DEAR ABBY: Your response to "Frightened Mom in Arizona" is sure to generate a huge response. My mouth literally dropped open upon reading what happened to her little boy at the day-care center.
Your response regarding reporting the incident to the police immediately was right on. However, adding that you have received letters from day-care providers complaining that parents pick up their children late was a big NO-NO.
Parents are frequently caught in traffic, bad weather, late meetings, etc. In these instances, parents should call the day-care center or provider and notify them he/she is running late and is en route, or if necessary, should arrange for someone else to pick up the child, if possible. We don't know the reason why "Mom" was late, but you almost made it sound as though if the parent was late, it was her fault if something happened to the child.
A responsible day-care supervisor would never let an employee's boyfriend or girlfriend supervise a child. Which brings me to my next point: Children should be informed that no one is to touch or look at their "private parts" ever in a day-care or baby-sitting setting. Parents need to let children know what is permissible and what is not.
My heart goes out to "Frightened Mom," and I will pray for her son. -- MOM IN SAGAMORE HILLS, OHIO
DEAR MOM: I received a stack of mail from readers who were offended that I wrote, "Let this be a warning." They felt I was blaming the mother for her son's possible abuse.
Perhaps I should have been more clear: It was intended as a warning to parents to have an emergency plan in place in case they are detained, so they know who will be responsible for their child until they arrive. Also, it is mandatory that the day-care center be licensed and that all personnel have passed background checks.