What was this parent thinking?

[EEPETEZ]

I really think all of the judgement on this thread is ridiculous. I have two children (6 & 11) and while they have never been "lost", I can totally see how it can happen. When I was a child 2 of my cousins on 2 different occasions were least at WDW. Each time the child was just attracted to something else and decided to go look at it. In a crowded store or ride, they can get away from you. On both occasions, the child did not even know they were "lost", but all of the adults I was with were freaked out. I'm glad the parent and child were reunited, but parenting is hard enough without all of the judgement.

 

[pigletgirl]

Anything is possible. We don't know the circumstances of the situation and maybe the family isn't even from the United States. I'm glad she wasn't harmed and that she is safe.

 

[Nata]

What I meant by "truly"... perhaps I should have been more clear is that I have not seen every bit of the parade missing things because my attention is split for certain as well it should be. I will refrain from responding the way you have to nitpicking my comments.

I was certainly not saying if you enjoy a parade with your child you are a bad parent, that is ridiculous to say the least. I am explaining that parents make sacrifices to ensure that your child is safe and with you. I personally find that the parades get very crowded, we never get a seat so it was just an example. Nothing to jump on....but by all means if you must you must.

Again my comments are not leveled at parents who try hard to do the right thing. I think you know if you are a parent that takes proper responsibility for your children and their safety or you are not. But NO, I do not think if you enjoy the parade with your children you are a bad parent. I simply say parents need to be accountable for their children's safety and sometimes it means sacrificing a little.

But I completely agree with you. Our opinion differs only in that I believe most parents (with very rare exceptions) try hard to do the right thing. But our and their understanding of what this right thing is might not be the same.

 

[minniemous]

But I completely agree with you. Our opinion differs only in that I believe most parents (with very rare exceptions) try hard to do the right thing. But our and their understanding of what this right thing is might not be the same.

I agree. Most parents do try hard to do the right thing. I also understand that that can mean different things to different people.

 

[mshanson3121]

You can assume that the lady came up to calmly claim her child or was extremely concerned and grateful.

You can assume that if the mother had come up and was extremely concerned and grateful since her child was missing, that OP wouldn't have bothered with this entire thread, since it would have been moot. Kinda common sense, I would think.

You can even assume that the lady was already in the pastry store when the child was taken inside.

Actually, no, thanks to the OP, we KNOW that the woman was in the pastry store, and that the child was not. She was there, and saw with her own two eyes that the child was indeed in a completely different room from the mother.

"standing alone next to a stroller which was parked by a railing. 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."

"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."

A) Not sure why it's so hard for you to fathom someone would do this when this thread is full of stories where people have seen it happen. And B) Yes, everyone wants to give the benefit of the doubt. No one wants to think that a parent would be willingly so irresponsible. But sometimes, you just have to call a spade a spade.

And I'm not willing to say 100% for sure that she left her there, but sorry, the information from OP's witness, certainly suggest she was. Perhaps OP will chime in and clarify whether the mother was indeed unconcerned about her child's whereabouts, or if she was grateful, relieved etc... at having found her wandering child.

At the very least, it's far from deserving a "ROFL", since it's a very real likelihood, and a scenario that happens all that time. I fail to see the humor in that. Or that we would have concern about such a thing as being funny.

 

[Laketravis]

Actually, no, thanks to the OP, we KNOW that the woman was in the pastry store, and that the child was not. She was there, and saw with her own two eyes that the child was indeed in a completely different room from the mother.

Sorry, I don't see where the OP indicates she saw the mother in the pastry store at any time prior to "a lady came up to claim her".

 

[mshanson3121]

Sorry, I don't see where the OP indicates she saw the mother in the pastry store at any time prior to "a lady came up to claim her".

Apparently you needed to keep reading. It's right there on page 1, in black and white. I quoted directly from her additional comment.

 

[mshanson3121]

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!

And again, it was already clarified in her original post, that the mother was in the pastry shop.

 

[Laketravis]

Apparently you needed to keep reading. It's right there on page 1, in black and white. I quoted directly from her additional comment.

"Apparently" you are misunderstanding her comments. She said the distance from where she saw the child standing to where she saw her reunited with her mother is 50 feet. I don't see anywhere in her comments where she states she saw the mother in the store prior to the time she "came up to claim her".

To say the mother was already in the store buying pastries is an assumption - even the OP clearly states it was a guess.

 

[mshanson3121]

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.

I'm sorry. How much clearer can it get? I mean SERIOUSLY?! The CM WALKED HER INTO THE AREA WHERE PEOPLE LINE UP TO BUY THE PASTRIES. This is where the mother was reunited with the child. Therefore... (wait for it, it's gonna be a doozy)... this would mean that the mother was physically IN THAT AREA. Shocking isnt it? Who cares if she was buying pastries or not. She was in a completely different room from the child. That is the point (assuming that it was intentional). Perhaps she had a bag in her hand and OP just didn't bother mentioning that detail.

And OP already said that the child was originally NOT in that room. And was a good 50' away.

Are you just arguing for arguments sake?

 

[JimmyV]

Oh dear lord! How is this thread still alive when the Mods are usually so quick to point out that THIS IS NOT A PARENTING BOARD. Seriously! This is the most "parenting skills" discussion I have seen here in quite some time. Now, if it had been mentioned that the mother was wearing a green and yellow jersey, this would have been shut down (rightfully), pages ago!

 

[Laketravis]

Are you just arguing for arguments sake?

Not at all. I honestly don't enjoy having to point out the obvious.

Are you refusing to consider that the mother wasn't inside the pastry shop at all, and only went there to claim her because that's where her daughter was taken? Again, the OP never said she saw the mother in the store buying pastries, it was her "guess"!

Thanks for playing.

 

[Laketravis]

Oh dear lord! How is this thread still alive when the Mods are usually so quick to point out that THIS IS NOT A PARENTING BOARD. Seriously! This is the most "parenting skills" discussion I have seen here in quite some time.

Some people need a place to pontificate - even if there isn't a valid reason to do so.

 

[mshanson3121]

Some people need a place to pontificate - even if there isn't a valid reason to do so.

And some just prefer to argue for arguments sake, which apparently from some comments I've seen about certain people, seems to be a common occurrence. Some, would rather make fun of people for having very valid concerns, about situations that were very likely.

It's been a pleasure.

 

[pjhootch]

Different parenting styles are fascinating.

I can't help wonder what international visitors think of those leash backpacks! Perhaps they post on boards about the barbaric parents who treat their children like animals out for a walk. Or perhaps they see a 9 year old in a stroller and are horrified that parents would humiliate their child in public like that.

Trust me, you don't have to be an international visitor to be puzzled by leash backpacks and kids in strollers that are big enough to walk on their own. Parenting styles and "cultures" can be quite different even within the U.S. I don't really get the attitude that a parent who loses track of a kid for a few minutes needs to be taken out and shot at dawn.

 

[Cyrano]

I think we can safely say this topic has been flogged