Do I blame the parents in situations where a tragic accident happens? sometimes, yes. I have read stories about how a mother is window shopping for clothes, her child playing in the racks of clothes (heck, this I’ve seen firsthand), then turn around 10 minutes later realizing that their kid is nowhere to be seen. Who’s fault is this? It is the parent’s fault. That child is lost, scared, possibly abducted, or worse – wandered out of the mall and struck by a car. When you have children, you have to be vigilant in watching them ALL of the time. It is the parents’ responsibility to hold that child’s hand FIRMLY. There is no breaking lose to run to mommy. Hold her hand and say “Ok, we’ll catch up to mommy, just be patient.” I have had to do this many times, as has Gary.

It is a tragedy that this child’s life was ended so abruptly. But I have to say that from what I read, I would place at least partial blame on the parent that was supposed to be holding her hand. She breaks lose (and children can and do), the parent should quickly grab her back and say “NO!” Don’t just stand there and watch her run in to the street to get to mommy.

As a parent of three children, one of whom is still a preschooler (only 3 years old), this is stuff that I hate to read and, frankly, angers me to no end. I see things in Walmart and the mall all the time that just astounds me. If I am clothes shopping, my children are right next to me at all times. If I am grocery shopping and there is something at the end of the aisle that I am in, I don’t leave the cart with my child in it at one end so that I can walk to the other. I take the cart with me. Period. Too crowded in the aisle? Then I ask (yes I do ask sometimes) for some space to get through. I do not leave my children unattended for one second. And they know what is expected of them when they do go out.

I’m sorry for the little one that her life was ended so painfully and adbruptly. Perhaps a lesson will be learned from this tragedy. My prayers are with this family.

And I have seen many a time children getting lose of one parent to run to the other. I’ve watched the first parent allow the young child to run across a parking lot or finish running the crossing of the street or even up the hallways of the mall instead of taking a few running steps to retrieve said child.

I wasn’t there so I don’t know what exactly happened. I do know that it breaks my heart whenever any child’s life is ended, wether through violence, an unfortunate accident, parental neglect, or illness (i.e. cancer).