You’ve seen it on the news or read about it online. You’ve shaken your head in disgust, wondering how any parent could ever do it.

How could anybody possibly forget their child in a hot car?

There is no such thing as a perfect parent. There just isn’t. No matter how great of a mom you are, we all get it wrong sometimes. Between making sure everybody is up, dressed, fed, and out the door on time, and meeting all of the demands that the day brings, it’s easy to forget or overlook things.

I’m the mother of two young children. Most mornings I run out the door in a hurry, with a granola bar in my hand for breakfast, praying that I make it to my parent’s house on time to drop my kids off and not be late for work. I may barely make it some days, but I always drop my kids off. Leaving the kids in the car all day, or forgetting that they’re in the backseat is incomprehensible to me.

I will never judge another mom for any reason. I will never say that her way of parenting is wrong simply because it’s different than my way of parenting. I will, however, argue until I’m blue in the face, that there is no excuse for leaving your child in a hot car. In any car!

When you become a mom, it isn’t just about you anymore. From the very second, that baby is born, he or she is your responsibility, your job, to nurture and protect that little life. I know that accidents happen. I know that God forbid, tragedies happen. There is a big difference, though, between an accident and simply being careless. If you get out of your car and go into your place of employment, the grocery store, anywhere, and forget that your child is in the back seat, you are not only being careless, you’re being negligent. It isn’t like forgetting your phone or your keys. Nothing in the world is more important than your child, and as a mom, you’ll never be able to convince me otherwise.

This is something that is happening so much, that it isn’t even surprising anymore.

In a recent Newsymom.com article, noheatstroke.org states that as of July 3rd, 2018, 763 children have died as a result of pediatric vehicular heatstroke since 1998.

763 children. As a mom, that number shakes me to my core. Over 700 times in the last 20 years, a child has been forgotten. There are precautionary steps that can be taken to ensure that this won’t happen.

• Put something that you’ll need when you get to your destination in the back seat, with your child. Your phone, purse, or work bag are all items that you’ll remember to pick up before exiting your car. This will ensure that when you go to grab it you’ll see your child also.
• Never let your child play in your car while it’s parked. Keep your doors locked when you aren’t in it, to prevent your child from getting in and locking themselves in.
• If you’re out and see a car with nobody but a child in it, please take action by calling 911. If something doesn’t look right, it probably isn’t.

As moms, we need to work together and help each other out. If you see something out of the ordinary, don’t be afraid to speak up! I promise a stranger will be thankful for a friendly reminder that could potentially save her child’s life.

Accidents happen every day, but this one is 100% preventable, and we must do better for our kids.

Please watch this video shared by the National Safety Council of a father’s tragic story. It isn’t easy to watch but may help you remember to take steps so as to ensure you never make the same mistake…