LilSugar

Snacking While You Shop at the Grocery Store Could Get You Arrested!

LilSugar — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 10:02:48 PDT

A trip to the grocery store in Honolulu ended with two parents in jail and a 2-year-old toddler under the care of Child Protective Services (CPS) for a family that had relocated to the area from California a week earlier.

After getting lost on their way to the grocery store, Nicole Leszczynski, 30 weeks pregnant, felt faint and openly munched on two chicken salad sandwiches ($5) while keeping the wrappers in the shopping cart to be scanned at the register - but she and her husband forgot to pay for the sandwiches and were stopped by a security guard on the way out. The chain of events that unraveled next are almost too bizarre to comprehend - and a parent's worst nightmare. Store managers of the Safeway grocery store refused to let the couple pay for the items and had the couple arrested for shoplifting. CPS was called in to take the couple's 2-year old daughter, Zofia, into custody, where she spent the night before being reunited once again with her parents 18 hours later.

Nicole explained that grocery shopping brings some anxiety for her now, especially after reading comments online criticizing her for eating before paying. "I didn't know it was such a taboo thing," she said. "Where I grew up in a small town it's not seen as stealing for sure."

When Can a Child Let Go of Mom's Hand While Crossing the Street?

Heather Maddan — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 05:00:00 PST

Crossing the street on one's own is a major milestone. But before children ever set out on the pedestrian path alone, a parent has to loosen their grip. At some point, mom or dad decides a tot is mature enough to walk next to them rather than hand in hand. The decision to take this step often comes with an incredible trust that the youngster will listen to directions and won't dart out into traffic. When did you allow your kiddo to do this?

5 Ways to Transport Tots in a Walking City

Rebecca M Gruber — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 10:25:00 PST

And away we go! I just returned from a trip to Amsterdam (Bugaboo flew me there to test out the Donkey - review to come!), but strollers aren't the only way families get around. In a city with more bikes than residents, parents have some creative ways to transport their tots through town...and, without helmets. According to the parents I spoke with on the tram, in the streets, and at cafes, head injuries aren't a concern. Take a look at some of the means of transportation.

Dad and Baby on Skateboard: Stop or Let Them Ride?

Heather Maddan — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 11:23:02 PST

There's a baby on the board...literally! Lots of parents ride bikes with their babes on the back, but I had to do a triple take when I saw a dad skating down the hill with his daughter strapped to him in a Baby Bjorn. While he was no Tony Hawk, the father clearly knew how to navigate the sidewalk on wheels with or without his wee one. But, how safe is it for an unprotected tot (tethered to a parent) to barrel down the streets of San Francisco or those of another city?

How to Find a Missing Child in a Crowded Place

Heather Maddan — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 14:45:40 PST

What's the quickest way to find a missing child in a crowded place? While American answers may range from contacting authorities to launching a search or issuing Amber Alerts, in Argentina they start with something a bit simpler. A colleague told me about her traveling friend's post on Facebook. It said:

"Yesterday, whilst sitting in the middle of an extremely crowded beach near Mar del Plata, Argentina, a slow, small chorus of claps started up and proceeded to grow in number as more people joined in. I was perplexed, and even more so when my companions also joined the chorus without hesitation. I asked my friend what was happening, and she explained that in Argentina, when someone encounters a lost child in a crowded area and can't find the parent they start to clap. Then those around join in and so on, thus alerting the parent(s) as to the child's whereabouts. She said the same thing had happened for her on more than one occasion when she was a child, as she had a tendency to wander. It was an example of community working together that I had not previously encountered, and I was impressed. Once the parent(s) and child are reunited, there is a big cheer and more applause. So [the] only weakness I see is that I am not sure what happens if a second child gets lost at precisely that moment . . . "

Have you heard of things similar to this?

Facebook Issuing Amber Alerts to Help Find Abducted Children

Heather Maddan — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 12:15:45 PST

My heart leaps into my throat just thinking about the anguish moms experience when their worst nightmare - their child going missing - becomes a reality. While television, radio, and freeway messages are helpful in spreading the word about abductions, little compares to the mass reach of a story going viral. Today, Facebook launches its partnership with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children to increase awareness of kids that go missing.
One report said:

Facebook users will now be able to follow Amber Alert pages for their states, and news of missing children nearby will then show up in their news feed. Organizers hope the partnership will harness Facebook's more than 500 million users to help locate some of the 800,000 children reported missing each year.

Will you use your social networking time to lend a link?

Epileptic Boy Denied Right to Bring Seizure Dog to School?

Heather Maddan — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 15:10:32 PST

Does everyone really have a right to an education? People in Virgina are questioning that since Andrew Stevens, 12, a boy who suffers from Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy, is having trouble returning to Fort Belvoir Elementary. The conditions of his reentry, after being home schooled for two years, are posing a problem. One report said:

The family raised $20,000 to get Alliya, a seizure detecting dog. But Andrew's school says that because he has a disability, he can't manage the dog if he has a seizure.

Using the Americans with Disabilities Act, the boy's mother, Nancy, is battling the system. Do you think the school has a legitimate concern?

Honey, Go Sit on That Stranger's Lap: Should Parents Be Skeptical of Mall Santas?

Heather Maddan — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 07:00:46 PST

Long lines at malls prove that many parents are comfortable letting their kids sit on Kris Kringle's lap! While most of us wouldn't hand our children over to a stranger, there's something about a bearded man decked out in a red suit posing for pictures that suddenly makes it OK. Like other moms and dads, I assume that the "powers that be" running the temporary Winter Wonderlands are doing background checks on these supposed St. Nick's, but I can't be positive that the occasional creeps don't slip through the cracks. Are parents too lax about tot safety when it comes to festive fun?

Would You Break the Law to Save Your Child's Life?

Heather Maddan — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 04:00:06 PST

Are laws meant to be broken when your child's life is at stake? Inhale is a phenomenal film that explores the lengths that law abiding citizens and parents Paul and Diane Stanton (Dermot Mulroney and Diane Kruger) take to try and save their ailing daughter Chloe's (Mia Stallard) life as she waits for a lung transplant. The movie is incredibly difficult to watch at points as it explores illegal organ trafficking, but the flick also poses an intense ethical question. What would you do?

Black Friday: How to Keep Your Kids Safe While Shopping

Heather Maddan — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 04:00:33 PST

Packed parking lots and crowded stores aren't playgrounds for kids, but most parents have to take their tykes shopping at some point during the holiday season. To ensure your children's safety during trips to the mall - especially during the hustle and bustle of this season - check out these simple tips that provide peace of mind.

Pay Attention in Parking Lots
People in a mad dash to the mall can make parking lots especially dangerous, as they don't always look both ways before backing out. Winter weather is also worrisome because visibility isn't as good. Make it a rule to hold hands when you and your wee ones walk through any lots and garages.

Map Out a Plan
Once you get to the mall, map out a plan in case your family gets separated. Pick a central and easily accessible place to meet up. Your tot's favorite store is an ideal destination, as the youngster will likely remember its location and name. Advise small kids to seek store personnel or a security guard for assistance.

Stay Seated in Shopping Carts
While it's tempting to let an antsy tot climb in or around the shopping cart, it's not a safe practice. Children, especially babies, are at great risk of injury in doing so. So follow the rules and strap your wee one in the front seat and never leave her unattended.

To see the rest of the tips,

Don't Talk to Strangers
In a crowded place, a predator can easily slip away with a child. Remind your kids not to leave your side and not to accept goodies or go off with strangers.

Carry a Snapshot
It's better safe than sorry so use your phone to capture your child's image before entering a crowded place. That way if anything were to happen, you would know what he was wearing. That said, it takes a matter of minutes for an abductor to change a child's appearance, so carrying pictures of your wee one's identifying characteristics whether it be a birthmark, a scar, or a unique eye color, could help in the event that he or she goes missing. While this is unsettling, it's best to be prepared.