What Would You Have Done?

[Michelle]

I was at a Fast food play place today with my 6 dck's and my dd. and assistant
we were celebrating the last day of school, so they were all school age.

I saw this little baby (probably about 20 months old) out in the parking lot alone, actually knocking on the door of my mini van.
I looked around really quick to see if someone was getting him and no one did.
So, I jumped up and ran to get him before he got hit by a car still looking, nobody came.
I took him inside and asked them if someone was looking for him and they said no. I asked them to call the police and they just smiled at me
So, then I carried him back to the playplace and asked if he belonged to anyone. They all said no.
So, I got my cell phone out and started to call the police.
Finally this lady just walked over to me and said oh, he's my baby!
She took him and went back to her table to continue he intense conversation with her friend. After I chewed her out and told her I found him in the parking lot and I had him for at least 10 minutes...she acted like she couldn't speak English and walked away. I'm thinking I should have still called the police anyway but hence sight is always 20/20 He looked very clean, well dressed and healthy along with the 5 other 3-4 year olds she had with her.
But I keep beating myself up over this, what would you have done?

[Country Kids]

I would have probably called the police or made her really talk to me because if she had 5 other 3-4 year olds how do you know she wasn't a provider herself? Why didn't she know she was missing a child? If he made it clear out to the playplace and into the parking lot that is scary. Don't beat yourself up, just chalk it up to a learning experience.

[cheerfuldom]

you should go back to that restaurant and talk to a manager about how the situation was not handled well. nobody claimed a child in 10 minutes and somebody should have jumped all over that. if they do nothing, contact the higher ups. (and yes, I would have called the police)

[sharlan]

Scarey.

It's always easy to say "I would have done this or that", but you were the one in the situation.

It probably would have been best IF you called the police as soon as you found him. If she was another provider, CPS should have been called.

I doubt going back and talking to the manager will change anything in the future. There's not a lot of intelligent people working at fast food restaurants.

[Michelle]

yea, I should have called the police, I had 911 already dialed and was about to push send and that's when she came up to me.
This place is on a busy street and I am just so glad I was there.
There was a group of 4 idiotic teen girls" watching " a couple little kids too and the kids were actually yelling and cussing at the teens calling them stupid b@^tch and they were just laughing. So, I was thinking, could there be anything worse than that?
Then I saw the baby in the parking lot! jeez!
Also, the employees were just useless.

[Cat Herder]

Sadly this is becoming more and more common.

There is a whole culture that is not parenting, just surviving their kids.

I would recommend you contact the National Headquarters via email. They may send the manager one as well. It is more likely they will do something that way.

I am sure you are speaking of McDonald's and I know their reputation as "child safe fun" is valuable to them since the food is not exactly the biggest draw.

You did a great thing by stepping up...few people would have. You did a even bigger thing posting it here. Now anyone who reads this will be more likely to call and have a report filed.

[dEHmom]

do you know anything about this woman? maybe if you file a report, not sure if police would laugh because it's done and over with and the child is fine, but maybe they can request video and if they can pinpoint the license plate they may be able to investigate.

IF she is a child care provider, i'm assuming she is being that she had lots of kids with her, even if they were her nieces/nephews, she wasn't watching them. That child could have crossed the street and continued on his way, someone could have hit him, some one could have kid napped him in a split second and no one would know! How long was that child unattended for? could have been a half hour or an hour!

Seriously, this really bothers me. I know my own son has disappeared on me before, and it was terrifying. I ran around looking for him and screaming his name. I felt like the worst mom in the world. Some neighbors were holding him because he was about to cross the street. The lady that had him gave me an earful too, I just said thank you so much and left. Ticked me off that she was yelling at me, but I know I would've done the same. We were all in the backyard, including my husband. Our gates were locked (with padlocks) and dh was working on his bikes, I was picking up dog crap. My ds squeezed out beneath the gate and was walking to the park (less than half a block away). He was gone for about 1 1/2 minutes before we realized.

Perfect example of how quickly something can happen. I learned my lesson, I wonder if this woman learned hers.

[countrymom]

leaving your children strapped in carseats are starting to become the norm. This weekend we went to toronto and as we are walking down yonge street (that was a adventure in itself and any moms who know this place know what I'm talking about) there was 2 kids about 3 and 4 strapped in their carseats in the car waiting for a parent, so we stopped and went to the car to have a closer look, well in the front seat was a tween that could care less what was going on, so we waited till a parent came. BUT BECAUSE I DOUBLE PARK MY BIG VAN BECAUSE THEY MAKING PARKING SPOTS WAY TOO SMALL WE GET A NOTE ON THE WINDSHIELD ABOUT HOW RUDE ITS TO DOUBLE PARK. Funny how someone takes the time to write a not but could care less about kids left in cars by themselves.

[WImom]

I'd also talk to the manage there. That situation wasn't handled correctly by the mom or the resturant.

[wdmmom]

I would have called police and suggested they call Child Protective Services to come out and pay a visit to the parent!

[Michelle]

Sadly this is becoming more and more common.

There is a whole culture that is not parenting, just surviving their kids.

I would recommend you contact the National Headquarters via email. They may send the manager one as well. It is more likely they will do something that way.

I am sure you are speaking of McDonald's and I know their reputation as "child safe fun" is valuable to them since the food is not exactly the biggest draw.

You did a great thing by stepping up...few people would have. You did a even bigger thing posting it here. Now anyone who reads this will be more likely to call and have a report filed.

It was Burger King and I think it's interesting how in a store if a parent is missing a child they do a "Code Adam" and everyone springs into action. but if a toddler is FOUND people could care less. It scares me that anybody could have said "yes, that's my kid" and taken him. He was so sweet and friendly. I even joked with my d.d. later about it and said " you could have had a new baby brother" she was so shocked at this moms lack of care. She see's me go to extreme lengths to keep kids safe. I have never had a child get away from me and I have been to the zoo, Amusement Parks, etc. with 12- 14 kids . Some were downs syndrome and autistic( not at the same time, different time periods)
We just have a good system, when ever there is a gate, door, or whatever we always stand or sit by it. We do constant head counts, we never take more kids than we can safely handle, AND we watch them like hawks!!! We don't just sit there and talk. In fact I've seen on some T.V. show about child abductions that there are teams that will distract you and ask questions about something while standing in your line of sight and the other will grab your kid.
This world is so scary nowadays. And parents are so lazy.
I am pretty sure this was her own child and the other kids were her friends or relatives. They all looked very similar. It was a stupid decision to not call the police because if I see this kid on the news or something I will never forgive myself, but most likely the police would have done nothing. They would have came and said, "well, moms got him now" also when you call 911 around here, they put you on hold,
So, I put the direct number of the police in my cell phone now and if ever happens again, I know what to do.

[mac60]

Scarey.

It's always easy to say "I would have done this or that", but you were the one in the situation.

It probably would have been best IF you called the police as soon as you found him. If she was another provider, CPS should have been called.

I doubt going back and talking to the manager will change anything in the future. There's not a lot of intelligent people working at fast food restaurants.

Seriously, what does this have to do with the situation.....and on a bigger note, why on earth would you say something like this. There are all walks of people who work at fast food.....many of whom in our area has lost their jobs in this economy due to no fault of their own......and because they choose to work at fast food to put food on their table does not put them in the "not intelligent" group. Gees.

[momofsix]

Seriously, what does this have to do with the situation.....and on a bigger note, why on earth would you say something like this. There are all walks of people who work at fast food.....many of whom in our area has lost their jobs in this economy due to no fault of their own......and because they choose to work at fast food to put food on their table does not put them in the "not intelligent" group. Gees.

So true Mac!

[GretasLittleFriends]

I found a toddler on a somewhat busy road once. I asked the people whose house he was in front of if he was theirs or if they knew him. They did not. I put him in my car (as I was driving when I found him). I pulled into an apartment parking lot that was right there. The police came and got him, took a report. The grandmother saw us out the window and came down and started yelling at me (in front of the police officer). I finished my statement, the officer thanked me (several times), and I left. It was explained to the grandmother where the child was found and never once did I get a thank you from her or an apology from her. I felt very bad for that little guy. He was 18 months maybe 2 at the oldest.

I would have done the same thing in a restaurant or other location, I'd have called 911 had I found the child in a parking lot.

My thoughts are #1 The authorities are aware of the situation if there has been other negligence issues or there gets to be other negligence issues and #2 I am more sure that the child is returned to his/her parent, and if not, well the authorities are responsible at that point and I'm not in trouble/involved in handing the child over to a stranger.

I read the OP and couldn't help but wonder was that the child's mother? What if it wouldn't have been?

[sharlan]

Seriously, what does this have to do with the situation.....and on a bigger note, why on earth would you say something like this. There are all walks of people who work at fast food.....many of whom in our area has lost their jobs in this economy due to no fault of their own......and because they choose to work at fast food to put food on their table does not put them in the "not intelligent" group. Gees.

You are right, I should have phrased that differently.

I was commenting on this statement........"I took him inside and asked them if someone was looking for him and they said no. I asked them to call the police and they just smiled at me"........... IMHO, that's not an intelligent response to someone asking for the police to be called.