Birthday Boy left overnight at Chuck E. Cheese

[floriflee]

It's like something out of one of the many Home Alones--without having to set up booby traps.

Talk about the importance of teaching your child emergency info (phone number, address, parents' names, etc.)

Linky (http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/14741676.htm)

[Mr. Anderson]

My 2 1/2 year old knows his whole name, and Mommy and Daddy's *big name*

But that's just sad that they all thought someone else was taking care of him. You can't make any assumptions about kids....

Bleh,

D

[Chundles]

Ahhh.... Chuck E Cheese....

I used to love that place when I was a little american-sounding kiddo. "Mommie can weee goo to Chuck. Eeee Cheeeesee???"


Poor little tyke, must've just been a total nightmare for some very stressed out parents. It happens though, my Dad was left behind at Taronga Zoo on his birthday when he was about the same age.

[Blue Velvet]

Is that why we haven't heard from emw for a few hours now? :p

[Applespider]

I can see how this happens particularly if the kids are used to being allowed to sleepover at granny's or in an extended family at various homes on special occasions.

The little kids think he's getting to go with with the big kids since its his birthday and the people with the big kids assume he's doing the usual; particularly likely since his particular mother was chauffering rather than being with the little 'uns to recognise he wouldn't be with the others.

Poor kid... rotten way to finish a birthday. It does sound like a genuine accident with no real negligence so I hope they don't throw the book at the mother.

[iGary]

Is that why we haven't heard from emw for a few hours now? :p

LOL!!!

*falls down laughing* :D

[dmw007]

I can not believe that the mom forgot her child at Chuck E. Cheese- poor kid, that had to be terrifying to be left all alone in a strange environment.

[iGary]

I can not believe that the mom forgot her child at Chuck E. Cheese- poor kid, that had to be terrifying to be left all alone in a strange environment.

Oh, I can. Many parents treat their kids as obligations. :rolleyes:

And remember kids, it's the homos that are destroying families. :rolleyes:

[dmw007]

Oh, I can. Many parents treat their kids as obligations. :rolleyes:


Sadly, you have a point. :(


And remember kids, it's the homos that are destroying families. :rolleyes:

Another terrible distortion of reality, but I guess I should save my rant on this subject for another thread. :o :)

[Abstract]

I was once left at the mall, and now I've grown up to become like this.....this....monster!

[floriflee]

I can completely see how this could happen. I got left/lost plenty of places when I was a little kid because of my propensity to wander off. I even got left at a gas station in Germany once because I wandered out of the car while they were filling up (or something like that). I caused my parents a lot of grief in that regard, and ultimately forced them to invest in a child harness to keep me in tow.

In any case, when there are that many adults/kids/cars involved it's all the more important to do a head count just before you leave. Poor kid.

[iGary]

I can completely see how this could happen. I got left/lost plenty of places when I was a little kid because of my propensity to wander off. I even got left at a gas station in Germany once because I wandered out of the car while they were filling up (or something like that). I caused my parents a lot of grief in that regard, and ultimately forced them to invest in a child harness to keep me in tow.

In any case, when there are that many adults/kids/cars involved it's all the more important to do a head count just before you leave. Poor kid.

Overnight?

[kretzy]

What's Chuck E. Cheese? A burger place or something? I've heard it spoken about in movies/tv shows but never quite figured it out. :o

[Bubbasteve]

I'm sorry butthere is no excuse for this to happen...it was the kid's birthday so you would imagine that would spark the kids parents to remember him that much more, let alone he is their son!

[jessica.]

Oh, I can. Many parents treat their kids as obligations. :rolleyes:

And remember kids, it's the homos that are destroying families. :rolleyes:
Actually, I know you're just being funny, but for the record, two sets of the best parents that I've ever seen (even better than my own) are two gay couples. There are 3 kids between them. The kids are well educated, well taken care of, and more importantly loved like no other.

[iGary]

What's Chuck E. Cheese? A burger place or something? I've heard it spoken about in movies/tv shows but never quite figured it out. :o

It's where I will go if there is a hell.

Tousands of kids.

Pizza.

Video games.

[Sharewaredemon]

My 2 1/2 year old knows his whole name, and Mommy and Daddy's *big name*

But that's just sad that they all thought someone else was taking care of him. You can't make any assumptions about kids....

Bleh,

D

I agree, not enough communication is not an excuse, it is so important when dealing with a large group of kids to not assume things.

[kretzy]

It's where I will go if there is a hell.

Tousands of kids.

Pizza.

Video games.
Ugh. Sounds repulsive.

[floriflee]

Overnight?

Never overnight. The Germany thing they noticed 15-30 mins into the trip (we were driving all throughout northern Europe in a yellow VW Bus) and that freaked them out to no end--that's when they got the child harness for both me and my poor undeserving younger sister.

The most I ever got left behind was probably 2-3 hours when my mom forgot to pick me up from band practice one early Saturday afternoon in fifth grade. I'm sure my director wondered about my parents after having to wait for so long (building was locked and this was the pre-cell phone era), but it was an honest mistake. I know she felt terrible for forgetting. Heaven knows how many times I've lost track of time and forgotten things. I can only imagine how much harder it is to remember when you have four children to keep track of (don't know how your parents did eight :eek: ).

I don't mean to completely justify the parents' most-likely unintentional irresponsibility, but I can see how it can happen--especially if it really was like the scenario AppleSpider mentioned. The one thing I definitely am perturbed about is the fact that the boy didn't know any of his emergency information. It is unacceptable to have a six year old boy still not know his phone number, address and parents' names.

[Chundles]

It's where I will go if there is a hell.

Tousands of kids.

Pizza.

Video games.

My idea of hell is a cruise. I can't think of anything worse than being stuck on some boat in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of people who are happy to be stuck on a boat in the middle of nowhere.

I'd be begging for Chuck E Cheese by the end of a cruise.

[Black&Tan]

Okay...here's the thing I don't understand. They loaded the kids in the vans and then the adults talked in the parking lot for a "half hour"???? How many kids do you know that wouldn't be climbing the walls after being left in a car? Especially in Miami, Florida where the temperatures can get a wee bit toasty?

[CorvusCamenarum]

It's where I will go if there is a hell.

Tousands of kids.

Pizza.

Video games.

Correction - horribly bad pizza and worse games. Or so I remember; the last time I went was 24 years ago.

You also forgot to mention the big mechanical critters up on the stage in the dining room that jiggle about to music and give small children nightmares (if do they still do that) ;)

[xli_ne]

My idea of hell is a cruise. I can't think of anything worse than being stuck on some boat in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of people who are happy to be stuck on a boat in the middle of nowhere.

I'd be begging for Chuck E Cheese by the end of a cruise.

No way... cruises are awesome. Free food anytime you want. Drinks, sun and relaxation. Went on one in March and I had a great time.

[floriflee]

You also forgot to mention the big mechanical critters up on the stage in the dining room that jiggle about to music and give small children nightmares (if do they still do that) ;)

LOL! I don't remember much from my one experience at Chuck E. Cheese, but I DO remember those creatures! :eek:

[dmw007]

My idea of hell is a cruise. I can't think of anything worse than being stuck on some boat in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of people who are happy to be stuck on a boat in the middle of nowhere.

I'd be begging for Chuck E Cheese by the end of a cruise.

Really! :eek: I love going on cruises. :)

[emw]

Is that why we haven't heard from emw for a few hours now? :p
HA! You know I would have started a "HELP ME! I'm trapped in Chuck E. Cheese!" thread in Community Discussion. ;)

Ah, the wonders of Chuck E. Cheese. Bad pizza. Bad games. Screaming kids. At least they serve alcohol.

But how do you forget your kid, especially on his birthday? I can see him wandering off, and them having to look for him, but to not realize he's missing until the next morning? Terrible.

[Josh]

What's Chuck E. Cheese? A burger place or something? I've heard it spoken about in movies/tv shows but never quite figured it out. :o

Basicly, it is the physical incarnation of a migraine.

Bright colors, flashing lights, loud kids screaming and running all over the place, toys, food and other objects flying this way and that.

I'd say iGary had it right. You'd be surprised to know that Satan is really a 6ft 4 upright-walking mouse.

The good news, hell has skiball and beer.

[macEfan]

:eek: wow what crappy parents! Its sad to see stuff like that happen to kids.

[dmw007]

HA! You know I would have started a "HELP ME! I'm trapped in Chuck E. Cheese!" thread in Community Discussion. ;)


LOL :D , I guess that we should have kept an eye out for that thread. ;) :)

[Macmaniac]

It must have been a night of hell if he had no quarters, or if there was no jungle gym. SOOO Boring!

[emw]

Now that I think about it, every time we've gone to C.E.C. with the kids, they've been stamped on the hand and we've been stamped at the same time - I don't know how they let him in without a parent in the first place, if it really happened as they say.

I bet they just left without him, as opposed to him wandering back in when they were in the parking lot.

[steelphantom]

LOL! I don't remember much from my one experience at Chuck E. Cheese, but I DO remember those creatures! :eek:

Did they look something like this? :eek:

http://img357.imageshack.us/img357/5372/picture15wf.png

I'm 18 and I would still be scared if I encountered that in public!

[aricher]

What's Chuck E. Cheese? A burger place or something? I've heard it spoken about in movies/tv shows but never quite figured it out. :o
Chuck E. Cheese is hell on earth. A co-worker of mine kept joking that he wanted to go there for his 49th birthday so I organized a party. They even had Chuck E. Cheese himself come out to lead us in a dance. Ugh. Here's the slideshow:

Chuck's Chuck E. Cheese Party (http://homepage.mac.com/adamricher/iMovieTheater22.html)

[dornoforpyros]

hmm crazy, but from reading the story it sounds like an honest mistake. I'm sure stuff like this happens quite often, it just doesn't always end up in the news.

[floriflee]

Did they look something like this? :eek:

http://img357.imageshack.us/img357/5372/picture15wf.png

I'm 18 and I would still be scared if I encountered that in public!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! *runs away screaming and flailing arms* :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

I'm going to have nightmares for weeks!

[itcheroni]

It would be forgivable if not for the part about the mother thinking she dropped her son off at the grandmother's house. You should definitely know whether your own son was in the car you were driving.

[steelphantom]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! *runs away screaming and flailing arms* :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

I'm going to have nightmares for weeks!

Sorry... :o Actually, not really. ;-)
Somehow I knew that photo would get that kind of reaction! :p

[emw]

hmm crazy, but from reading the story it sounds like an honest mistake.Well, I'm sure they didn't mean to leave him there, so in that sense it was an honest mistake.

But as a parent I can't imagine forgetting to bring my child home with me, or assuming that since I didn't have him/her they must be with someone else, even if I didn't make prior arrangements.

Hell, it's his birthday - if he was staying at grandma's, wouldn't you call to say "goodnight" or something?

[jsw]

As easy as it is to discuss the negligence of the mother here, and even though I agree with that to a large extent, it's not beyond me to imagine a situation with a 23-year-old mother, a day full of kids, an evening at Chuck's, trips at the end involving an change of kids, etc., resulting in a bit of confusion over where your child is, particularly as I get the feeling that the kid probably spends a lot of time at the grandmother's. I'm not sure that the "didn't know he wasn't in the van" story is anything more than an attempt to explain a situation in a way that doesn't result in jail time, but I can see this sort of thing happening without it being an unforgivable act of negligence. I'm sure we'll never hear the full and true story of exactly what took place, but I'm inclined to give her the benefit of the doubt for now.

[Josh]

I guess I disagree here with the "it could happen to anyone, it's a typical accident" statements.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I view children in a completely different way than handbags and pocketbooks, which may be forgotten quite often.

But how you just "forget" your child eludes me, regardless of circumstances.

Why the mother was not walking out right next to her child's side, personally helping him into the van, and fully knowing he's there is unfathomable.

At 6 years of age, he should have never been out of his mother's sight long enough for her to "forget" him.

Especially since they didn't know until the following morning. Do they not walk their kid indoors at night, and see them to bed? That alone is poor parenting.


It is neglect and irresponsibility. There's no two ways about it. The parent(s) is/are 100% to blame here.

[Ugg]

I guess I disagree here with the "it could happen to anyone, it's a typical accident" statements.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I view children in a completely different way than handbags and pocketbooks, which may be forgotten quite often.

But how you just "forget" your child eludes me, regardless of circumstances.

Why the mother was not walking out right next to her child's side, personally helping him into the van, and fully knowing he's there is unfathomable.

At 6 years of age, he should have never been out of his mother's sight long enough for her to "forget" him.

Especially since they didn't know until the following morning. Do they not walk their kid indoors at night, and see them to bed? That alone is poor parenting.


It is neglect and irresponsibility. There's no two ways about it. The parent(s) is/are 100% to blame here.


Wow! Are you a parent? Have you ever had responsibility for a six year old? Until you do, why don't you keep your comments to yourself. The only thing the mother was guilty of is not ensuring her child new his address and his phone number.

[Josh]

Wow! Are you a parent? Have you ever had responsibility for a six year old? Until you do, why don't you keep your comments to yourself. The only thing the mother was guilty of is not ensuring her child new his address and his phone number.

The fact that this mother is being defended for not watching her kid, not doing headcounts, not walking him from the car to the house, not seeing him to bed, is absolutely disgusting. He is 6 years old.

What did she do, just get out of the car and walk inside and crash on the couch, oblivious and careless of her son's whereabouts?

Sorry - there is no defense for irresponsibility. The fact that her child went so long without her ever trying to interact with him is sickening. It isn't about just leaving him at Chuck E. Cheeses. It's about the fact that she left him there, drove home, got out, and went to bed without once ever attempting to speak to, see, or interact with her child. Had she tried, she would've became aware he was not around.

If you forget your child, and are not aware of his or her prescence and location overnight - or even defend people who do such a thing - you've got no business being a parent.

[Applespider]

What did she do, just get out of the car and walk inside and crash on the couch, oblivious and careless of her son's whereabouts?


Did you read the article? If that had been the case, I'd have agreed. But it's not.

[emw]

Wow! Are you a parent? Have you ever had responsibility for a six year old? Until you do, why don't you keep your comments to yourself. The only thing the mother was guilty of is not ensuring her child new his address and his phone number.
I am a parent, and have responsibility for a 5 1/2 year-old and a 2 1/2 year old. And I completely agree that she should have known where her child was.

While I don't believe this was some form of intentional neglect, I do believe that it is a parent's responsibility to know where their child is when they're leaving a restaurant, regardless of who else is there.

We had a big celebration for a dance recital on Saturday with both sets of grandparents, our kids, and 4 other families, for a total of 8 kids and a bunch of adults. We went to a restaurant that had none of the controls over matching kids to parents that C.E.C. does. Everyone managed to get home with their kids and no one was left at Portillo's overnight.

[emw]

Did you read the article? If that had been the case, I'd have agreed. But it's not.

Per the article:

When Lacqetta Monroe got to her mother's Deerfield Beach, she unloaded some children and took some older ones to a skating rink. She said later she believed Michael had been among those she'd dropped off and had assumed he would spend the night with his grandmother.That sounds pretty oblivious to me. She drops some kids off, assumes one of them is her son, and drives off? She had several opportunities - at the restaurant, at her mother's house, at the rink, at her house - to validate where her son was. She didn't.

[Josh]

Did you read the article? If that had been the case, I'd have agreed. But it's not.

She said later she believed Michael had been among those she'd dropped off and had assumed he would spend the night with his grandmother.

Responsible parents don't just assume their six year-old child is going to be some place overnight.

[calculus]

It's easy to be judgemental about this but if you've ever had the experience of trying to keep track of a bunch of young children at a party you might think differently. Also how come it took the place so long to realise he was on his own?

[gwuMACaddict]

My idea of hell is a cruise. I can't think of anything worse than being stuck on some boat in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of people who are happy to be stuck on a boat in the middle of nowhere.

i've never heard my feelings regarding cruises described more eloquently

[aricher]

and no one was left at Portillo's overnight.

Damn shame. Mmmm, Portillo's overnight. I might just have to head over there on my lunch break.

[emw]

Damn shame. Mmmm, Portillo's overnight. I might just have to head over there on my lunch break.
Eat some french fries for me. :D

[Applespider]

That sounds pretty oblivious to me. She drops some kids off, assumes one of them is her son, and drives off? She had several opportunities - at the restaurant, at her mother's house, at the rink, at her house - to validate where her son was. She didn't.

I read the article and it sounded like there were several adults/cars involved. She'd checked him into the car from the restaurant and on a short drive, would you notice immediately in a people mover that your kid's not there? Even if you call out, would you think he'd fallen asleep with the over excitement and not worry. Then if it's a big car and a large group get out (who may also be staying with grandmother by arrangement), it's not such a leap to assume your kid's there when you're pretty sure he was in the car because you put him there.

I'm sure the mother is equally mortified to have this come out and feels horribly guilty. I'm sure now she (and other local parents) will make sure their car doors in the rear can't open from the inside, that they always double-check on all occupants coming and going. That kid won't be allowed on a sleepover without multiple calls being made.

I'm not saying that she's a perfect mother; just that it seems more like a genuine accident rather than negligence.

[emw]

I'm not saying that she's a perfect mother; just that it seems more like a genuine accident rather than negligence.I'll agree with that - I've said before I don't think it was intentional on her part. I'm just trying to fathom how it happened. I'm sure you're right that she's mortified.

And she must have one hell of a big car to lose a kid. Or they were packed in like clowns in a Beetle. :p

[nbs2]

It's where I will go if there is a hell.

Tousands of kids.

Pizza.

Video games.
Imagine working there. (Not now...my first job when I was 15, but knowing what I know about the place, if my kids ever want to go, I'm going to meet the manager first. We hated him. Customers and their food suffered as a result...)If someone asks nicely, maybe I'll tell you what my job was

[zelmo]

I have a 5 year old boy. There is no way on earth I would ever assume he went home with a relative, or that he must've been dropped off with other kids. If I didn't make specific plans for him to be somewhere else, and he's not with me, I'm in panic mode until I find him.

I have nothing for these people. How can you just assume where your child is?:mad:

[FF_productions]

I always used to go to Chuck E. Cheese's when I was little, now imagine staying for a whole night, I'd have so much fun....No I'd just have nightmares for the rest of my life...

[andy89]

Did they look something like this? :eek:

http://img357.imageshack.us/img357/5372/picture15wf.png

I'm 18 and I would still be scared if I encountered that in public!

WTF?

Only in America.:rolleyes:

[thedude110]

WTF?

Only in America.:rolleyes:



That's right.

In America, we have core values. Like giant rats that make our pizza.

http://cheesegod.com/archive/bush-cheese2.jpg

[dmw007]

That's right.

In America, we have core values. Like giant rats that make our pizza.

http://cheesegod.com/archive/bush-cheese2.jpg


LOL :D

Thanks for the laugh thedude110! :)

[fawlty]

There's something not quite right about using the word "chuck" in the name of a restaurant.

[dmw007]

There's something not quite right about using the word "chuck" in the name of a restaurant.


I guess that I see how that can be a bit of a putt off. :)

[floriflee]

There's something not quite right about using the word "chuck" in the name of a restaurant.

LOL. There's a restaurant chain in Utah called "Chuck-A-Rama" appropriately nicknamed "Upchuck-A-Rama." I went there once with my family and proceeded to actually upchuck for the rest of the night and all the next day. NOT good times....

[bousozoku]

It's a constant problem in FloriDUH. Parents should have to be licensed before they're allowed to care for children. Of course, we have licensing for unrelated caretakers but that does no good, either.

We just have a bunch of selfish idiots in the state. I was in the VW dealership today and a family was entering the service area and the woman driving just stopped in the middle of the driveway, making it impossible to go round her. Her husband apparently mentioned that she might want to park out of the way, as she actually parked after that. As soon as they got into the building, the kids started climbing all over the new car that was there.

I feel bad for the boy who was left in the restaurant, though. He's growing up thinking that stupidity is normal procedure.

[nbs2]

I have nothing for these people. How can you just assume where your child is?:mad:
I can understand. Sort of. I don't have children, and I'm willing to bet my answer will change with time, but I can see how this might happen. From what I understand, there were other close family members there. I would imagine that the child may be attached to other members of the family and enjoy spending time with them. I know that back in the day, my youngest cousin used to ride with us, when we visited. Usually, it was just a given that he would do so while we were in town. Nobody asked him which car he was in...we just knew.

Now, a family of 4 and one of 5 isn't a lot of people. If this were 20-30 people, I wouldn't be surprised if somebody missed him if he decided to ride with his family and told one ride but not the other. So, in this case, he mentions earlier in the afternoon "I'm riding with grandma," but never tells grandma. Bam! Mom already said yes, so she knows he's being taken care of. Grandma wasn't told, so she knows he went with mom. Bam. Not saying that's how this went down. Just saying it could have (or will happen to another family in the future).

Now, not checking up on him....that's another story that I can't figure out.

[floriflee]

This is definitely not behavior that is isolated to FL. I've seen plenty of negligent behavior and/or accidental stupidity practically everywhere I've been. I think it has generally been agreed on this thread that there is a proper protocol with handling young children in public places (i.e., make sure everyone is accounted for right when you leave). I also have a hard time understanding, not how the child could be left behind, but could go unmissed for so long. Not knowing the parenting habits the mother follows it's hard to say how. I think that part of the problem was that the adults sat outside and talked for so long afterwards. Even if he wasn't originally with the group like emw speculated it still increased the amount of time the adults were inattentive to the children so I would think there'd be a greater chance of forgetting about one of them (too many other distractions).

I do sincerely hope that the slip up taught not only her but the other adults involved a lesson with regards to their children. I guess at the very least she can feel extremely lucky that nothing serious happened to her child because that would certainly be grief and guilt that would be extremely difficult to bear.

[solvs]

Actually, I know you're just being funny, but for the record, two sets of the best parents that I've ever seen (even better than my own) are two gay couples. There are 3 kids between them. The kids are well educated, well taken care of, and more importantly loved like no other.
Pretty sure iGary was being sarcastic, but you're heart is in the right place. I can see how this situation could happen, but it could also be negligence. I don't know the details, so I'd rather not judge, but I'll bet Mom is feeling really bad right now.

[DZ/015]

I have 3 young children and cannot imagine leaving them somewhere assuming they are being taken care of by a relative.

And remember kids, it's the homos that are destroying families. :rolleyes:

I'm calling Ann Coulter!;)

[dmw007]

LOL. There's a restaurant chain in Utah called "Chuck-A-Rama" appropriately nicknamed "Upchuck-A-Rama." I went there once with my family and proceeded to actually upchuck for the rest of the night and all the next day. NOT good times....

Yuck- just the name of that restaurant is enough to make me feel a tad bit nauseous. :o

[2nyRiggz]

Did they look something like this? :eek:

http://img357.imageshack.us/img357/5372/picture15wf.png

I'm 18 and I would still be scared if I encountered that in public!


Gezz! that the hell man......I'm older than you and that gave me the case of the scared....thats what kids like these days?

That mouse looks jacked up on crack...like if he missed his rounds


Bless

[dmw007]

Gezz! that the hell man......I'm older than you and that gave me the case of the scared....thats what kids like these days?

That mouse looks jacked up on crack...like if he missed his rounds


Bless

I agree that oversized rat is rather scary. Not something that I want to meet in a dark alley at night.... :eek: ;) :D