Parenting FAIL

[Anakah]

So I just got off of work and saw this little gem. I decided to hang out in one of our 24 coffee places for a bit til my man got off of work. Upon leaving this place at MIDNIGHT I noticed something odd.

I walked by one of our 24 food places and saw a baby with a seven year old by themselves at a table. You could tell they had been camped there for awhile.

No people around at all. Except a few employees. I watched the kids for a few mins thinking maybe the parent was in line at said food place but nope--no one in line...no parents.

I growled and marched over to security and told them what I saw. An officer (who is a good friend of mine) was dispatched to check out the situation.

The officer found the mom who was gambling and proceeded to tell her how illegal it is to leave her babies alone. She looked annoyed but I was really worried about the kids. They were right next to a door which would have been easy for someone to snatch them.

I was so upset I was shaking. Who does that??

[Bright_Star]

Who does that? Someone who doesn't care about the well being of their children. & they'd be the ones to SCREAM the loudest if their kids were kidnapped.

[An Haddock]

Who does that? Someone who doesn't care about the well being of their children. & they'd be the ones to SCREAM the loudest if their kids were kidnapped.

Not if they were winning.


"I'm on a streak! They're fine!"

[barainga]

Yeah, if they had a really great win they could just buy new kids. I hear you can get some good hard working ones from China.

[Hellzar]

Yea I have a feeling that people do that the fastfood place I work at. Parents ditch the kids in the Playarea with 20 or so dollars and leave them. Throughout the day the oldest will come up and buy food and treats for the younger ones. It is kind of hard to catch because the Playarea is not in view of the counter and we don't monitor it.

[mysticgirl5]

That reminds of Sherrice Iverson from a few years back, murdered in a casino while her dad gambled. (don't google unless you're prepared for a serious case of the sads.)

And then he had the nerve to turn around and sue the casino.

That is wretched. As a mom, I can't even imagine how you can blithely leave your child(ren) like that. I tend to panic when they walk to school by themselves.

[taxguykarl]

So what does CPS think of that? Do find out. BTW, why the hell didn't anyone in that food court bring it to security's attention?! Under 10 and out past midnight....

Tell me this egg donor is banned.

[PepperElf]

I growled and marched over to security and told them what I saw. An officer (who is a good friend of mine) was dispatched to check out the situation.

the evil side of me says... it would have served them right if security had taken the kids into custody at their office. so when the parent(s) come back to verify that the kids are fine... they see no one.

might do them some good to panic for a moment or two before security says "they're at our office for their safety". although knowing parents like that they'd probably just scream and complain about that too.

[MoonCat]

the evil side of me says... it would have served them right if security had taken the kids into custody at their office. so when the parent(s) come back to verify that the kids are fine... they see no one.

might do them some good to panic for a moment or two before security says "they're at our office for their safety". although knowing parents like that they'd probably just scream and complain about that too.

Yep. They would.

Some years ago there was a case here where this couple left their 3 kids alone in their hotel room while they (the parents) went to a concert in town. The kids were 6, 4 and 2 years old. The 6 year old couldn't get the younger kids to go to bed so she left the room looking for an adult to help. Cops were called, parents were found, excuses were made....Mom stated that "I know it seems weird but she's very mature for her age." (meaning the 6 yr old).

[depechemodefan]

You know in 20 years, when the parent is in the hospital or jail, the mom is going to wonder, "why don't my kids ever visit me?" The kids learned that it's ok to ignore an inconvience when they can have fun instead.

[PepperElf]

"she's very mature for her age."

sure, next thing we know she'll be buying booze and voting because she's so mature.

i mean granted some kids really do have their head on straight. doesn't mean they're adults though.

[AmbrosiaWriter]

i mean granted some kids really do have their head on straight. doesn't mean they're adults though.

Exactly.

I mean, my parents left me on my own when I was fairly young. But that was only at home and for at most an hour or two (so I never had to worry about what I would be eating for my next meal or anything.)

In my opinion, it's not fair to that poor 6-year-old to try and force her to grow up so fast so that mommy and daddy can go back to pre-child lifestyle.

[Jester]

I think you all are being far too harsh on the parents.

In the case of the OP, I mean, come on, you know that the mother couldn't bring the kids INTO the casino with her. Casinos have age restrictions, after all.

As for the kids in the hotel room, think about it: after paying for a concert AND a hotel room, you don't expect the parents to actually foot the bill for a babysitter as well, do you? I mean, come on...they can get quite expensive.

[AmbrosiaWriter]

As for the kids in the hotel room, think about it: after paying for a concert AND a hotel room, you don't expect the parents to actually foot the bill for a babysitter as well, do you? I mean, come on...they can get quite expensive.

Yeah! I mean, obviously there are no, absolutely NO places that you can go as a family. Everywhere HATES children and the jerks who bring them into the world. They had to hide them in the hotel room, and look! They were proven right when they did it! The cops were called and they were dragged out of their concert. We just proved them right.

[Food Lady]

I'm afraid I witness stuff like this often. There are two kids in particular who come to our cafe 5 or 6 times a night on a Sunday. They have money, but I never see the parents. The parents could be in the mall, but I've never seent them. These 2 kids are like 9 or 10 (friends, I think; don't think they're brothers).