
After removing the children from the vehicle and brought inside, we noticed these children were quite young. The boy was no older than 2 and the girl I'm assuming was maybe 3 or 4 years old. The children were brought into a stylist's studio who owned a space heater to warm the children up. Another women who witnessed the event, stated that the two children were huddled together on the floor in the backseat and were shivering uncontrollably when brought inside.
The police and stylists and other clients who were there began looking for more information of whom the vehicle and children belonged to. The police found out who the Mother was of the children and then asked around if the said Mother in one of the Salons. No one claimed to know her or her children. After some time, a woman who was standing out while the commotion was taking place stated that was her car but not her kids. Later we all found out that she was responsible for babysitting those two children.
The stylist who was servicing her remembered that the client did come in with two children and stated that with the services she was about to receive that children were not allowed in the room. The client then left stating that she would have someone come and pick up the children and then returned to receive her service. The stylist had no clue that the client just placed those two children in the car and left them unattended. And to make matters worse, they estimated that the children may have been in the cold temperatures for close to two hours. (20 degrees or less was the temperature for 1/23/2019)
The police questioned this woman and did arrest her and the children were picked up by a family member.
So the event did end safely, but what if that stylist didn't see the child raise his hand? This could've had a much more serious ending.
I come to find out that the babysitter has listed her services to babysit on a local website where parents can go to find daycare or babysitters. As a Mother to three, I did use the site myself and luckily I did get a great connection to a babysitter. (The image above is what she posted from May 2018.)
I contacted the site and notified the Admin of the situation. They agreed to allow me to post a warning to other parents about this female. Unfortunately, a male decided to turn the issue around and decided that because of her race and my race, that I was just gossiping and posting harmful information that could affect a mother just trying to make money for her family. I was appalled that because I was warning other parents to not hire that female that it could be construed into a racial issue. Race has nothing to do with the safety of children. I would want someone to warn me if there was a person who was arrested for negligence in caring for children and then is a member of the babysitting website.
I did eventually take down the post after the racial prejudice was becoming an issue from that male member. However, I still feel the responsibility to warn other parents that no matter who you find on the website;
• Take time to look into their background
• Contact their friends and even friends of friends
• Look up their name for court records.
I may have been lucky when I found my babysitter, but who will let other parents know who do not know this information? These parents who just move to the area who do not know who to ask?
As I progress through my education to become a teacher, I am an Advocate for all children! I will not stand by or keep my mouth stifled because of the color of mine or anyone's else skin. Race does not discriminate with the safety of a child! All children deserve to feel safe physically and emotionally. And when that female's record does become public, believe me that I will find a way to make it known for other parents.
This event has fueled my passion to make a difference and bring awareness to other parents. #Iamanadovcateforallchildren