‘Village’ must be a lot more vocal towards parents

I DIDN’T really imagine that I would start the new year a seething mass of anger.

But I did. And it was all the fault of two little posts I read on Facebook – and the absolutely mind-boggling irresponsibility of people who should be forced to forfeit the title of parent.

I first read about a couple who were found passed out in their car at 2am while it idled, doors wide open.

Strapped into their car seats at the back were two little children, both under the age of three.

I then read that a volunteer had just got home after dropping nap- pies and wet wipes at the Humewood police station.

There was apparently a need as so many children, babies really, in nappies had been lost by their parents.

At first I was gobsmacked, shocked that anyone could be so damn selfish that they would lose their children, or pass out in an alcoholic haze when they should have tucked their children safely into bed hours earlier.

Then I was angry. I’m a parent and I am far from perfect. I tend to try not to judge other parents as we seldom know the struggles they face.

On New Year’s day, however, I judged and I judged harshly.

There simply is no excuse for this kind of behaviour.

I am not averse to a good time, in fact, I love a good party but I do not love a good party more than I love my children.

I simply fail to see how, if you are going out and alcohol will be involved, you take your children with you.

I fail to understand how you stop watching your children at the beach simply because you are having a good time.

I have no idea what the solution to the problem is.

It’s not a new one, every year on January 1 people lose their kids at the beach, they drive them home drunk sometimes forgetting to give them a bath or supper.

I can only hope that some sort of punitive action is taken when people pick up their lost children from the police station.

I can only hope that the shock of losing a child will help people sober up for good – or at least while in the presence of their kids.

I believe that we, as a society, need to judge others in situations like these.

When we come across a drunk parent who has lost their child, we need to say something. To express how unacceptable this is.

When we see a couple passed out in their car, kids in tow, we need to call the police.

When the police are called they need to take the situation seriously and see that a social worker becomes involved.

These innocent little souls should live in a world where we do not allow parents, be they our friends or family, to neglect them in favour of a good time.

Many say it takes a village to raise a child. Over the New Year’s weekend, when sense seems to fly out the window, the village needs to become a lot more vocal.