Apology for Yesterday

[sameyeyam]

First of all, please don't flame me. Pretty Please!

I just wanted to apologize to everyone for my part in the thread yesterday about leaving a 5yo child at the front gate. I sort of got caught up in the goofyness of it all and posted that I left my 6yo in line at BB while the rest of the family went to Splash.

Please know that I don't have a 6yo and if I did I certainly wouldn't leave them alone. I do have a 16yo that I'm sure would be happy to leave me standing in line waiting for a table while she went to ride Splash however!

I really did think that Dizzy was going to tell everyone that it was a joke right away before it got out of hand, but that didn't happen.

Several of you pointed out that it wasn't funny to even joke about leaving a kid of that age alone. Yes, I agree on one hand, but on the other hand seeing humor in everything is how I sometimes manage to get thru life.

Anyway, I do apologize for my part in posting that comment and I hope you will forgive me for being an idiot and getting caught up in the moment!

Live Well, Laugh Much, Love Often!

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

I think I can speak for others when I say that I am glad you came forward to let everyone know. It took a lot of guts to come forward and apologize, especially with as upset as some folks were getting.

There really are people in the world that do those sorts of things, and with all of the really crazy things in the news today, no one wants to think that someone in our DIS community would actually be one of those.

Unfortunately, the joke fell flatter than those of the last MTV Video awards host!

 

[fairykin]

It took alot for you to come and write this. I am sure your stomach was in knots trying to find the words to type. I appreciate that vulernability shown in giving an apology.

It says alot about you.

Your children sound great, my brother and i were those same age differences. We were not so close when we were little but now are.

Thank You for reaching out to this board and apologizing. Everyone makes mistakes. See, I think I just spelt apologizing wrong.

It's easy to forget that words have power., yet they do.

However, so do actions. And Your actions spoke well of you this day.

*Hugs*.. i am sorry this time is bad for you... it will get better.

 

[fairykin]

Nancy,

I think you touched on a very good point. All one has to do is turn on CNN to see the news story about that poor little 3 year old girl in florida whose mother has obviously neglected her to the point of death.

I know that has been on my mind and I imagin others as well.

The thought of someone not caring for a child..is hard to comprehend..... and then if you go one step beyond..reading the words of it... it hurts to read them.

Sometimes lessons are learned individually... this time Our online Community learned something.

And now we will heal from it and be better for having gone through the negative experience......Together.


dawn

 

[Daisybelle]

I think we've all done things that seemed quite hilarious from our point of view but not so much from others' perspective.
And I for one, admit to being OVER-sensitive about anything relating to children, so my knickers tend to get in a knot fast when I read comments that don't reflect good parenting skills.

This was cool of you Sameyeyam!

 

[sameyeyam]

Thank you all for understanding. I know what I wrote was stupid and believe me I'm still kicking myself in the rear for it.

I really did want to post that it was a joke after a few minutes, but I was not the OP and felt it was her duty. I guess I should have trusted my gut instincts and posted it anyway. I went to bed last night with it bothering me and woke up again this morning knowing that I needed to apologize. Yes, I've learned my lesson!

Thank you.

 

[Sherry E]

Luckily, I actually missed the entire thread that caused the controversy but I saw some of the reactions to it in a different thread! Since I have no idea what the actual initial imflammatory point was, I won't comment on it, but I think it is great if you are taking steps to diffuse it now.

And as for children being left alone at DLR, I can tell you that last December - among the busiest months of the entire year at DLR - we were standing in a typically long line to eat at Carnation for a dessert meal - just before the last parade for the night. Some wench left her little child asleep in a stroller IN THE LINE while she disappeared on Main Street to make a call on her cell phone. She wasn't paying attention to the child at all. Anyone could have walked off with the kid. There was no one tending to the child in line, and in fact, the stroller was kind of getting in the way of the line, so people had to walk around it. It almost seemed to me as though this mom forgot there was a baby in the stroller and just parked it like she would park a bicycle! We were debating on what to do if the woman didn't return by the time we were being seated, and we figured we would tell the staff at Carnation and let them deal with her. But the negligent mom finally returned about 30 MINUTES LATER to the line and got the baby. Can you imagine what could have happened to that child in 30 minutes, if any unsavory sorts had been nearby? I wanted to say something to that wench, but we were being seated and I didn't want to cause a scene and hold up the line.

 

[NicksMommy]

I am so glad to hear that you really don't do this!! That's cool to apologize like that. I sometimes feel people on here are just joking - or sometimes being sarcastic, but hard to tell from just the writing, unless they actually say so...

 

[JadeDarkstar]

its ok its all under the bridge now. no flaming here im sorry to *hugs*
(i for one have to coment on the FL girl mom, i for one dont belive it was all the moms fault. but I always get flamed when i speak of this.. Every one is incent till proven guilty)

 

[AZMickeyfans]

With Sam's permission I would like to post my apology too. I don't want to clutter the board with several threads or clog everyone's PM boxes and risk offending someone I might forget.

I really thought it was going to end in a matter of seconds I swear. I cant exactly speak for dizzy but what I understood was the post was supposed to be a tongue in cheek response to her not getting much help on posing the valid question about EE earlier in the day. We seriously thought it was goofy. I see now that it wasn't. Actually I saw about 3 posts later but like Alison I didnt feel it was necessarily my point to stop it as I was not the OP. I believe I posted something like "If he knows his way around then I dont see why not. Go for it" Adding that winking guy I really thought would put the sarcasm in my post but I guess it didnt and I sincerely apologize for it.

I actually worked at lost children in WDW about 14 years ago and I cannot imagine leaving or losing a child so I guarantee you in reality I would NEVER advise anyone of this.

I reallly feel awful for those who did take it to heart as I know there are bad parents out there and that many of us (including me, even though it might not seem like it) do care what happens to children.

I see everyone's point and if I was on the other side of this I would feel the same way. Please understand it was not meant as to harm or hurt a child or any of you personally. At this point I hang my head low and say I'm just really ashamed for posting to begin with and I sincerely apologize.

Please accept my most humble apology as well.

Shawna

 

[JaneJetson]

I didn't see the original post. Not even sure if it's still around.

But just wanted to share a story about someone being left alone.

We were in line for Indiana Jones. It was a long line inside. There were three girls behind us, maybe in their mid to late teens. about 10-15 minutes after waiting in line...a cast member approached the girls behind us and said, "Did one of you leave your baby outside with a 4 year old?"

Apparently, yes....one of the girls (who was a mother, apparently) left her 4 year old outside the ride watching the baby while they (the mother and her other teen friends) went on Indiana Jones. The cast member was polite but you could tell she was pretty upset. She made the girl leave the line to go watch her children. The girl seemed annoyed!! I was so angry!

 

[Daisybelle]

Ok, I feel the need for a group hug!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

One of the nice things about our little corner of the DIS is that everyone is usually sincere when trying to help, so no one was expecting that joke, and it really is an ugly feeling to know that you were purposely set up as a butt of a joke - even if that joke lasts for a little while.

Not beating you up - just stating the obvious.

It took a lot to post here on the board. Thanks, you guys, for apologizing.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

well since were shareing stories. I left my son in the stroler (i though my sister had got him since she said she was) when i ran to get a spot for hunted mansion.
My sister came up behind me and I saw my child wasnt there.
Lucky my mom and his dad saw it and moved to get him. he was so young he didnt relize what happened but I couldnt belive i had almost left him.
needless to say i didnt trust my sister the rest that trip.
all well it was only a few mins but just showing some even me have a lapse of judgement.
Ty to both of you and the rest who pmed me an apoligized.

 

[Sherry E]

I didn't see the original post. Not even sure if it's still around.

But just wanted to share a story about someone being left alone.

We were in line for Indiana Jones. It was a long line inside. There were three girls behind us, maybe in their mid to late teens. about 10-15 minutes after waiting in line...a cast member approached the girls behind us and said, "Did one of you leave your baby outside with a 4 year old?"

Apparently, yes....one of the girls (who was a mother, apparently) left her 4 year old outside the ride watching the baby while they (the mother and her other teen friends) went on Indiana Jones. The cast member was polite but you could tell she was pretty upset. She made the girl leave the line to go watch her children. The girl seemed annoyed!! I was so angry!

Your story incenses me so much - even more than the shrew that left her baby unattended in my Carnation line last year - because it shows the utter immaturity and irresponsibility of the mother. Clearly, as you said, she was probably very young - and should not have had children to begin with - and she was so intent on having her own fun that she endangered her baby (and I guess the 4-year-old was her child as well?). That is absolutely selfish and mind-boggling to me! Leaving the 4-year-old alone is bad enough, but leaving the 4-year-old AND the baby in a crowded place like DL is absolutely shocking to me. I feel like someone should have sent in Child Protective Services right away and taken those kids! I am sure the tactful CM used every bit of restraint they could muster to not go off on the girl and curse her out, and maintained the Disney professionalism and kindness.

Jade, your incident with your son and your sister was clearly an accident, and that sort of thing does happen to parents here and there, but this woman at Carnation that I saw last year and the one that Jane Jetson spoke of in the Indiana Jones line were deliberately neglecting their kids for their own selfish reasons. Maybe they have some sort of notion that nothing bad can happen to kids in DL. I am just shocked that some people have no common sense and are allowed to be parents!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

*hugs* agree some ppl dont..well seem like there ready to be a mom. i fill bad for 15 16 and 17 year old moms. i was lucky to have my family to help me.
and yes it was an acdent that will never happen again

 

[Sherry E]

*hugs* agree some ppl dont..well seem like there ready to be a mom. i fill bad for 15 16 and 17 year old moms. i was lucky to have my family to help me.
and yes it was an acdent that will never happen again

I think some young girls are more mature and better able to understand the responsibilities and sacrifices involved in raising a child than other girls are, and of course, it does help to have the help of family. Anyone who has read your posts on this board and knows you from here also knows how much you love your son and want to do nice things for him. I get the feeling that this girl that JaneJetson encountered in the Indy line probably wanted her own Disneyland trip and just brought the kids along because she felt like HAD to, and then decided they were in her way so she left them alone. Thank goodness a CM spotted the kids.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

yes thats true. man i know my son might be to little to go on it. but id capt bane wouldnt have been there I wouldnt have gone. Hes still praying hes tall enough but if not i may not go just so he dosnet have to wait out with cap bane with out me

 

[grumpyvet]

I am so glad to see the apologies and the warm accepting posts. I hav ea sarcastic humor, so I almost always assume someone is joking when outrageous statements are made so I tend to drive on merrily without getting emotionally involved.

But, I know some are not as "prickley" as I am , so it hurts my heart when posters get upset/angry/injured.

I like to assume,even when posts do get nasty, that the feeling intended is not the tone that is coming out!! Kind of an Ostrich with my head in the sand!!


I am just very happy that all is good and we are family again!!!!

Hugs all around!!!

AMY

 

[jernysgirl]

While I appreciate the apologies, like many others, I am sorry that the joke had to be made in the first place. Had dizzy felt she was not getting enough responses on her original post, then she could have made a comment stating just that on that post, and not try to ruffle feathers.

I read the post, and was offended, but decided not to get involved because I knew that it would upset me. However, out of curiosity if it REALLY WAS a joke, I found the other hyena thread on the Just for Fun board, and read the posts on there that pertained to the one over here. I think I may have been more offended about what was said there than what was said here. All of you were over there "egging" her on to post more things that would get us all riled up. Thankfully, many of those suggested comments NEVER made it over here. And by that time, the thread had already been removed anyways.

But, back to the OP, thank you for taking the time to apologize to the board. I think that it was appropriate and I am glad that both of you have taken the time to think of what others were really feeling about the thread.