Logged Out Because I Can't Stand Myself

[Unregistered]

I went to the park with six kids. I usually have five. After playing for a half hour, a kid asked me where another kid was. I couldn't find her. I panicked, looking for five minutes before realizing I left a three year old in the car. Omg. I'm a mess. What do I tell the parents, besides how sorry I am. Omg. I'm one of those horrible people

[jessrlee]

Ouch! What a day! I would prepare for them to be really mad, and to get a lic. visit

If I were you I would spend the afternoon making a checklist of the ways you can assure them it will NEVER happen again. Go in with a plan of attack and try really hard not to implicate yourself more than you have to.

[Blackcat31]

I agree with PP. Call your licensor immediately and inform her of what happened and the steps you will be taking to ensure that it won't happen again.

Prepare for the parents to be mad and understandably so.

Is the child ok or upset at all?

This is definitely something to take VERY seriously and I am sure you are already feeling bad enough as it is that you don't need anyone to tell you that.

I wish I could say something that would make it better but I can't. You are human and things do and can happen. We make mistakes. We aren't perfect.

But we learn from our mistakes and we move on.

I am sending you some good vibes and wishes to make it through this.

Take deep breathes and address it. Be proactive and honest about it.

In the end, it could have been worse but it wasn't so chin up, make some new policies so this doesn't happen again and before you know it, this will all be in the past and will be one valuable learning experience for you.

Hang in there.

[MarinaVanessa]

I agree with previous posts. It's awful and I bet you feel terrible so it's time to brace for the music.

I would immediately contact licensing with report what happened and then give them a plan of action that you immediately put in place and expect a visit from them very soon.

I have 4 car-seats installed in my van and have 2 booster seats (3 in the 3rd row and one in the 2nd. The car-seats also go in the 2nd row). Before I go anywhere in my van I do a head count and then start loading the kids I have attached small stuffed animals to the head-rests of the seats of my car with plastic links and when I load a child into the car-seat I lodge the toy near the top of the car-seat between it and the vehicle seat (where it's visible). For the kids in booster seats I just hook the link closest to the toy to the head rest to make it visible (I do the same for rear-facing car-seats). Visible toys tell me there's a child in that seat. When I take them down I unhook/unwedge the toy as I remove each child and then visually verify that there are no more toys "visible" (they are all hanging loose). Then I do a head count. Before we load up again I have the kids line up and I do a head-count and then load up the kids again. Head count again and another when I get home.

That's just one way to do it. You can have a clip board or binder that you can write down where you went and your head counts too if that makes it easier. I'm sure others here can give you more ideas.

Then I would speak to DCP's at pick up and explain what happened. They may be upset or angry or they may just be a little irritated. It's hard to say. In any case you can even let them know that you already called licensing to report it with the plan of action and explain to them that plan. Then just see how it goes.

[Crystal]

Oh no!!! I know you need support right now, and I'd like to offer it, but all I can think is this is not going to turn out well. I know you feel HORIBBLE and it was totally an accident, but I just do not see parents being too forgiving about something like this and if you are licensed, neither will they. Thank god it isn't hot.

I suggest you document this, be forthright with the parent about it, and quit doing field trips altogether, as that is the only way you can assure it will never happen again. Hopefully the parents will be understanding and if you reassure them that you will no longer transport so that this never happens again, you may be okay with them. With licensing, I am not sure. If you are in California, it is actually a licensing reg and state law that a child can never be left unattended in a vehcile, so there may be some stiff consequences. So, hope for the best, but prepare yourself for the worst.

So sorry you are facing this.

[jokalima]

So sorry for this, I am pretty sure many of us have gone through things we wish we did not with some of our kids,this one is a big one... All I can say is pray fro things to turn out good, if you are honest with licensing who knows if they might give you a warning or a fine, IDK how it works but hopefully is just that. And I don't think you should just stop field trips just don't do them alone, have another adult with you when you go out with the kiddos. Hope all goes well

[MamaBearCanada]

I'm so sorry this happened to you. I'm glad the child is OK. I think this is one of every provider's worst nightmares. I hope things work out for you.

[Evansmom]

I'm so sorry! You can get through this.

One thing I have heard of some doing to remember the kids in the car is to put your purse/diaper bag in the back. That way when you get out you have to go back there to get it and if there are kids you will see them!

[CedarCreek]

I'm so sorry. I won't repeat any advice anyone else has already said, I just wanted to tell you that you aren't a horrible person. The child is physically okay, you are going to do the right thing by telling the parents and your licensor. That does not sound like a horrible person. Mistakes happen.

[itlw8]

I was just saying the other day I can see now how parents can forget a child I had my 3 yr old dgs with me and he was VERY quiet the whole ride. awake but quiet. I always put my purse in the back behind my seat and when I opened the door to get it I thought OH dgs is with me.... I doubt I would have gotten far but WOW what if my purse had not been at his feet.

[MissAnn]

25 years ago we adopted my daughter. We had her for about 1 week. I went to the store with her and 2 nieces.....and yes, forgot her in the car! I had just entered the store and said out loud....I forgot we have Jordyn! I felt like a bad mom. We are human! Once when I was working at a Mother's Day out program I took a group of kids to the bathroom and left one in the stall and turned the lights off! I was gone for about 5 minutes! I ran back and found her still there....all I could see was the whites of her eyes! If the mom of this child trusts you and knows it will never happen again she might not make a call. Is that bad for me to say? Not sure what I would do in your case but if it were me I might tell the mom and gauge from her reaction.

[mom2many]

Yikes! So sorry this happened. All I can say is be thankful that no one was hurt & use this as a learning experience by figuring out how it happened and how you could ensure it would never happen again. It's easy to get distracted, when you have a bunch of kids, so you definitely need to put a system in place as pps mentioned.

I never take more than 2 or 3 dcks out on outings w/o another adult, because it is just too hard to keep an eye on everyone at all times & even with that it is exhausting.

[Oneluckymom]

I don't do field trips. Too risky. I hope everything works out for you...sorry this happened.

[daycare]

I am feeling so bad for you right now.

Just curious, where you alone or did you have an assit with you?

[Crystal]

This is killing me. I am so worried about you and I am not even sure who you are.

Know that I am thinking about you and hoping for this to turn out okay. (((((HUGS)))))