I hae wondered and wondered about the Mother and Father myself.
If my dogs have been out of my sight for a mere 5 minutes i look for them, and they are plenty big enough to look out for themselves as they are 3 LARGE adult dogs.
A child i would be looking for within 10 seconds.

Makes me shake my head....................

I don't think this is the type of thing that plays out in the media. There are personal matters that aren't readily discussed in the media and I'm quite sure that Family and Children Services are now involved in a more in-depth investigation and remedial action.

Very poor communications went on between all the parties at the very least.
It is very scary situation.....
I hope everyone has learned a little something from this unfortuant incident.

No! I am not making excuses for either side.

As the mother of a young child myself, this story brought tears to my eyes. Like you, I question this mother's actions greatly.

1. When the Mother left in the late evening, she left her child in the care of someone who was asleep, and did not know they were responsible for the child. (Previous article stating that the Mom left a note, and the resident of the apartment assuming that she had taken the child with her). Your child is a part of you. I could not FATHOM leaving my child, albeit sleeping, in the care of someone else, without verbally informing them of that responsibility. Leaving a note, and a vague note at that (if it did not indicate that the child had been left in the residents care), is a serious lack of responsibility. I guess I should be happy at least took 2 minutes out of her busy lifestyle to write that.

2. The resident she left the child with had to work the following morning. Either she did not know this, did not care to ask, or it didn't occur to her that her needs weren't someone elses biggest concern.

3. The fact that she left the apartment at 10 pm Friday, and did not make contact with her daughter until SUNDAY is sickening. Where was she? What was she doing that was so important that she did NOT know where her daughter was? Why did she not, in the very least, make contact with the caregiver to CHECK on her daughter?

I realize that all mothers (including myself) make mistakes. We are not perfect. However, I find it unbelievable that ANY mother that cares for her child would do these actions. Her child looks to her for guidance, for examples of how to live her life. It's our job as parents to teach them. If these are the lessons that are being taught to the child in question, intervention MUST happen. I hope that the mother learns from this mistake, and that this, or something far more serious never happens again.

The consequences are too great.