Thursday 16 January 2014

This Is Not What I Expected To Blog About

Wow - I wasn't expecting to take a break from blogging but it seems that I did.  And, while I have certainly missed my friends who 'live inside my computer' - I have felt some relief at not feeling the pressure of trying to think of things to post about.  The break has done me the world of good.

I hope that everyone had a great Christmas and New Year - both were very quiet for us (which suited us old fogies down to the ground) and, although it was quiet, we were certainly busy getting our home ready to put on the market.  It is now on the market and things are progressing very well.

Now, those of you who have been following my blog for a while will know that I am not the most maternal person going - OK, I'm not maternal by any stretch of the imagination BUT I do still know right from wrong when it comes to children.  I may not be able to inter-act with them very well but these two stories, in the past 24 hours, have left me scratching my head with my mouth hanging open.

News story last night - two children, aged 4 and 10, were left about 300m from the flags on the beach while their parents went shopping.  Firstly, which parents would leave two children that age unsupervised anywhere - never mind on the beach ?  And secondly, which parents would leave two children that age unsupervised anywhere - never mind on the beach ?  The little girl went into the ocean and got caught in a rip.  Thankfully a board rider heard / saw her and rescued her.  That could so easily have ended very very badly for that family.  Can you imagine how her older brother would have felt as he would (I assume) have been told to 'look after your little sister' ?  Given how un-maternal I am - I still would not have done that to my child.

News story today - 19 children had to be rescued from locked cars in Victoria.  Yesterday the temps in Victoria were horrible.  At 6pm last night the temp was still 43°.  By 9pm it had dropped to 38°.  Again, which parents think it's OK to leave their child locked in a car ?  Never mind about the heat - who locks their child in a car ?  Again, given how un-maternal I am - I know that it isn't right to lock my child in a car.

So it begs the question - are they not maternal or are they just plain dumb-arses ?  I'd like to think that people who have children have a protective instinct - somewhere, that they would protect them at any cost and if this is the case, what were these parents thinking ?  Or where they just not thinking ?  But that begs the question - how can you have children and not think about what you are doing with them ?  Where you are leaving them ?  How safe will they be ?  While I don't want to believe that every second person walking around is a pedophile,  you would have to think that two children alone on a beach, 300m from where most people are sitting / playing / swimming, would be easy prey for anyone so inclined.

I am just shocked that parents can treat their children like this.  It has just blown my mind.

Am I being unreasonable ?
Would you leave your child
 under 10 unsupervised ?

TFTD : It's not always where you are in life, but who you have by your side that matters.

30 comments:


  1. I understand you saying you're not maternal and that being your feeling and perception of yourself, but as someone who has had the pleasure of spending time with you in person. You my dear are one of the most kind, considerate and thoughtful people I know. The number of times a special email has popped into my inbox, a letter in the snail mail, a random knock at the door and a bunch of flowers and a cuddle. My love you certainly have all the qualities of someone you would outwardly define as being maternal. I believe you are maternal, just in a different way, your way. Thank you for you being you.

    As for the recent news stories I don't even know where to start as it too boggles my mind. Having lost children it is not a pain I would ever wish upon my worst enemy and that's why when I hear these news stories I'm simply floored by people's STUPIDITY and of course I get angry. I think there are a lot selfish parents out there who do things like this. Sure as parents we need a break once and while but it has got to occur to them to do it appropriately and safely.....but NOOOOO. Making stupid decisions like you've outlined above with your children can result in changing the course of everyone's life FOREVER, just so you a parent can have some "kid free time".

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    1. Oh Trudie - thank you for those really kind words. I am so glad that that is how you see me - I hope that others do because I really want to try to make this world a better place to be in by making people happier.
      I get goose-bumps every time I think of that little girl - it really makes me sad.
      Thank you for stopping by - have the BEST week !
      Me xox

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  2. I am so glad you are back!! You must be some kind of mind reader as you were on my to do list today to send you an email!!
    You don't need to be maternal to have common sense. There needs to be tougher penalties for anyone caught doing such irresponsible things.

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    1. Yes, I agree with you about there being tougher penalties for people who behave like that.
      Great minds think alike - I have been thinking of my on-line friends but have been busy (like everyone else) and unfortunately something had to give and it was my time on the computer. It's good to be back ! Loved the photos of Speedy - he is getting soooooooooo big !
      Have the best day !
      Me

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  3. Firstly, NO ONE is going to own up to ever leaving their child alone in a car or on the beach!
    Secondly, you don't have to be maternal to know that those two scenarios are outrageous and downright dangerous for the children involved.
    People who want to be parents should have to pass a bloody test before they procreate!

    I am and have always been massively OVER PROTECTIVE of my kids, and other's too! If I see a child in danger or potential danger I will step in no matter what. I've also been known to follow a person home in their car (me in mine) and give them a piece of my mind for allowing their TODDLER to hang out of the car window while the car was doing 50 kms per hr! Actually, I've done that about 3 times so far.

    Shit, I could go on and on about useless parents. But I'll stop there I think! *smiles*

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    1. I'm with you - I am quite happy to step in when I think that someone is doing something that is really wrong and there are children involved. Good for you - hopefully they didn't do it again. In Australia all children have to be in car seats so no chance of them hanging out the window.
      Have a great day !
      Me

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  4. I had the same thoughts about the news story 2 children aged 2 and 6 who were allowed to go to a public toilet by themselves. Their family was only two or three hundred metres away but that didn't stop someone sexually assaulting them. What were the adults thinking?

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    1. I heard that on the news last night - it is just awful !!! While it's great to think we live in a wonderful country, the reality is that there are still horrible people around.
      Have a great week !
      Me

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  5. Welcome back! And no, I just can't understand how people can justify leaving their kids in the car - I decided not to stop at the servo yesterday arvo because it was 40 degrees, there was nowhere in the shade to stop while I ran in to pay and dragging 5 kids across the forecourt isn't safe. As for leaving the kids at the beach, the mind boggles. It really does. Thank goodness for that board surfer!

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    1. Thank you !!! Yes, that's what I kept on thinking - thank goodness for that board rider - if he hadn't been around how awful would the outcome have been.
      I totally hear you about leaving them in the car when you just want to nip into the shop - you just don't do it - it's that easy !!!
      Have a great day !
      Me

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  6. OMG that is just crazy I can't understand the beach one at all. People sure are crazy aren't they? So lovely to see a new post from you though lovely. Hope all is well and you are smoothly settling into the new year. Sending lots of fairy wishes and butterfly kisses your way

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    1. For sure some people are just crazy ! All is well - very busy but good thank you.
      Off to do a TT post so I can join in with you this week.
      Have the best day !
      Me

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  7. Welcome back hun.

    OMG !!! The mind boggles!! Some people just don't deserve children..or animals.

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    1. Thanks Jen - you are right - they don't deserve children or animals !!!
      I hope your latest addition is still doing well.
      Have a good day !
      Me

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  8. Who thinks a 10 yr old can risk assess the ocean? Wow! That story stuns me(not heard it)
    On a different note, I can't find u on twitter??

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    1. I know - and which 10yo should be responsible for their 4yo sister ????? It was on the GC so maybe it didn't make it all the way down to you.
      I found you on twitter - hope you can find me now.
      Have a good one !
      Me

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  9. To get an insight into how things have changed, literature from last century is very illustrative. For example, in W. Somerset Maugham's "In Human Bondage", a couple goes out on the town once the baby goes to sleep: "He'll sleep through fine". In Hans Fallada's "Little Man, What Now?", a father just ties his baby to the cot when he has to go out. Kids (and parents) are soft these days, aren't they?

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    1. Well that does put it into perspective and yes, kids and parents are getting softer !!! LOL
      Have a great day !
      Me

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  10. I think you pegged it with "dumb arses". What kind of simpleton leaves a four-year old under the supervision of a ten-year old. ON THE BEACH??? So dangerous and so unfair to load a child with that level of responsibility. :-(

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    1. Exactly right - I can only begin to imagine how he would have felt if anything had happened to his sister.
      Have a great weekend !
      Me

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  11. I'm absolutely gobsmacked. I just can't even begin to fathom what is going through these people's head (I don't know if I can stretch to call them parents) to think that those actions are in anyway ok. There probably was nothing going through their heads. Paul and I were talking about the amount of people leaving their kids in cars and there is so much more that could go wrong other than just overheating. Someone could steal the car, crash into the car, the child could choke on food if they have any, someone could steal the child..it's really a stupid, stupid thing to do.

    Thanks for linking up with us at The Lounge!

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    1. I completely agree with you - it isn't just the heat you have to worry about.
      Have a great Friday !
      Me

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  12. Welcome back! I have no idea why someone would intentionally do that unless there was a huge need - something life threatening. It's a scary situation.

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    1. Thank you ! And even then you would have to wonder what would be more important than the safety of their children ?
      Have a great day !
      Me

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  13. So missed you welcome back xxx

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    1. Thank you - I did miss all my friends who live in my computer !
      Have the best weekend !
      Me

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  14. I vote dumbarses all the way. Mind-blowing dumbarsery of epic proportions.

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    1. Yip - you are right about that - maybe they left their brains at home that day ?
      Have a great day !
      Me

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  15. Some people should not breed. Simple.
    A 6 month old baby was once left in their pram outside our local pub while their parents had a drink. I don't know what happened but it was all over the news. It disgusts me.

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    1. You are dead right about that - it's a pity that quite often the ones who shouldn't breed don't actually realise it and land up having more children than anyone should !!
      Going for a drink, going shopping - clearly their own entertainment / wants come before looking after their children.
      Have a great weekend !
      Me

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I love getting comments - please feel free to leave a comment to let me know you were here !
Have the best day.

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