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Babysitter picked up the wrong child from school

October 4, 2006 3:31:21 PM from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums

Talk about a nightmare! A babysitter whose first day it was on the job, went to pick up the child she is responsible for from school.

The problem is, she picked up the wrong child!

The two things that is frightening to think about is (1) the child went willing with her. (he’s five years old) and (2) the school didn’t realize the mix up!

OMG! That’s enough to freak any parent out!


It was an honest mistake because she had never seen the child before. Didn’t’ they have a picture they could have given her? And that poor child who was so trusting to walk off with someone he didn’t know. It’s always good for parents to not just say, ‘don’t talk to strangers’ they have to give good examples of what not to do and who not to go off with. These days, a trusting-looking person could be the most dangerous.

I have code words with my two oldest children and they each have a cell phone. My youngest is not savvy where the code word is concerned but the daycare is pretty efficient and there is a codeword set up if my hubby or I can’t pick her up. She won’t be released to just anyone.

It’s a good thing everything turned out alright in this case. Thank goodness!


Article here: Link
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Dr Guy
Join Date 09/2004
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Reply #1 October 4, 2006 3:35:16 PM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
IN a way this is a happy article. It was an honest and simple mistake that was quickly resolved. I wish all missing children cases ended like this.
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MasonM
Join Date 01/2004
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Reply #2 October 4, 2006 3:39:35 PM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
Why would the parents depend upon someone who has never even seen their child to pick it up from school in the first place? Are these people complete morons?

What did they do, just pick someone off the street and say "Hey, want a babysitting job? Good, go get my kid from school".
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SilentPoet
Join Date 09/2006
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Reply #3 October 4, 2006 3:42:58 PM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
Yipes. Glad everything got sorted out

Thats why i think that Amber Alert, is one of the best recent (well, i don't think it is that recent, at least it's ) programs to run. It's helped a lot.


~L
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Locamama
Join Date 12/2003
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Reply #4 October 4, 2006 4:03:26 PM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
What did they do, just pick someone off the street and say "Hey, want a babysitting job? Good, go get my kid from school".


You would be surprised how many people call me for daycare and just want to know if I have an opening and can they start Monday and most importantly what's my rate. I insist on an interview but really what do they know about me or my home from a phone call. It is scary. That's one of the reasons I keep my rates higher. The good parents don't mind paying for quality care and smaller numbers. It's comparable to a center but more than a lot of home daycares.

I did have a little girl who used to be in care and the bus tried to drop her off at my house the next year when she hadn't been in care in months. I told them she didn't still come to my house but if she needed to stay I would call her mom. They didn't leave her but what if I didn't live at this house anymore. What if it was a new family. I guess it's a good thing that they actually talked to me and didn't just dump her and go.
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foreverserenity
Join Date 06/2004
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Reply #5 October 4, 2006 4:34:35 PM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
It was an honest and simple mistake that was quickly resolved. I wish all missing children cases ended like this.


I know, me too!


Why would the parents depend upon someone who has never even seen their child to pick it up from school in the first place? Are these people complete morons? What did they do, just pick someone off the street and say "Hey, want a babysitting job? Good, go get my kid from school".


They didn't clue us in on that part. But you're right. I don't understand why if they had to do that, why didn't they give her a picture or at least tell the teacher or something. It's so weird!


Thats why i think that Amber Alert, is one of the best recent (well, i don't think it is that recent, at least it's ) programs to run. It's helped a lot.


I don't know how recent, but it's a great help!


You would be surprised how many people call me for daycare and just want to know if I have an opening and can they start Monday and most importantly what's my rate. I insist on an interview but really what do they know about me or my home from a phone call. It is scary.


Yes, that's scary! Some parents do this and I don't know how they can do that. I know that it's difficult being a working parent but it's crazy to do things this way. That is not protecting your child at all!


I guess it's a good thing that they actually talked to me and didn't just dump her and go.


It's good that they did talk to you. That would be terrible if they hadn't done that.
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ParaTed2k
Join Date 12/2004
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Reply #6 October 4, 2006 5:31:15 PM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
Not an honest mistake at all, it was a lack of communication that could have been disastrous! However, "could have" being the key words here, it is a story with a happy ending. Glad to hear it was just a good object lesson.
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Trudygolightly
Join Date 08/2004
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Reply #7 October 4, 2006 6:54:59 PM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums

Sounds like you've got in under control serenity.  I wonder why the child hadn't even met the babysitter yet...

Not off to a good start to my way of thinking!   Then again,  even when parents do everything right,  there can be screwups! 

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jennifer1
Join Date 08/2006
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Reply #8 October 4, 2006 7:06:42 PM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
Good heavens I would be livid as the parent!
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Gideon MacLeish
Join Date 06/2004
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Reply #9 October 4, 2006 9:31:06 PM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
Thats why i think that Amber Alert, is one of the best recent (well, i don't think it is that recent, at least it's ) programs to run. It's helped a lot.


At least, it WAS, until the government started abusing it (as in the Katie Wernecke case) to track down parents against whom they have a vendetta.
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SeriousKiss
Join Date 09/2006
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Reply #10 October 4, 2006 9:37:38 PM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
It was an honest mistake because she had never seen the child before.


A mistake yes, but honest? In the world we are living in today, what parent in their right mind would allow a child to be picked up by a complete stranger, and to me that is what the sitter was, a stranger.

I'm not putting blame on the sitter, she was just doing her job. Now myself, I would not feel comfortable picking up someones child that I have never met, especially when I have no picture or anything to go by. As for the parent...shame shame!! I'm glad everything turned out good in the end though.



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Texas Wahine
Join Date 08/2004
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Reply #11 October 4, 2006 10:26:04 PM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
FS, they had a bus driver here who dropped a 5 year old off 5 MILES from his house.

The parents were FURIOUS, but luckily the kid was found safe (but frightened).

People are so busy rushing around and often times their children are the least of their concerns. Ugh.

I love the code word thing, too, btw. I've had several extensive conversations with my children about safety and strangers. I think it's important (esp. with little ones) to keep reminding them over and over.
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Gideon MacLeish
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Reply #12 October 5, 2006 9:16:14 AM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
I love the code word thing, too, btw. I've had several extensive conversations with my children about safety and strangers. I think it's important (esp. with little ones) to keep reminding them over and over.


The code word is one safeguard, but it's not foolproof. There are far too many instances of children being abducted by strangers who either knew their code words somehow, or were able to get the child to say it somehow.

Let's face it, for every safeguard we put in place to protect our children, pedophiles think of a way around it. Best to remove pedophiles from society entirely when they are discovered, and, while it won't eliminate the problem, it will at least stop recidivism by getting these vermin off the streets.
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Reply #13 October 5, 2006 1:26:49 PM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
it was a lack of communication that could have been disastrous! However, "could have" being the key words here, it is a story with a happy ending. Glad to hear it was just a good object lesson.


Yes, and yes! Kind of silly when you think about it! No one bothered to give the sitter a picture or a description?!





I wonder why the child hadn't even met the babysitter yet...


Hmm, that's a big why. I can't imagine doing something like that!


Sounds like you've got in under control serenity.


Thx Trudy! I try.


Good heavens I would be livid as the parent!


In this case Jennifer the parents are at fault. They should have ensured that the new sitter they hired saw the child or even one of them should have been there with her to pick up the child.


until the government started abusing it (as in the Katie Wernecke case) to track down parents against whom they have a vendetta.


Seriously Gid? I didn't hear about that.


A mistake yes, but honest? In the world we are living in today, what parent in their right mind would allow a child to be picked up by a complete stranger, and to me that is what the sitter was, a stranger.


Yes, she was a stranger. The question we are all obviously asking and wondering at is why the parents let this happen? They didn't make arrangements to be with the new sitter when she picked up the child; they didn't let her come in the morning to meet him; they didn't give a picture or description; and most important of all, they didn't tell the son anything-yet he went willingly with a stranger?!




FS, they had a bus driver here who dropped a 5 year old off 5 MILES from his house. The parents were FURIOUS, but luckily the kid was found safe (but frightened).


OMG!!!! I would be furious too! What was the driver doing, drinking? Heavens forbid!!!


People are so busy rushing around and often times their children are the least of their concerns. Ugh.


That's the sad truth Tex, unfortunately. I work but no matter what my children comes first.

I love the code word thing, too, btw. I've had several extensive conversations with my children about safety and strangers. I think it's important (esp. with little ones) to keep reminding them over and over.


Yes absolutely! When they are younger you have to go over it again, and again. The code thing I used from the time of living in NY, big city, etc. But still very much necessary even today.

The code word is one safeguard, but it's not foolproof


No it's not one hundred percent. But I safeguard with this by making sure that they know ahead of time when anything has changed. And I make sure the grown up, teachers, principal, etc, know the changes, not just the kids. But thank heavens for us nothing like that has ever happened to put it to the test.


Let's face it, for every safeguard we put in place to protect our children, pedophiles think of a way around it. Best to remove pedophiles from society entirely when they are discovered, and, while it won't eliminate the problem, it will at least stop recidivism by getting these vermin off the streets.


True. Although these days, even the well dressed person in higher position can't be trusted.
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Texas Wahine
Join Date 08/2004
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Reply #14 October 5, 2006 2:03:10 PM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
Let's face it, for every safeguard we put in place to protect our children, pedophiles think of a way around it. Best to remove pedophiles from society entirely when they are discovered, and, while it won't eliminate the problem, it will at least stop recidivism by getting these vermin off the streets.


Ummm...ok...so...??

Gid, that's just a weird reply to my comment.
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Reply #15 October 5, 2006 11:38:44 PM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
Ummm...ok...so...?? Gid, that's just a weird reply to my comment.


Honestly speaking Brandie, maybe it's a mommy thing, but I had the same reaction at first too, with the response that is...weird, not to knock you Gid or anything, but we're talking safety first and well, that may not be enough....but it is something.
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Gideon MacLeish
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Reply #16 October 8, 2006 4:27:31 PM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
http://prayforkatie.blogspot.com/2005/08/help-save-katie-wernecke-and-your-kids.html

This article doesn't heavily go into how the state used the Amber Alert system to track Katie down, but it does tell a good part of the story.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=44683

(disclaimer: while I know the first is Katie's family's blogsite and the second is a notoriously conservative site, the details can be found on virtually ANY news site).
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Reply #17 October 8, 2006 6:49:54 PM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
http://prayforkatie.blogspot.com/2005/08/help-save-katie-wernecke-and-your-kids.htmlThis article doesn't heavily go into how the state used the Amber Alert system to track Katie down, but it does tell a good part of the story.


Wow Gid, I had no idea about this! If they reported that news here in FL I didn't hear it. Thanks for the link!
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