As I thought about what I should say in my blog post tonight, I reflected on a conversation I’ve been having frequently with coworkers, family, and friends. My discussions always begin like this: “What is happening to our society that children are dying terrible heatstroke deaths because their parent(s) say they forgot their child was in the car?”
REALLY?!?!?
Seriously…how can you forget you have a child in the car? Especially mothers. How can you, in all honesty, say you did not remember your infant was in his/her car seat? You gave birth to that baby. Does the infant mean so little to you?
According to http://www.kidsandcars.org, there have been seventeen children who have died so far in 2014 from being left inside a hot vehicle with closed windows. Seventeen beautiful, precious gifts from God have been sent home too early because of neglect, ignorance, carelessness, and just plain stupidity. That is seventeen too many.
I cannot seem to comprehend how this tragedy keeps occurring over and over and over. It not only saddens me, but it angers me. Words are difficult to find for this post. My head hurts from the struggle of trying to rationalize any reason for this to take place. I have seen several news casts where both a prosecutor and defense attorney or asked to explain what steps they would take to reason with the jury if this was their case. My heart still aches from hearing a defense attorney state that the parent or parent(s) had too much on their minds, or they were in a hurry to get to work and forgot to drop their child off at day care, etc., etc., etc.
Come on moms and dads…if you are in a situation where you don’t want to be a parent any longer, there are thousands upon thousands of couples who would love to adopt an unwanted child. Your child did not ask to be born, and I’m very certain your child is not asking to die by means similar to baking a loaf of bread in the oven. Take that child to a local hospital, police station, a friend, a coworker, anywhere…but PLEASE don’t leave that child in the car. That is a most evil and deviant way to rid your life of a child.
And to society in general…don’t be afraid to look inside windows as you walk by parked cars. If you hear something, or heaven forbid, see something, don’t be afraid to react to the situation. It could mean life or death for a child left behind, whether by accident or on purpose.
Blessings to the seventeen little angels who have been taken from this world. You are now with the best babysitter a child could ever have…Jesus. And blessings to the children who are still in its presence. May God watch over you all, each and every day.
Christine Maria Jahn
The Jasmine Quill 
Wonderful post. I had no idea so many children have been lost this year to parents too busy to pay attention to their surroundings. When my kids were younger (my oldest was 3 when my youngest was born), I often found myself completely exhausted and I would forget to eat and things like that. However, I never, ever forgot they were in the car. Never. I get out and I look around, each and every time. I still look around and two of my kids are driving all on their own and don’t usually ride with me! It breaks my heart to watch the news anymore, but especially in those moments when I see the horrors of another child left alone in a locked, closed up car to die a horrible death. Heartbreaking.
Thanks, Deanna…(my middle daughter’s name is DeAnna). 🙂
I’m a mom of three girls. They’re grown now, 20, 22, and 26. However, I still call them, text them, etc., to make sure they are okay. So it embitters me when these parents are using the excuse they forgot their kids were in the car as their defense.
Like you, I always, always, ALWAYS checked the car, checked on them at night while they slept, etc, just like a parent naturally and instinctively does. And that’s what it comes down to…instinct. I would forget where I put my keys or something trivial, but I have never forgotten that I had children with me. How could I? I gave birth to them. They are a part of me. If I didn’t check on them or knew where they were, I felt anxious.
It’s just so sad to see that these deaths keep happening.
Thanks for commenting! I’m sorry it wasn’t a happier topic, but I had to get the sadness and anger out.
Blessings to you and your family!
Christine