After many a parent’s nightmare became her reality recently, a mother has shared the story of how “the unthinkable” happened when she left her young daughter in a car without supervision.
Sharing her story via her parenting Facebook group, This is Motherhood, Britta Eberle explained, “our family arrived at a friend’s house and in our excitement we all darted out, assuming that someone else had remembered to grab the youngest member of our clan.
"But no one remembered her. And she sat for about twenty minutes crying alone before one of us grabbed her."
Eberle continued, "It was such a small mistake but it could have had devastating consequences."
As almost every parent can attest, the fear of leaving children in the car is beyond real - the risks of temperature and strangers are just the beginning, something the mother said she hasn't been able to stop thinking about since the accident occurred.
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"Thank god we were parked in a safe place. Thank god it wasn't hot outside. Thank god she wasn't alone for long. Thank god she has already forgotten about it and forgiven us," she wrote, adding, "But it will be a long time before I forgive myself."
The post, which has received almost 500 reactions since first being shared continued, "I made a huge mistake today and I feel terrible. There are no excuses for what I did. And part of me doesn't want to share this. I don't want the world to know how badly I've failed. But then I think that I have to share this. I have to own up to my mistakes. I have to tell the world how far I am from perfect. And how if I did this, anyone could do this. And that scares me but also makes me judge a little less and makes me pay attention whole lot more."
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Top Comments
Glad it turned out ok
I was changing my toddler's nappy on the change table, and put my younger baby safely on the floor. I heard a strange noise and looked down at baby, and realized he was choking on something - he had found a stray hair clip on the floor. I immediately grabbed him and started patting his back.
Then remembered that was the wrong thing to do, and instead fished the clip out with my fingers.
Then remembered toddler, and turned around to see her standing on the edge of the change table. Caught her just as she was about to fall.
Not a good day.
I disagree. You looked after both your kids and everyone went home healthy. Give yourself a pat on the back, not a hard time.