Not Just Another QPM!

A certain couple that I am lucky enough to call "friends of mine" blog. Mostly about rearing their two children, but they do share about other facets of the gem that is their life/lives. (I'm entering a slight panic about that wording...but I'll try to focus.)

Anyway, they've (yes, I'm giving THEM full credit if it enters the mainstream...I read it on their blog first and that's all that matters) coined the acronym and phrase "QPM" or a Questionable Parenting Moment. It has now entered my vocabulary. Imitation is the highest form of flattery and all that.

So when I heard this story on the radio and found an article online (which I c&p'd below) about the incident, I had to throw in MY two-cents.

FORT WORTH — No criminal charges will be sought against family members of a 2-year-old girl who was left at a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Police picked up the child who called herself Mimi on Saturday night after people at the restaurant realized that no adult was with her, said Lt. Dan Draper. The family of the girl did not report her missing until seeing her picture in news media reports two days later, authorities said.

On Monday after police alerted the media to the situation, her father contacted authorities, saying his sister had taken her to a birthday party at the restaurant and thought another sister had brought her home after it was over, Draper said.

The father said his sisters often keep toddler Almedia James for days at a time, and he does not have a phone so he did not call them over the weekend, Draper said. The situation appears to be a misunderstanding, Draper said.

The girl remained in foster care this morning. Child Protective Services officials planned to meet with her relatives later in the day but may discuss the case with a judge before deciding custody, Draper said.

Did I read that right? Did you??

The family of the girl did not report her missing until seeing her picture in news media reports two days later, authorities said.

Oh. My. Two days later?!?! Until seeing her picture in news reports??? The situation appears to be a misunderstanding???

There are so many things wrong with this. Those adults are trying to call this just a QPM, although they don't have the vernacular to do so. Whether it was sensationalized by the media, I don't know. But ...HOW do you take a CHILD somewhere and FORGET them there?? And not realize it for TWO DAYS??? They cannot chalk this up to a QPM. I won't let them.

I have had a few QPMs in my time as a parent, but I have never "forgotten" my son somewhere. Unless we've both repressed it from our memories.