Four year old girl home alone

I heard about it on the news this morning Sabre.
It's just selfish and thoughtless, that poor child.
But I've heard of similar cases to this when young children have been left alone with no one at all to look after them.
It beggars belief that such people try to do this and think they can get away with it.
As mothers ourselves I doubt we will ever be able to comprehend it.

I visited Texas five years ago. There was a curfew for young drivers (10pm/11pm). If we had it over here there'd be a lot less crime. Also fewer deaths, unless we are trying to reduce certain portions of the gene pool.

This parent is irresponsible and selfish a 16 year old may well be ok as a child minder for a night out but certainly lot for an holiday abroad.

Hmm... another case of a child being neglected and no mention of the father!!!

I think if truth be known, this is a lot more prevalent than people realise. It has a lot to do with falling values in life, social disorder and lack of priority in family units.

I understand that such instances are prompting a fresh call for clearly defined, possibly through legislation, guidance on what is acceptable care for children. I would have thought that it is acceptable for a 16 year old to babysit a 4 year old for a few hours but not for anything longer. But where you do draw the line? I would say that for the mother to go abroad like this she has rejected parental responsibility for her four year old and has a case to answer. I believe the child was taken into care on this occasion and that should remain the case until the mother has been cautioned and received 'remedial' interviews from Social Services.

These events rarely come into the public eye unless something happens, like this boy getting tugged for a driving offence. I have lost count of the number of homes that I call on only to find the door answered by children often as young as five where no adult appears for several minutes, sometimes if at all. I always advise the adults concerned that caution needs to be advised when young children answer the door to complete strangers ( or anyone really ) and my advice is seldom taken 'politely'!

Totally unacceptable - should be considered neglect by law. I bet this happens a lot - sadly.