People often appreciate me for being a great parent and a doting father for my seven year old daughter, Naina. My mind is always occupied with her well-being and all my efforts go into making her happy. Today, I realized, how irresponsible and careless father can I be. I am sharing this because I do not want anybody to repeat this mistake.
Today, 11 Jan 2012, I reached office at 930am with Naina. I left her in the car and entered my office building to record my attendance. I usually do this when Naina has no school. After recording my attendance, I go back to the car to pick Naina and leave her in the day-care. But today the moment I entered my office building, the fact that Naina is in the car totally slipped out of my mind.
I had promised Naina that I would take her for a walk during the lunch time. So after having lunch at one o clock, I went to day-care to pick her. She was not there. The Care- Taker informed me that I have not left Naina there in the morning. That was like a jolt. I ran back to the car. I had left her in the front seat. But I could see only her jacket. She wasn’t there. Then I saw a leg shaking in the back seat. There she was. My darling Naina was taking a nap in the rear seat. Her body was warm. She was calm. I asked her “Why you did not come out of the car?”. “You said you will come back soon” She replied. There is no anger in her voice. May be she was too hungry to react much. No wonder, she was in the car from 9.30 am to 1.00 pm without food and water. “Weren’t you hungry?” I asked. Of course, it was a stupid question to ask. “My stomach was saying ‘I am hungry’” she said. I profusely apologized to her. All she said was “It’s ok”.
I gave her lunch immediately and asked her to take rest. I was terribly shaken for what I had done. I went back to her after sometime. She was busy doing homework. I had to convince her to take rest. Later in the evening her mind started working. She says, it was so boring. I wish I had some story book and toys to pass my time. She asks “Why did you not come soon. Did you have lots of work?”. No work is more important than my child’s needs. Yet I failed!
I had read a few years back that a woman had left her child in the car and forgot about it. The child died of suffocation. To prevent any such mishaps I always made a point to leave my car window partially open whenever I left Naina in the car. That ‘wisdom’ of mine, at least, helped Naina to breathe fresh air if not provide her food and water. Now it would be wise for me to close the car window and not to leave Naina in the car.
I may brag about my parenting skills. Today, I have put my irresponsible act on record so that this mistake is never repeated by anybody. Please share this with others so that no child undergoes this kind of suffering.
Late in the evening Naina began to fire back with her own logic. "You don't allow me to watch TV for three hours. How can you allow me to be in the car for three hours?". "Next time when you give me homework, I will go in the toilet and sit for three hours". I may have to prepare myself to receive that "three hours" punishment in whatever form she gives it.
Late in the evening Naina began to fire back with her own logic. "You don't allow me to watch TV for three hours. How can you allow me to be in the car for three hours?". "Next time when you give me homework, I will go in the toilet and sit for three hours". I may have to prepare myself to receive that "three hours" punishment in whatever form she gives it.
