Over the weekend I saw something very strange and scary...
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
United States
April 19, 2007 10:30am CST
Over the weekend I saw something very strange and scary. I was waiting for my mother to get her hair done at one of those Holiday Hair salons in the mail. In comes a woman and daughter who was about 3 or 4 years old. Her husband was there also with a baby who was maybe one years of age in a stroller. The baby had a little hair around his head that was a light brown and trimmed close to his head. In the front were long thick bangs that were dark brown. You could see that they were dyed. It was terrible to see. It was as if they thought that baby was a doll or a toy. I thought that was bad. The mother and father exchanged words and he left with the baby. She was called to get her hair done. She motioned for the little girl to go take a seat across the room while she get her hair done which is totally cut off from where hair is washed and styled. There is no way she could see that little girl and anyone could come and take her. I was shocked. Fortunately, the little girl had the good sense to show her mother that she did not want to do that. She went back with her mother. I think to myself how many times put her daughter in danger and she thinks nothing of it. How can we prevent this? It is not like we can require people to get a "license" before becoming a parent.
7 people like this
20 responses
@sunshine4 (8703)
• United States
19 Apr 07
That is a very scary situation that you witnessed. Unfortunately, many parents think that it is cool to dye their childs hair. At such a young age, I would be concerned that it might have some affect to the child.
As for not watching her daughter. I see this all the time. I wish parents would realize that it only takes a split second for something to happen to an unsupervised child. It is like people see these kidnappings happening all the time, but think it will never happen to our family. Very scary stuff.
@racheld (840)
• United States
19 Apr 07
This honestly makes me sick to my stomach. How can parents be that irresponsible? I'm not kidding you, when I tell you that I just e-mailed my mom this morning, venting about how my co-worker is such a bad mom. She worries more about drinking and partying than taking care of her own child. She actually told me that when her family goes on vacation she doesn't care who has her child at night time, because that's "her" time. Ummm, no it isn't. She gave up her time when she became a parent. She is a single mom at the age of 23 and she is more focused on herself than her own kid. It really bothers me to here her talk about how drunk she got the night before. What kind of example are you setting for your daughter? Where was your daughter when you were out getting wasted?? Its sickening how these parents can be so neglectful. If you can't handle the responsibility of having children, then give them to people who can. There are so many loving parents that are willing and ready to give a child the things he/she needs and deserves, but they can't. It really breaks my heart to hear stuff like this.
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
20 Apr 07
I wonder if she has a mother like that.
1 person likes this
@kparab (301)
• United States
19 Apr 07
Here is US it seems a crime but back in india it isn't as the child is taken care of by those operating the saloon. ITs business the child will be playing and everyone keeps an eye on her. Its natural for all around beside the parent to do that. And there is no fear of anyone picking up your child and do disappear. IT used to be like this in US too but now US is getting dangerous and something needs to be done that make social resposibility more natural and its citizen more welcoming
2 people like this
@amylou8521 (324)
•
19 Apr 07
Oh dear! Things like this leave me absolutely gobsmacked! Im so glad the little girl had the sense to stay with her mother! I wonder where she actually got this sense from though, sounds like the matilda story a little doesnt it!
I cannot believe a child of one could have their hair dyed! Its just a joke isnt it, but like you stated, we cant give licenses!
We just need to sit back and be proud of the job we do with our own children, its weird how two parents actually allowed it to happen, normally if one partner suggested something this crazy, the other wouldnt be in agreement with it and would say 'dont be so ridiculous'! However they both obviously agree with dying a 1 year old childs hair!
I dont know how you managed to not say anything! But each to there own i suppose, and we would be the bad ones if we did say something!
Thats life eh! Unfortunately!
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
20 Apr 07
I thought about saying something, but it is not 1950 anymore. You can get arrested for having an opinion.
1 person likes this
@charlestchan (1415)
• Malaysia
19 Apr 07
wow.. erm.. it's quite common nowadays.. parents seem to be so careless and they always neglect their child.. just imagine.. this father brought her daughter with her in a car.. and then left her in the car... because he need to attend somewhere else.. he forgotten to screen down a little the window.. and what happen next? i think you know it right? how old is the couple? usually this happens with youngsters only.. older people do know how to take care of their child.. and one more thing. i'm so suprised that so many news of kidnapped and so on.. and why parents seem like not informed about it? don't they know the danger of it? must they lose a child to know how to take care of a child properly? gosh.. :)
2 people like this
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
20 Apr 07
Maybe they think it will not happen to them or maybe they don't care.
1 person likes this
@Woodpigeon (3710)
• Ireland
19 Apr 07
The little baby's hair was dyed? I shudder to think what would have happpened had it gotten into his eyes. It probably wasn't too good for his delicate little scalp, either.
As far as leaving the little girl, some mother's just don't have that paranoid instinct. I do. I don't even like letting my kids wait around for me in public ages at the age they are, which is much lder than the litle girl you describe.
2 people like this
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
20 Apr 07
At any age you do get scared. Even teenagers. Then people say you haven't cut the apron strings.
1 person likes this
@icequeen (2840)
• Canada
20 Apr 07
Unfortunately....anyone can have kids. There is really nothing we can do...but watch as they put thier children in danger...or treat them badly. At least you were there to watch the little girl and cared enough. Hopefully...she will not wander off or get taken...and dying the other childs hair at that age...is crazy..dye is bad for women in general...never mind for a childs hair....eekkk.
1 person likes this
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
20 Apr 07
If the little girl had come and sat next to me. I would not have left until her mother was finished getting her hair done.
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
20 Apr 07
Guess he couldn't handle two children at once, even though one was in a stroller.
@AmbiePam (85742)
• United States
20 Apr 07
Wow. Things like that scare ME, and I'm not a parent. I know I have no idea what being a parent is, but I would be so paranoid about someone snatching my child. I hear way too many sorrowful mothers and fathers rehashing the minutes before their child was snatched - wishing they had kept a better eye on them.
As for dyeing the baby's hair? Oh my word. Are kids accessories now days? I have never even seen celebs do that, and they will pretty much try anything!
1 person likes this
@gemini1960 (1161)
• Philippines
20 Apr 07
some mother really thinks that way, couldnt care less what will happen to her kid, she insensitive to certain situations that will make her kid i uncomfortable situations.
1 person likes this
@mywords18 (645)
• United States
20 Apr 07
OMG!! this is not only scary but very much pathetic and so very irresponsible of that lady,,,very true i agree there shud be a license and infact a mental and emotional parameters to check weather people are mature enuf to bear kids and be a gud parents as there is a very thin line between maturity and puberty.thanks for raisin this issue hope that lady and all other femals who practice this and have logic of makin kids independent will learn this factor and be more alert........rather than regreting later.
1 person likes this
@carolscash (9492)
• United States
19 Apr 07
That is frightening,but it happens on a daily basis. People don't think that anything like that can happen to them and that their kid won't be the one to get kidnapped. Unfortunately, the sad reality of ou society is that it could be your child and it does only take a brief second for kids to be gone.
It seems that people are too busy to watch their children. There is a little girl that my daughter plays with that is about 8 and she will sometimes be at our house for 6 hours and no one ever checks on her. The other night she came to the door at 9:45 p.m. (it is dark by then) to get her bike as she had left it and there was no one with her. She lives about 8 or 9 blocks from us. How scary that her parents would let her walk that far after dark by herself!
1 person likes this
@wachit14 (3595)
• United States
20 Apr 07
Unfortunately parents have this idea that other people will watch their children for them and make sure that they are safe, but that is just so wrong. I used to work in a family room at a hospital. We had books, games, computers, etc. I was told that the parents were never to leave any child unattended, but I was shocked at how often parents would drop their children off and leave. I had to remind parents every time I was there, that they were to stay with their children. You can't believe how many dirty looks I got.
1 person likes this
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
20 Apr 07
That's because they are looking for babysitters.
@tdbrower1969 (1242)
• United States
20 Apr 07
I know, I see it all the time, people leaving their children in the car while they run into the gas station or something. I thought there was a law that a child had to be a certain age before you left them in the car by themselves. My son is 12 and I still do not let him sit in the car by himself. It seems like some people think that nothing will happen and this is the way they lead their life. But, you never know what can happen,and it can happen in a split second without anyone seeing a thing. You see this all the time in the news. I know we can't lead everyone's lives on how they raise and keep their children, but wouldn't it be nice if we could?
tdbrower1969
1 person likes this
@healwell (1268)
• Ahmedabad, India
19 Apr 07
If these things would be also related with license then how the life will sustain?
This is the question I have: It does not mean that I am supporting the mother and what ever has happened there! All such was not ok and carelessness should not be tolerate! but at the same time people who are aware must tell them!
Why you did not go there and tell the mother about?
It was your social responsibility! What would be your words would be worked out with them would not be worked out the license!
Got me? what I mean by this?
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
20 Apr 07
In this country, we are not permitted to tell people what to do with their children. However, when they are kidnapped, it is our tax dollars that pay for search hunts of children and others.
@micfac7 (158)
• United States
19 Apr 07
The dyed hair is very strange. The mother leaving her daughter unattended is horrible and crazy! Nowadays, people don't know that even if their kids are dressed skimpily (sp), that they are making predators' days. Even if a predaotr cannot get ahold of a child, seeing it half dressed or a little girl in a skirt not sitting ladylike, all of these factors make a predaotr thrive. It's all very sick, but parents need to pay more attention. You never know who they are or where they'll be. Always be prepared.
1 person likes this
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
20 Apr 07
Even teenagers. Look at how many of them dress. They are asking for it.
@KarenO52 (2950)
• United States
19 Apr 07
That's very careless. These days it's not safe to leave your children unattended for even a minute. And the hair dye is bad for a child, I would imagine the fumes, and the ingredients in the dye could be irritating, to say the least. They sound unfit to be parents.
1 person likes this
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
20 Apr 07
It makes you wonder where these people come from.
1 person likes this
@yojspew (171)
• Philippines
19 Apr 07
It's really terrible to see irresponsible parents. I remember I also had this similar experience. I was riding on my way home when I saw a mother with her two kids walking at the sidewalk. The mother just walk ahead of her children. She was like more than 5 meters away from her children who are trying to catch up with her. I think the kids' ages are around 5 and 7. I really got annoyed with the mother. Luckily, the driver of the vehicle yelled at her to watch her kids because they might be hit by other cars that passes by.
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
20 Apr 07
It makes you wonder if they trying to get rid of their kids.
@elizabethbathory (1132)
• United States
19 Apr 07
I would think that it would be dangerous to expose a small, still-developing child to all of the chemicals found in your typical hair dye. I've known some parents who refused to have their daughter's ears pierced until they were of the age where they could say whether or not they wanted it done, on the same token there are parents that get their infant's ears pierced. I'm of the belief that you should leave well enough alone until the child has some sort of say in the matter, at least where aesthetics are concerned. What's next, people having their children tattooed?
1 person likes this
@mari123 (1861)
• China
19 Apr 07
when i read your topic,it exist parents to maltreat their children,when they have no money,they can abuse their child,and deprive children from education to earn money.so it is require people to help the children who abused by family.
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
20 Apr 07
Not everyone wants to help their children today.
