I expect most of you have heard about the three year old that has gone missing in Portugal? I do feel sympathy for her parents, I would be devestated to lose one of my children but I also think that they should not have left their children on their own in an apartment to go and eat some hundred yards away. What do you guys think on the subject?

I agree, Berimeme. I've gotten flamed in other forums for saying this, so I'm going to tread carefully. I feel so bad for the parents and I am worried for the little girl, but it does highlight that you just can't leave a three year old and two two year olds at home alone. Yes, they were "only" 100 yards away and checked every hour or so, but kids get up and into trouble so quickly. I am still in shock that parents could do that, and that so many people think it's okay.

I wish that this were an isolated case or that this sort of thing only happened in other countries. Unfortunately that's not the case. I was just reading on MotherTalkers.com about 2 children in Houston (ages 3 and 5) who died in separate instances when their parents left them alone in the care of their 6 year old siblings. These were two separate families in a major US city.

And that's not even counting the number of US parents in different states over the past few years who have been arrested on child abuse charges for using electric shock dog collars on their children for everything from discipline and motivation to confining their children to their yards.

It is almost as though a certain portion of parents see their children as an inconvenience deserving of minimal attention rather than as precious gifts or a sacred trust.

my heart does go out to madeline's parents - a missing child is every parents nightmare which is why most of us are so careful. BUT let us all say WHY DID THEY LEAVE THE KIDS ALONE?? couldnt one of the parents stay home and the other go get take out and bring back to their holiday home? or find a sitter for them? or take them with them? or cook for themselves? has anyone asked these questions? HOW COULD THEY LEAVE A 3 YEAR OLD AND THE TWO YOUNGER ONES ALONE? anything could happen in an hour, it could happen in 5 minutes! all this media attention and we are all supposed to feel sorry for them [we do of course] but THEY LEFT THE KIDS ALONE TO GO OUT AND EAT

I feel horrible for the parents but...I agree with the previous posters - I could never leave my kids alone to go enjoy dinner. And how long were they gone anyway? I have 3 year old twins (one named Madeleine) and she is a whirlwind. So much could happen in a hour or two. It's simply not worth the risk.

i think they will regret that meal for the rest of their life, and perhaps would never go to that place to eat again. I also have all the compassion for them and i know they must have felt terrible, but i do not think that is their fault. This could have happened also if they were forced to leave the apartment just for a minute in an emergency situation, so the dinner was not the reason.

I also agree with all of the posters. It is very sad. One can only hope that other parents that have done this in the past will think twice about doing it again.
For us, we never leave our little ones alone. They don't even play in the backyard unsupervised.

That sure is very sad, but what were the parents thinking? I have not heard of this story prior to this thread, and I don't know the story as a whole, but I feel huge disappointment towards the parents. Their kids are their responsibility, what were they thinking leaving them on their own and not having anyone to watch them?

Madelene was not found yet I understand ...or was she ?
For sure is a tragedy what has happened , however parents should be hold responsible for letting the children alone and ,more ,in a foreign country . Why they didn't hire a baby sitter to stay with kids , I am sure they would have found one with a local agency .
Anyway, I feel sorry for them .

I have spoken to my husband about this and shared with him this discussion and just as how I reacted, he was shocked at the parents' carelessness. Kids this young should never be left unsupervised, someone should always be watching them no matter how much they know the area. It is just unsafe, either way, for a child to be left alone.