Ah, summer—the time for barbecues, camping trips, swimming, biking, and occasionally, forgetting your little ones in sweltering cars.
As a mother of four, I pride myself on being responsible. Sure, I might occasionally lean into questionable parenting choices—like counting chicken nuggets as a veggie or allowing too much screen time for my kids. But even on my most insecure days, I wouldn’t classify myself as a negligent parent.
A couple of summers ago, however, I would have strongly dismissed the idea that I could ever be careless enough to forget a child in the car. Who could be so oblivious? Right? Wrong.
That June was particularly scorching, with humidity clinging heavily to the Midwest like a cozy but annoying sweater. My mom had just relocated from out of state to be closer to us. Having her around felt wonderful; it was like one of those too-short visits we always cherished, except this time she was here to stay. I was thrilled.
To celebrate her first weekend as a local, we decided to throw a barbecue. My husband manned the grill while my kids frolicked through the freshly mowed grass. As the aroma of grilling meat wafted through the air, I suddenly craved sweet corn to accompany our feast.
“Mom and I will run to the store,” I said, “We won’t be long.”
“Take the baby,” my husband suggested. “I can’t keep an eye on all the kids while cooking.”
I placed my calm, easygoing 1-year-old into his rear-facing car seat and we set off. The grocery store was nearby, and Mom and I shared laughs the whole way, our spirits lifted by the music and the thought of the delicious meal ahead. We parked and continued our banter. I checked my phone for the time while Mom searched her purse for lip balm. I locked the car with the key fob and we headed straight for the produce section.
To our dismay, the corn selection was nearly empty. “This is Iowa,” I complained. “We’re supposed to have sweet corn! Let’s try another store.”
We walked back, unlocked the car, hopped in, and I started driving—radio blasting, air conditioning cooling us off, next stop firmly in mind.
Then I heard my mother gasp. That sharp intake of breath hit me like a jolt of lightning. I realized, in that horrifying moment, we had left the baby in the car.
It took me a long time to muster the courage to write those words. Even now, years later, I feel tightness in my chest reliving that moment. It’s hard to admit I made such a dangerous mistake with my child’s safety, but it happened. My mom and I were so engrossed in conversation during an unusual situation. Usually, I had all four kids or none. My baby was silent the entire time, not a peep from the backseat to remind us he was there. So, we left him in the car, in the summer heat, with the windows up. Outside, temperatures soared to at least 90 degrees.
Miraculously, the corn was scarce, and we were in the store for only a couple of minutes—just enough time to check the empty corn bin and leave. But what if we had decided to grab ice cream or watermelon, or if the checkout line was long?
A car can heat up to a staggering 125 degrees in minutes, even with a cracked window. A child’s body temperature rises three to five times faster than that of an adult. Nearly 40 children die each year in the U.S. from being trapped in hot cars, and my baby could have easily been one of them. It makes me sick to think he could have perished—and I would have been responsible. Me. The person who loves him more than anyone else.
I share this not as a confession of being a terrible parent, but to highlight that even good parents can make mistakes. This can happen to anyone, even you. Trust me, I thought it was impossible—until I lived through it. The lesson I learned? Never say “I would never,” because you don’t have to be negligent to forget. Sometimes, being human is enough.
If you’re interested in learning more about pregnancy and home insemination, check out this excellent resource on pregnancy. And if you’re looking for ways to boost your fertility, you might want to visit this authority on fertility supplements.
In summary, even the most careful parents can forget their kids in a hot car, a scenario that’s all too easy to slip into. Awareness is key to preventing such tragic mistakes; remember, just being human is enough to make errors.