Toddler's Abduction from Resort
Even more troubling, Madeleine and her two-year-old twin siblings had been left alone, sleeping in the room while her parents had dinner at a restaurant within the resort.
Madeleine's father told the BBC that that there was a line of sight from the restaurant to the family's apartment, that they checked on the children every half hour, that he felt the situation was "not dissimilar to having dinner in your garden". (Read the story at the BBC site.)
This tragedy is a clear reminder to all family vacationers: never leave young children unattended, no matter how "safe" the circumstances may appear to you. Almost any resort -- including the one in Portugal-- either offers a suitable program at a kids' center or nursery, or can arrange baby-sitting.
For those who don't live in the UK: Madeleine's disappearance has received enormous media coverage. Celebrities have contributed to a reward for her return that's now millions of pounds; tourists who visited the Praia da Luz region of Portugal have been asked to share photos with police; email chain letters have organized silent prayer minutes; Madeleine's pictures have been broadcast at soccer matches; mobile phone companies have launched text campaigns.
Police in Portugal are continuing to investigate; meanwhile the McCann's -- who live in Leicestershire England, but who've remained in Portugal-- will begin visiting cities in Europe to publicize their appeal for help. You can keep up with the story at the BBC News site; or visit the Find Madeleine site. Madeleine's fourth birthday was May 12th.
Comments
Hey Teresa,
It’s fine to feel bad for people like Madeline’s parents, up to a point. The point being, leaving your toddlers alone in a hotel room in a foreign country for any length of time is not a bright idea! Proximity doesn’t matter; here in the Philadelphia area dogs get stolen from public dog parks right in front of their owners if they’re not on a leash. No responsible parent would even think of leaving toddlers alone in their own home for any length of time; why did these parents think it was OK to leave them alone on vacation? Call me crazy; I don’t get it.
I must agree with Donna: what were the parents thinking in leaving their children alone in a hotel room?!?! Especially when the hotel offerred a babysitting service. AND especially when the parents are wealthy professionals who could have easily afforded to pay for babysitting. As a mother, I feel for anyone who has his or her child abducted. However, I have no sense that Madeleine’s parents consider themselves responsible for the kidnapping. Yes, some creep stole a child, but it is Madeleine’s parents who were responsible to protect her from creeps — and they failed in that responsibility.
This is not a case of “turning your back for a second”. Madeleine’s parents deliberately and selfishly chose going out to dinner and not hire a babysitter over the safety of their children. I feel sorry for the twins (Madeleine’s brother and sister) — how long will it be until they are harmed by the irresponsible choices of Mummy and Daddy?
I can’t believe the heartless, smug comments here. I agree that children should not be left alone either. As a mother I’m confident, given my cautious nature, that I would have chosen the creche for my children. But we need to ask ourselves: does this tragedy give us an opportunity to congratulate ourselves for being better parents than someone of a perceived higher social standing? We find it difficult to understand how educated professional people could make the choice they did. In the photos released prior to Madeleine’s abduction, she is clothed properly to shield her from the sun, the father sits protectively with the kids as they sit at the pool’s edge. The video footage of the children from the cell phone shows Kate with her hand protectively on either Sean or Amelie. These small things indicate to me that they are caring parents. They did not intend for harm to come to one of their children. I know I will hear strong objection, but I honestly believe they thought they were doing what was in their kids’ best interest at that particular time and place. For whatever reason, they decided that the children would be okay. People are quick to see it simply as a selfish act versus an unwise one. (Sometimes you think you’ve made the ‘right’ choice, cover all your bases and still things go horribly wrong) We may never understand the McCann’s choice that night, and we may feel anger and disbelief, but don’t you feel their subsequent punishment certainly does not fit their’crime’? Imagine lying in bed each night, imagining the hellish scenarios your child is being subjected to and then imagine having someone say, “Well, it’s all your fault anyway.” My God. I believe in forgiveness and love. I believe that I would die inside if one of my children were abducted and it could have been prevented by my actions. But I don’t have to worry about that tonight as I sit here and type this do I? So far all my decisions have been the right ones haven’t they? Or was I just lucky? I will continue to pray for Madeleine and her parents. They are human beings. Remember that.