What was this parent thinking?

[sunsetbeachgal]

We were in the France Pavilion at Epcot last week, in the building where they now have the pastry shop, and saw a small girl (my guess is around 3 years old) quietly sobbing, standing alone next to a stroller which was parked by a railing. I stood there for a minute looking around to see if a parent or guardian came over to her, which they did not. I then saw a CM, someone who appeared to be going to clean off tables, and I told her that this child appeared to be alone and in distress. Immediately, this wonderful CM gently took the child's hand and walked her into the area where people line up to buy the pastries, and the CM stood with her until a lady came up to claim the child. As the CM then walked off, I mouthed "thank you" to her.

I have no idea how a mother or guardian could leave this little one alone in a separate room out of eyeshot and earshot while they went to buy pastries.

But, I am very impressed at how CM's must be trained to react to a child in obvious distress.

 

[Missytara]

I think people really seem to let their guard down at WDW, like it is this cocoon of an environment.

But even in WDW or other any other place for that matter, there are sights and sounds that are strange to a young child. I would not dare walk away and leave them alone for a second.

Thank goodness for people who ARE aware like yourself and the CM that came to the rescue.

I am just stunned.......

 

[SeanTomorrow]

Maybe she was in "time out"? That could explain quiet sobbing, standing alone.

 

[lillygator]

yeah or being put in the corner....

 

[RustManFan]

Shameful, completely shameful

Thank goodness for the kind CM

 

[kkendle]

I was in Magic Kingdom a few years ago on a busy spring break day with my teen aged daughter. We were walking over the bridge from the Space Mountain area and we saw a little girl...maybe 4 years old. She looked alone and was not crying but had a look of terror in her eyes and was looking around. I asked her if she was lost and she nodded.

My daughter waited with her and I walked up to a CM who was selling stuff at a little kiosk. She immediately left and went to the little girl. I didn't want to take the child's hand to take her somewhere because I didn't want to scare her. I was so happy that the CM took her hand and I was comfortable to know that she was safe.

 

[StirlingSilver83]

Wow...I never like my kids to be out of my eye sight when they are just playing in our front yard. Never mind being at Disney! I would totally freak out if my kids were out of my eye sight at Disney. I guess I am an over protective mother lol

 

[kkendle]

Wow...I never like my kids to be out of my eye sight when they are just playing in our front yard. Never mind being at Disney! I would totally freak out if my kids were out of my eye sight at Disney. I guess I am an over protective mother lol

Me either...although my kids are all older now, I know exactly what you mean by having them in your eyesight all the time.

I can say though that sometimes things happen in a blink of the eye and happens to even the most observant parent.

Leaving a child unattended is one thing, but those little things that happen in the blink of an eye is another horrifying thing.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

It's possible the mother didn't even realize her child had wandered off. I wouldn't be so quick to judge.

 

[MrsDuck]

It's possible the mother didn't even realize her child had wandered off. I wouldn't be so quick to judge.

I'm not a parent but I would think that as a parent you'd constantly be aware of where your kiddo was, especially in such a public place.

Regardless, OP - you did the right thing! Better safe than sorry.

 

[Newsies]

I'm not a parent but I would think that as a parent you'd constantly be aware of where your kiddo was, especially in such a public place.

Regardless, OP - you did the right thing! Better safe than sorry.

^^^

 

[minniemous]

Maybe she was in "time out"? That could explain quiet sobbing, standing alone.

3 years old? Time out alone at Disney World while Mom goes to buy pastries? Was that a joke? That would be absolutely crazy and cruel to do to a 3 year old child.

More likely it was easier for her to accomplish her all important task on her own. The mentality is the same as leaving a child alone in a car to run into the market.

Thank goodness you helped out..perhaps it taught her mother a lesson that it is not appropriate to leave a child in a strange place by themselves. One would hope anyhow.

 

[sunsetbeachgal]

My guess is that she was told to "stay" and wait in that exact spot until Mom returned with the pastry. For those who have not been at Epcot since the French pastry spot was moved (a gelato shop is now in the old pastry spot location), it is in the large indoor area now that the movie lets out into. The room where the child was crying is set up with tables and gift items for sale. The area where the pastry is now sold is a completely separate large room. Both areas are busy with people eating and coming and going.

This child was standing at least 50 feet away from where I saw the CM reunite her with her mother. I am not a mother either (but I am a very proud stepmother!) but no way would we have walked out without that situation getting resolved!

 

[bocaj1431]

I'm not a parent but I would think that as a parent you'd constantly be aware of where your kiddo was, especially in such a public place.

Regardless, OP - you did the right thing! Better safe than sorry.

 

[mirak]

My guess is that she was told to "stay" and wait in that exact spot until Mom returned with the pastry. For those who have not been at Epcot since the French pastry spot was moved, it is in the large indoor area now that the movie lets out into. The room where the child was crying is set up with tables and gift items for sale. The area where the pastry is now sold is a completely separate large room. Both areas are busy with people eating and coming and going.

This child was standing at least 50 feet away from where I saw the CM reunite her with her mother.

I'm not familiar with the area, but is there a clear line of sight between where the mother was and the child? The child absolutely could have been placed in time out, and there's nothing wrong with putting a child in time out in a public place provided the parent can still see the child. If not, that's irreponsible parenting. Regardless - you did the right thing. Better safe than sorry.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Maybe she was left with an older sibling and the older sibling wandered off?

My kids are 6 years apart and there was a time when DS just left DD alone in a public place to come find me and tattle tale because "she made him mad." It wasn't at WDW.

I'm usually not quick to judge. I try to put myself in that situation first. It's not always bad parenting.

 

[SeanTomorrow]

I imagine parenting styles are even more controversial than FP+

What the OP did sounds compassionate. But I don't think they averted a kidnapping or anything.

 

[vrajewski10513]

Maybe she was in "time out"? That could explain quiet sobbing, standing alone.

I don't believe "time out" is a good reason to leave your young child unattended and out of sight range...

 

[SeanTomorrow]

They were in the French pavilion, right? Maybe they trying French parenting techniques

http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204740904577196931457473816

 

[IWannaBuildASnowman]

Nobody actually has any clue what happened in this scenario, so let's all be thankful the child is safe instead of throwing the mom under the bus for being a horrible parent, shall we?