Gads, who leaves a three year old unattended in an apartment? I pity these people, they face a lifetime of realizing their own irresponsiblity contributed to the loss of their child.

Nice one Pissed.
Don't let a tragedy get in the way of a snarky comment.
You are SO witty.

I read or heard something recently about a child also being kidnapped in some European country, don't remember which one. The parents were dining inside a resturant and the child was in a stroller outside. I guess the resturant did not allow children or babies inside. Evidently this is common practice in some cities. Like I said I don't remember the country, maybe it was one where the crime rate is extremely low and people don't feel they have to be on guard, but still seems dangerous to me.

This is horrible though, in all cases. A baby and an old man, pretty defenseless targets.

Carroll, I think that city was a bit closer to home.

"In 1997, a toddler was left in a stroller outside a New York City restaurant while her mother dined and drank inside, prompting diners to phone police and complain.

After being arrested for neglect, the mother maintained the practice was common in her native Denmark and sued the city for false arrest. The charges were dropped and she was awarded $66,401."
www.usatoday.com

Posted by susan at June 29, 2007 03:53 PM
>>>>>>>>>>

Ah, that might be it...it may have been this story was mentioned in relation to the current kidnapping and I though it was also a kidnapping or something recent...

"Don't let a tragedy get in the way of a snarky comment."

Look, anyone that leaves a three year old unattended in an apartment is guilty of neglect. Period. Of course it is a tragedy. A PREVENTABLE TRAGEDY. Now, you might think the touchy feely approach about this is the proper way to describe the parent's irresponsibility, but I disagree, wholeheartedly. Parents need to act responsibly, and future parents need to realize there are actual consequences to every facet of parental responsibility. Molly-coddling these people because of their loss is all well and good, if that floats your boat. And I am sure many people will do just that. But not me. I don't reward neglect with sympathy.

I remember when my daughter was a toddler, I became distracted momentarily while she was on the swingset in a friend's yard. When my attention became unaverted, she had dissappeared. Thirty panic stricken minutes later, I found her two blocks away, within thirty feet of the Priest River. And that was the result of an inadvertent distraction. To purposely leave a three year old unattended, if that is in fact what these parents did, is gross neglect.

You have a daughter, POA? A sweetheart like you?
poor girl.

Here we go again. The ass has arrived.

I'm with POA -- if you care about your kids you take care of them.

A four-year-old (read the article, she's four, not three) can get into life-threatening trouble in less time than it took me to type this sentence. And trust me on this one, like many posters here, I know first-hand.

So if this kid was kidnapped I hope that she wasn't kidnapped by a pedophile as it appears, rather that she was taken by someone who was appalled that the parents were uncaring enough to leave the child alone.

Steve, please update us on this one. Thanks.

It appears that these parents also left Madeline's siblings alone in the apartment. From what I can gather, they were younger than Maddie. Here, in many states, these people would in fact be facing charges for neglect. I wonder about the two posters that have chosen to insult me on this thread because of my critical judgements about these parent's actions. Perhaps these two posters (Two?) will tell us how they feel about leaving a two year old unattended. From the tone of the article, I am assuming the third sibling is even younger. So, these two parents left their three children, two of which were actual babies, (not toddlers), alone, unattended, in an apartment. And I am the mean old grinch for pointing out how grossly irresponsible it was? And its MY daughter that is the "poor child"?

Exhausted McCanns make TV appeal

Press Association

Tuesday June 5, 2007 12:53 AM

Holding up a small pair of pink and flowery pyjamas, Kate McCann described exactly what her eldest daughter was wearing when she was snatched on May 3.

The poignant description was given as part of BBC One's Crimewatch appeal to help the couple find their little girl.

Looking exhausted, Mrs McCann spoke in detail about the light pink top with capped sleeves and a picture of the cartoon character Eeyore curled up - the words "Sleepy Eeyore" written underneath. Next she produced white cotton pyjama bottoms, covered with small flowers and another Eeyore motif on the right leg.

But, of course, the pyjamas she was holding so carefully in her lap were not Madeleine's, but those of Madeleine's younger sister, two-year-old Amelie.

continues at........

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-6683823,00.html

the post at 11:10 is not from the regular ... who posts here.. poa, you are correct, the ass has arrived. steve could check the ip or false e mail address to verify it.

I'd be willing to bet POA is a great dad. Have you noticed? He actually gives a damn.

i agree sandy.

What!?

... is not the regular ...?! How dare you, ... attempt to deny my identity as the real ...?!

Trust me, self proclaimed ..., I know the original ..., I have worked with the original ... and you are NO ...!

if it makes you feel better, ..., perhaps you can think of me as the "irregular" ... .

Regards,

...

lol - if you just stick to humour, you ain't so bad. i don't have this copyrighted or anything so fill yer boots.

While I am sorry for these parents and mostly for the little girl I agree with POA....why would anyone in their right mind leave children this young unattended?

having your kid disappear is every parent's worst nightmare...for these people it came true. They did something dumb, that probably lots of people do but they paid the ultimate price. its worse than having a kid die..not knowing where they are or what is happening to them...they have my sympathy.

I'd be willing to bet POA is a great dad. Have you noticed? He actually gives a damn.

thank you

having your kid disappear is every parent's worst nightmare...for these people it came true. They did something dumb, that probably lots of people do but they paid the ultimate price. its worse than having a kid die..not knowing where they are or what is happening to them...they have my sympathy.

thanks

thanks for all

good sharing, thank you.

mersi sekerim benim.

Funny how Donohue's point seems to be being made as this post devolved from discussing goodness for goodness' sake vs religion demading that you be good, to gay rights and gay bashing, violent content and freewheeling epithets. I always thought of myself as a fun loving atheist. Can't we all just get along?

nice post

Can't we all just get along?

A four-year-old (read the article, she's four, not three) can get into life-threatening trouble in less time than it took me to type this sentence. And trust me on this one, like many posters here, I know first-hand. lie :S

eyfallah bacım

I like very much the writings and pictures and explanations in your adress so I look forward to see your next writings. I congratulate you.

thanks alot for it.

thank you kocum ..

thanks for all

tenks

it's such a great article.

i'll share this information with all my friends!

i've read it but i think the older one was better.

While I am sorry for these parents and mostly for the little girl I agree with POA....why would anyone in their right mind leave children this young unattended?