Ah, summer—the season for barbecues, camping trips, swimming, and outdoor fun. Unfortunately, it can also lead to tragic oversights, like leaving your child in a hot car.
As a mother of four, I consider myself a responsible parent. Sure, I occasionally make questionable choices—like serving chicken nuggets and counting ketchup as a vegetable, or allowing my kids extra screen time. Yet, even during my most self-critical moments, I wouldn’t label myself as a negligent mom.
A couple of summers ago, I would have dismissed the idea that I could ever be careless enough to forget my child in the car. I mean, how could anyone be that oblivious? But that June was scorching, with humidity weighing heavily on the Midwest. My mom had just relocated from out of state to be closer to family, and I was thrilled to have her nearby.
To celebrate her arrival, we decided to host a barbecue. My husband took charge of the grill while my kids ran around in the yard. As the delicious aroma of cooking meat wafted through the air, I suddenly craved sweet corn to complete our meal.
“Mom and I will run to the store,” I said. “We’ll be quick!”
“Take the baby with you,” my husband suggested. “It’ll be tough to keep an eye on all of them while I’m cooking.”
I secured my calm and easygoing 1-year-old into his rear-facing car seat, and off we went. The grocery store was close, and Mom and I chatted and laughed, enjoying our time together. We arrived at the store, still in high spirits. I checked my phone for the time while my mom dug through her purse.
We headed straight to the produce section only to find the corn selection depleted. “This is Iowa!” I exclaimed, frustrated. “How can they be out of corn? Let’s try another store.”
After making our way back to the car, I started the engine, music playing and air conditioning blasting. Then, I heard my mother gasp sharply, a sound that sent a jolt of panic through me. It hit us at once—we had forgotten the baby in the car.
It took me some time to muster the courage to write those words down. Even now, years later, the memory makes my heart race with anxiety. It’s hard to confess such a terrifying mistake, especially when it involves the safety of my child—but it happened. And frighteningly easily.
We were lost in conversation, an unusual scenario since I typically had all my kids with me. My baby had been silent the entire time, making it easy to forget he was even there. It was over 90 degrees outside, and we had left him in the car with the windows up.
Miraculously, we were only gone for a couple of minutes, just enough time to find the empty bin of corn and leave. But what if we had decided to grab some ice cream? Or waited in a long checkout line? A car can heat up to 125 degrees within minutes, and a child’s body temperature rises much faster than an adult’s. There are nearly 40 child deaths in the U.S. each year from being left in hot cars, and my baby could have easily become one of those heartbreaking statistics.
I share this story not as a confession of failure but as a reminder that even responsible parents can make grave mistakes—like I did. It’s a warning that this can happen to anyone, including you. Just because you believe it’s impossible doesn’t mean it can’t happen—trust me, I felt the same way before it occurred.
If this experience taught me anything, it’s this: never say, “I would never.” You don’t need to be negligent or reckless; sometimes, being human is enough.
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Summary
This cautionary tale highlights how easy it is for even the most attentive parents to inadvertently forget their child in a hot car. It serves as a reminder to remain vigilant and aware, regardless of how responsible you believe yourself to be.
Keyphrase: Leaving baby in car
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