outside with no shoes or coat.

So this is one toddler-gone-missing story with a happy ending, but these stories don't generally end quite so well, do they? And so can we all agree on something??

CAN WE PLEASE STOP LEAVING SMALL CHILDREN HOME ALONE???

I'm not judging Karma's parents here, or any other parents who've attempted the quick dash-out while their baby/toddler appeared to be down for the night/afternoon/etc. I've had toddlers; I know how overwhelming things can get. And apparently there was an older couple at home while Karma slept, though it's not clear who they are or what they were doing (not watching Karma, that's for sure).

I'm not saying Karma's 21-year-old mom, Jordan Diaz, is a bad mom, though she's going to have to prove otherwise as Karma is now in the custody of Child Protective Services and Jordan may be charged by prosecutors.

My message here is simple. Toddlers home alone: Bad. Toddlers home under adult supervision: Good.

Would you ever leave your toddler home alone? Even for just a few minutes?

Image via Urban Hippie Love/Flickr

About the author Jacqueline Burt

has written for numerous magazines, newspapers, and websites. She is easily bored and often tired, so she requires constant entertainment to keep her awake. Dance, Monkey! Dance!

Filed Under: safety, in the news

Comments (110)

chigirl1228

on Nov 23, 2011 at 1:27 PM

If I leave my toddler in another room unsupervised bad things happen lol. No way would I leave her alone in the house to "run errands". But apparently that's just me.

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Nonmember comment from HS

on Nov 23, 2011 at 1:53 PM

The child wasn't home alone so ur article is a non-issue. There were other adults home. Let's say u go home for the holidays and want to spend a night out with old friends so u leave the child @ ur parent's house. This is no different. The toddler could have wandered out whether her parents were home or not. So find a different story to write abt to try an prove ur point abt leaving kids home alone, truly alone, not one where other adults were home as well. And I'm assuming ur not a fan of the "Carl" by Alexandra Day lol!

smtxcowgirl

on Nov 23, 2011 at 2:37 PM

Who the hell would name their child "Karma"? I'm sure she'll have a fun time in high school when everyone says "Karma is a bitch". Nice thinking, Mom.

Other than that, I'm glad she was found safe.

hutchfam2007

on Nov 23, 2011 at 3:16 PM

I was totally thinking the same thing smtxcowgirl!!!!! When you think karma- thats the first thing that pops into your head -- karma's a bitch. lol. reeeeeeeaaaaal nice. But, u know, its UNIQUE, *eyeroll* these names that are NOT names drive me nuts!

on Nov 23, 2011 at 3:17 PM

To answer the question stated - No I would not leave my toddler home alone, DUH.

Facebook comment from Amy Marie Shannon

on Nov 23, 2011 at 3:23 PM

The article should be retracted and removed.

Karma was not left home alone. There were two other adults there. Jordan left her daughter asleep in capable hands. Karma is familiar with the people and the home she was at, so she didn't wake up and wander away looking for her mommy.

Karma is a beautiful, very active, vivacious and curious almost three year old. This could happen to anyone. Especially if you have a doggie door.

LucretiaMcEvil

on Nov 23, 2011 at 3:41 PM

That picture looks like a "Feed The Children" ad.

powermom2four

on Nov 23, 2011 at 3:43 PM

No, I would not leave a child that age at home alone. Duh! 12 years old? Ok, for a short time. 3 years old? She goes with me. I don't care how late it is. I could put mine in the van, run the errand, and return her to bed without her waking up. AND I knew where she was.

Seniahmom

on Nov 23, 2011 at 4:21 PM

The kid wasn't home alone.

And now it scares the crap out of me that I can leave my kids with other adults or heck even if they are with me and they get out of bed in the middle of the night and somehow get out of the house I can face charges. Lovely. It's terrifying to even think that a toddler can get out of the house on his or her own let alone that if something like that does happen they can get taken away by CPS.