2 children dead in 2 days, after being forgotten in cars. (Houston: insurance, hairstylist)

[ShelbyGirl1]

I am in awe that anybody could forget a child in the backseat of their car!. Are we so busy and so stressed, that something so precious as a child can easily be forgotten? I just don't get it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Even thru the course of the day, does not a mother think about her young child...and therefore setting off the alarm? These 2 kids suffered an un-timely horrific deaths. 10 hours! 10 hours locked in a car that probably hit 115 degrees! Makes me sick.

[Wysiwyg]

there was one a month ago. the mother is getting married that day so she went to the hairstylist but forgot/wasn't aware her child was in the car.

[ShelbyGirl1]

For those interested reading the article:

Why do people forget children in vehicles? | TOP STORIES | KHOU.com | News for Houston, Texas (http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/khou08081_jj_children_die_inside_cars.4c95da48.htm l - broken link)

[RPEP09]

I don't get it either. What other things on your mind could be more important?
Poor little boy, he suffered. I know the mother is suffering too, but they really need harsher penalties for these cases. There is no excuse.

[houston-nomad]

It's awful, but I could imagine it happening... it's usually when the caregivers deviate from their routine. Like, dad usually brings the kids to daycare, mom goes straight to work. But mom was supposed to bring the kids one day. They fall asleep in the back; she automatically takes her usual route to work, forgetting the routine is different. We all space out sometimes. In my family we have a little system in place where spouse and I make sure to discuss early in the work day, "how did the drop off go? how were the kids?" It's just a little extra insurance.

[Macharuadan]

I feel no mercy for these morrons!What kind of a selfish idiot does one have 2 B 2 forget about their own child?I think people need 2 remember whats truely important,their child,&their own responsibity 2 care 4 that child.Also I cant help but 2 wonder if these people R on drugs(possibly prescription drugs?)They better B glad I'm not their judge 4 I believe I would keep them in a hot car 4 10+hrs & C if they survive!

[Sampaguita]

Up to a point I can understand getting out of your routine & forgetting things...but forgetting your child/ren in the car for such crazy lengths of time is just disasterous and horrific and seemingly, unimaginable!

While I can think all sorts of "how stupid can you be?" thoughts, I feel some sympathy for the guilt that a parent will carry knowing that he/she was directly responsible for the death of a child because they "forgot". I don't know that I could live with myself if this ever happened to me.

[GeorgiaGirl2]

There is no acceptable reason for this to be happening! I especially can not accept the "I forgot" excuse on this issue. When you are a parent or care giver, you are NOT allowed to forget.

What's is equally horrific, people are leaving their pets locked in hot cars as well.

[sbhubbell]

Seeing these news reports has been one of the harder parts of moving here this summer...I get so upset I have to turn off the news. It's hard to imagine forgetting a child for that long but I know I space out on rare occasions. As a mom of small children I do feel great compassion for the parents though, not only have they lost their precious child, they contributed directly to their suffering. I don't know how I could survive that guilt.

[EasilyAmused]

I just don't know how you can forget your child is strapped in the back of your car.

Seems impossible to me. Suddenly you're just having a carefree day (or even hour) without the ankle bitter following you, asking for something or crying because they are wet or hungry or want attention????????