I'm not going to rush to judgement on this one, but I have to say that I remember having to take my kids into the bathroom with me, or at least the bedroom, where I could keep an eye on them. It was years before I could expect to even have peace in the bathroom. I suspect that the woman was in the bathroom for more than two minutes.
I agree with you on this one. Even if we cannot, and should not, rush to blame anyone, I do remember getting used to not close (much less lock) the bathroom door if I was home alone with any of my toddlers. And they made it to adulthood in one piece!
My children are 17 and 19 and I still want to hold their hands walking across a mall parking lot. (Yes, they think I'm nuts.)
Yes, mothers don't close the bathroom door - I still have a problem with that, and all i have to worry about these days is spoiled rotten cats.
Can't imagine what is finally going to be reported as the cause of this tragedy. I hate to think that it might be the obvious - too soon to jump to conclusions.
Most of us moms even SHOWERED with shower curtain somewhat open - made for a lot of wet bathroom floors but at least we knew where our kids were.
My little guy wanders and used to always try to go outside on his own. We got a high locks on all the doors so that everytime I had to go to the bathroom or leave the room he was in I knew he could not get out.
"It was years before I could expect to even have peace in the bathroom."
Oh gosh, yes. And taking a shower? Not unless Dad was home.
I was running the bath for my kids, and trying to use the "necessity" at the same time (Moms are masters at multitasking). First time I had literally two minutes to myself the entire day. Even before I finished, my daughter comes running in, chest covered with blood. Her 4 year old brother got angry and tried to slam his bedroom door in her face; he slammed it on her finger and severed the top digit! She had gripped her injured hand to her chest, and blood was pooling down the front.
Thankfully, the doctor was able to reattach it and it looks like new!
I've had several neighbors tell me that I am one of the best mothers they ever met, because I'm so aware of my children and what they are doing; very attentive and protective. I certainly didn't feel that way at that particular moment; I felt like the world's worst mom!
"I'm not going to rush to judgement on this one, but I have to say that I remember having to take my kids into the bathroom with me, or at least the bedroom, where I could keep an eye on them. It was years before I could expect to even have peace in the bathroom."
Yup. Always bring them into the bathroom with you. The only way to truly keep the little ones safe is to never take your eyes off them.
going to the bathroom by yourself with two young kids? I haven't been able to do that in 5 years, the kids, the dog, somebody is always in with me :) Privacy what's that?
That's what I did with my kids, too. Now I do it for our grandchildren when they are here alone with me. We have installed "hotel" style locks on all of our outside doors at our house and our daughter's house. We live on a busy street and weren't willing to take a chance on one or both of her twins getting outside without us knowing. They are five now and I'm sure they could defeat any locks we have if they want.
I had a neighbor years ago that had a toddler who loved to strip all of his clothes off and run down the street naked. She had two other kids and neighbors frequently had to bring the "streaker" home. Everyone thought it was funny 30 years ago. It wouldn't strike me as funny now.
My mother says that she and Dad resigned herself to privacy-free bathroom time for 18 years the day they brought me home from the hospital.
You know how hard it is to learn to close the bathroom door after you've spent 18 years around a woman who doesn't?