The saddest thing happened today.  We had a Valentine’s Party at the skating rink and there was a new little child there.  I skated with her and talked to her several times throughout the party.  I asked her who and where her mother was and she told me that she dropped her off there!!  I asked the little girl how old she was and was astonished to find out that she was only 6!!!  Her mother brought her and dropped her without letting anyone know and without even meeting any of us!!  Then to make it worse at the end of the party her mother was not there to pick her up.  She left her 6 year old child there unattended with a group of total strangers and was expecting her to call when the party was over.  The child had no phone with her!!  It broke my heart.  I sincerely do not understand that in a world where so many bad things happen on a daily basis that a mother would…could do that to her own child?!  We were a group of moms (and dads) who happen to be safe, but what if we didn’t question this and that little girl was left standing outside that rink by herself after everyone was gone?  Anything could have happened to her!!!  People are so unbelievable sometimes!! I don’t even leave my 7 year old alone at a birthday party with MY friends!! Maybe I am over protective, but these are my children!!  The most amazing and wonderful thing I have ever done and I do not wish to be careless with that!  Tonight when I turn out the lights and shut down the house I will do it knowing that my children are all well cared for and safe in ther beds.   

am