Horrible Father Gets Told After Leaving 3 Year Old Alone In Store Hours

Karebear gets a Retail Balls and Badass Retail Slave Award for how she handled a nightmare situation for a three year old who had been left alone in the store for hours by her douchebag father:

Hey it's Karebear again. I hate stupid parents...really, I do. I wish I could hit them a parenting book...or ten. 

I understand children have a mind of their own and tend to wander off to different areas of the store. I did it once as a child. Thankfully it hasn't happened with my children yet...But usually, from my experience in retail, it's because parents aren't paying attention to their kids. They are either too busy on the cellphone, reading different labels on items, or bitching out a poor retail slave. Kid get bored, sees something shiny over yonder, boom we have a Code Adam.

On the other side of things, kids usually do the right thing and track down an employee. They will tell us they are lost and can't find their parents. (I like these kids, they are smart. While they have to go past the "stranger danger" thing, least they took the time to find a person in uniform rather than some sleezy creep.) So we have to issue the standard" Attention shoppers, we have a lost mommy and/or daddy in the store. Your child is waiting for you at [location]. Please make your way there quickly." Parents are usually there in a heartbeat, hugging and kissing their missing child. And we get to look like heros for saving their kids from possible kidnappings and pedos. (Not really, but I can dream of being a superhero...)

We had one of those the other day. A young girl, about 3-5 years old (I'm horrible at guessing ages) had lost her parent(s). I found her standing in a corner, scared and crying. I took her to customer service, where we tried to get her to talk to us. (I had to get one of my Spanish speaking managers to help out because i wasn't sure she spoke English.) We were asking for her name, who she was with, etc. By company rule, we can not give out her name over the intercom, we have to say we have a lost mommy/daddy. The poor girl wouldn't talk though. All we got out of her was "Papi." So we figured we were looking for a daddy. 

So the paging begins. "Attention shoppers, we have a lost daddy in the store. If it's you, your child is located at customer service, please pick the child up quickly." Five minutes come and go, still no sign of the father. We tried calling for both mommy and daddy, thinking the girl (who still wasn't talking) wanted to go home to "Papi" but was really with mommy. 

Still no sign of a parent....

We past the 10 minute mark and had to call up LP. Somewhere in our company rules it says that if a child is separated from their parent for over 10 minutes, police have to be notified. We've never had to call before because parents normally pick up their child ASAP. 

LP said to wait a little bit longer (I'm sure he didn't want to fill out forms, lazy punk) because it was busy and pretty loud. All I am thinking is...if these parents don't realize their child is missing by now they got issues. But, it could be Parent A thought child was with Parent B and vise versa (we've had that before...). 

So...another 30 minutes go by and still no sign of the parent. This poor child was crying her eyes out, and I felt really bad. My manager let me ring out a lollipop for her to try to calm her down. And hope it would bribe her to talk to us, but alas, nada. We were paging every 2-5 minutes for this dipshit parent. LP finally had to make the call to the police. After all, I am not the store's babysitter, but since I found her, I felt obligated to stay with her rather than hand her over to a bunch of new strangers. (Must be the momma in me.)

Police arrived and had us page a few more times. They tried to get names from the poor girl, but she wasn't talking. Figures, parents push the "don't talk to strangers" in their kids' heads, but forget to mention "unless you need to tell the police or retail slave your name or our name so you can be reunited with us." 

So after a hour of finding this girl, the police took her to the police station. My heart nearly broke for this poor girl. She was no older than my son, and I really wanted to go with her to make sure she was okay, but I couldn't. Before she left, I bought her a few snacks because I wasn't sure how long she would be there, and had no idea what kind of food/snacks the station had. 

Anyways, speed up to 2 hours later....this guy comes strolling up to customer service asking us if we knew where his daughter was. His description of his child matched the poor girl right down to her shoelace color. So I had the pleasure of telling him she was at the police station.

This guy flipped!

Dipshit Parent: "Why the fuck did you call the police, you fat cunt?!?!?!?!" 

Me: "We paged for over a hour, nearly 2 hours ago."

DP: Well, I wasn't in the store then!

Me: Wait...what? Where were you?

DP: I had...business...to attend to. What the fuck is it to you?

Me: And you left your child here alone?? *I'm sure my eyes were popping out of my sockets by now*

DP: Yea, so? It's a public place. I told her to stay in the corner and not talk to anyone! Now where the fuck is my daughter?!

Me: Haven't you heard of kidnappers? Pedophiles?! Jeez, dude... Like I said, she is at the police station. You will have to go there to pick her up...

Seriously, who the fuck would leave a small child unattended, in a huge store, with a bunch of strangers. I kept thinking, thank god I found her and not Chester the Molester or something. And who knows how long she was there before I even found her?!

After a few more moments of him bitching and ranting about my horrible customer service, he finally left. Not before I told him I hope his daughter isn't returned to him but placed with more suitable people.

I called the police station after he left and told the officer who was with her what the dad had said. My manager, the LP guy, and myself were seething after that. All 3 of us are parents and couldn't even comprehend the stupidity of this guy. We all went on break after that and smoked about 3 cigarettes each to try to calm down. I wouldn't have minded putting mine out in the guy's fucking eyeball. (I swear I'm not a violent person...it's just...as a single mother, I couldn't imagine the pain this girl went through.)

So please, RHU, if you have children...keep them with you at all times!! I never, never, NEVER want to experience that again...I went home and hugged my kids tightly after that. The police officer is a regular in my store, so I plan on asking him what ever happened to that poor girl. I doubt he can tell me, but I want some sort of reassurance. Cause...fuck! Ugh. I'm still seething about it! If I could afford it, I would so try helping that girl out by taking her in, but I can't. :-(

Hope you all have a nasty crusty free day/week/weekend! 

--Karebear<3

Comments

[Kiddo]

What the hell?! If he had such important business to take care of, why did he even take his kid along?! Gah!

I really hope that little girl is gonna be okay.

[Chuckles]

VERY smart of you to call the police and tell them what this idiot said. That might make a big difference in whether he keeps or loses custody.

If at all possible, please try to find out what happened. I don't know if matters such as this are made public, but I would love to hear that this guy lost custody of the girl, his wife left him, and he's now living under a bridge like the ogre he is.

[MahiMahi]

I would have pointed out that shady as fuck "Business to attend to" remark as well. I hope he loses custody.

[Toyman]

As a parent who lost a kid just walking into the store (I turned to grab a cart, he was following somebody else, didn't see me turn) who immediately asked for a code adam page when I could not locate him in either direction, and as someone who used to work in toys at Wally's, I have seen all sorts of kids separated from parents. (Including one who kept moving avoiding employees searching for over half an hour, hiding in clothing racks)

I don't think I have encountered this type of parent before. Shocking that one would think they'd seen everything, and then, bamm, another idiot comes out of the woodwork.

Like others, I would very much like to hear any news you find out from the police.

[Karebear]

The police officer did come into the store, and he wasn't able to tell me much. Just the standard "Things are being looked into." But he did thank me for finding the girl and bringing the whole matter to the police, so I am guessing there might be more to it, and praying that the little girl is taken out of her father's custody.

I haven't seen the father again, but I am a little glad at that because I might punch him in the face if I did. I keep praying for the little girl though.

[Sales Agent Guy]

He had 'business to attend to.'

Son of a mother fucking bitch.

I've seen cases where parents leave their children in game stores so they can play the video games while they go shopping. That's bad enough as it is since it keeps honest gamers from trying-before-they-buy games. But leaving his child in a fucking department store all by herself?!

Just telling her to sit there and not talk to anyone isn't going to work. Kidnappers aren't just going to waltz up and say hello, and they definitely won't ignore 'stranger danger.' I swear, this guy must be drunk or on drugs. I hope he loses custody.

[NC Tony]

I hope they arrested his negligent ass the second he walked into the precinct. Who the fuck leaves a child that young alone in a public place? I hate to think what would have happened if you hadn't found her and some pedo did instead? He'd probably blame you for not looking after her, or not noticing that she was with someone else while he was off taking care of his... business. His hesitation before the word business makes me think he was either cheating on his wife or doing something illegal. Aside from taking custody away from him, they should chop off his dick so he can't have any more kids.

[HBCSlave]

I agree with NC Tony, immediate sterilization for that guy! Who knows how many times he's done that before?

Kudos to you for taking care of her and staying with her through what must have been a terrifying situation.

[Bored at the Bookstore]

I thought it was bad when people would go grocery shopping in our plaza and send their antsy kids down to the bookstore to play while they picked up the groceries...

Absolutely unforgiveable, criminal behavior on the part of the sperm donor (who doesn't deserve the title of "father"). I applaud you for not punching him out on the spot. I also applaud the call to the police station to let them know he was on the way, and what he told you. Here's hoping CPS is involved, and that they didn't just hand the kid over to that waste of space.

Hope the little girl is safe and happy now!

[The Last Archimedean]

As a father wih one child who just turned 8 and another one about to turn 3 [two very handsome boys], I'm appalled beyond all words. I don't even like to not be in the same room with my boys when we're inside a locked house [unless they're asleep in their beds.] When I take them outside I hold their hands at ALL times unless they're playing on a playground, in which case I keep visual track of them 100% of the time.

Maybe I'm a little too protective, but it beats the alternative. This arsehole should have his parental rights stripped and not be allowed to ever see his kid(s) again unless it's supervised visitation. ANYTHING could have happened.

KareBear, you deserve an enormous hug and a drink of something tall and cold after that harrowing experience. [hugs KareBear and hands her a filled mug]

Thank Zeus you were there. Please keep us posted. I hope that child has someone better to take care of her than that low-down snake of a sperm donor.

[MahiMahi]

@ The lat Archimedean, I have no kids and agree with your methods. Honestly, with the world we live in, you can never be too careful. Kids get taken from stores, they get taken their own homes, while in the yard....honestly, it's scary.

[Shannah]

The world would be a better place for kids if, instead of telling them not to talk to stranger, people taught them not to go anywhere without the adult in charge.

I taught my kids to not go anywhere without the adult in charge, and gave them the name of the adult in charge. They never went anywhere with someone they weren't supposed to. But, when the younger one got separated from us at a busy park, he went across the street to the pharmacy and had them call us.

If he'd been too terrified to talk to anyone, where would he be now?

[Kristina]

Business huh? Anyone want to vote dealer or buyer? Or if he's married/divorced - seeing someone he shouldn't when he's supposed to be watching his daughter. I have a 6 year old and I loose my shit when he's late getting back from ANYTHING.

I mean really what the hell was he thinking? I can just imagine the shyte storm he would have raised if someone had snatched her. I really hope and pray there is a sane intelligent mother in the picture and that this waste of space and carbon gets a visit from someone with an Emasculatome in hand.

[MahiMahi]

One thing to tell kids is if they get lost is too find some one who works in the place or a cop....an adult with a child would also work. It makes me contemplate putting on of those stuffed animal back packs (often a monkey) that children wear, that have long tails that the parent holds onto, on my kids when I have them one day.
Not in all places obviously, places like the city.

[Nick]

I wish I could throw roses at you you wonderful human being who cares about children.

The world is truly better with people such as yourself in it.

If I lost my kid I would be freaking the F out and having the workers help me look for him.

I can't imagine what this brain dead waste of space was thinking.

[DrugStore Diva]

Wow, I'm aghast. I really hope that guy lost custody.

I have had custys drop their kids in the toy aisle and say "play here while I shop"...and I always said "Um no, that's not safe, and that is merchandise for sale, not for play"

[L]

I applaud the actions of you and your store. I'm SURE you're going to see a blurb about this guy in the local news!

[Karebear]

@The Last Archimedean: I am the same way with my kids when we are ANYWHERE. If we are at the store, they are both in the cart, no matter how many weird looks I get for having a 5 year old in the cart. Hands are always held, even if my apartment parking lot.

I can't imagine leaving either of my kids in some random corner. I worry about them when they are being babysat by my mother or a trusted person!

[Annie]

I just got introduced to this site today through another post. I'm shaking after reading this post, though. I had to go in to my toddler son's room and pick him up and give him a big hug even though I risked waking him. I just couldn't not hug him after that.

When I was a kid it was kind of standard practice for my mom to tell us to go to the toy aisle/department when we entered a store and she came and got us when she was done shopping. Sometimes at the mall she'd drop us off at the Disney Store for a couple of hours while she shopped kid free.
I remember one time being on the teeny tiny toy aisle for what seemed like an eternity and deciding to go look for mom. I think I was maybe 5 or 6? Well, somehow I looked through every aisle in the small-ish store and couldn't find her. I still remember the feeling of mind numbing fear that grew stronger with each aisle I passed on my second round through the store. It kept building until I was crying my eyes out and completely disoriented.
An employee found me and paged my mother by her first name and by what she looked like (this was in the late 80s). I then got reprimanded and scolded all the way home because of the way I'd embarassed her by not staying where she told me to stay.
Yes, after that she still dropped us at the Disney Store or toy aisle and sent us to see whatever kids movie was playing while she went to a "grown up" movie.

My son is only 2 and not able to understand most safety lessons or even the concept of an "emergency", but I've already begun to drill in to his head that police officers help people, if you're in a store and need help with something you look for someone in a uniform and/or wearing a badge (be it name badge or police badge), what his full name is and what mine and my husband's names are. Also, if we're in a store he can walk (as opposed to riding in the cart or stroller) only if he holds mine or my husband's hand or holds the cart.

The thought of just leaving my son to wander around the toy department while I'm even two aisles away makes me feel ill. Leaving him while I'm not even in the building for three hours?!? Uhg. I think I need to hug my kid again.

[Damn Yankee]

I'm not a parent (thank goodness), but I see plenty of parents. In the pet store, I see parents with leashes (yes, pet leashes) clipped to the back of Junior's pants, so that he can wander a few feet away, and Parent's hands are free, for the most part. It works out well, and the kids don't mind.

On the other hand, I ride my horse at a municipal park fairly often. There's bridle paths and cross country jumps, which are unfortunately close to the playground (great for bombproofing ponies!). Kids understandably get close to watch us ride, but I'm knocked flat at the absolute disregard some parents have. They want to ride the ponies. Okay... you have no safety gear, unlike me, with my helmet, impact vest, gloves, and boots. This is a high strung performance animal, not a sleepy geriatric pony. And then what takes the cake is the parent who told her kid that it was okay to run underneath the horse's belly. While I was in the saddle. I asked if she was fucking stupid, and told her to get away from the horses. Of course, she whined about how "damn Yankees" are ruining the Southern horse heritage. Fortunately, I had other riders backing me up that I'd just saved the poor kid's life.

[Book Baby]

"other...business"

Hmmm, it must be one or more of the following:

Drugs
Gambling
Booze
Screwing Baby Mama
Boosting stuff from the store
Sleeping in his car
Jacking off in his car
Pick pocketing real customers

The list is endless.

Dear LORD, let this guy lose custody and let the child's mother castrate him!

[CharlieWhiskyMike]

Castrate him. Who dont want to Take care of his or her children shouldnt proceate.

[Humor_Me]

Holy fucknuggets! I lost my 4yo son for about 30 seconds and didn't realize it until someone said "Is someone missing a blond-haired boy?" My husband and I looked at each other and our eyes got THIS big! It never happened after that.

I volunteer to castrate that guy with a rusty hacksaw. I used to work in a vet's office you know, and I not only know the anatomy, but I also know how to restrain.

[Wmdkitty]

@Annie -- Jeez, I lost my mum in PetShart once, looked down every aisle, couldn't find her, and started to panic.

I'm 30, and I'm not immune to that reaction.

(Turns out she was only two aisles away from me the whole time. I felt a bit silly for panicking, but it's not something I can control.)

[Framer-Fatal]

I was the code Adam once. One second I was at my mom's side, the next I was gone. I hadn't been gone 30 seconds and my mom was freaking out. To make matters worse when she gave them a description one employee mentioned that a girl like me had just walked by with an old man.

Turned out I had left my mom's side because the old man was my grandpa and I had wanted to surprise him. Like I said, it took seconds for my mom to start freaking and berating herself. 3 hours? Intentionally? Yep, hope you and the mom are separated, because you lost ANY right to see that kid. That story makes me want to puke, and I don't have kids. Plain-ol' human empathy is working just fine on this one.

[Legal Minion]

I am seeing red. I would FLIP if my little baby got lost in a store... I would be crying my eyes out until I found her again and feel AWFUL for losing track of her to begin with!

You rock, Karebear.

[Torte Tart]

Karebear, bless you for doing your best to comfort that little girl. It's pretty sad, though, when a random stranger can be a better caretaker and friend to a child than his or her own parent. Unfortunately, that's what society seems to have come to these days, and way too many people are having kids that really shouldn't be.

As a parent myself, I employ many of the same methods that The Last Archimedean does. My daughter is always either holding my hand or in my line of sight. If I absolutely have to do something with my phone and we're out together, she will hold my hand until I'm finished.
I came from a shitty parenthood myself. My older brother died when he was 2 due to my father's negligence. I won't go into details, but ever since hearing the story from my mother I've been all the more protective of my little girl.

Ugh, and I thought the woman next door over allowing her 1-year-old to play outside unattended while she sits inside and smokes was bad. Parents like this just make me sick to my stomach.

[Mollywobbles]

Thing is, stuff like this happens more often than we as decent human beings would like to think. Sure, my Mom would let my sister and I go look at toys/CDs, etc. while she shopped, but I hear stuff about people leaving their kids in a public place while they go off on other business and it sickens me. There's a wonderful show on ABC called What Would You Do? (not to be confused with the 90's Nickelodeon game show of the same name) that puts actors in public places to act out scenarios based on news stories and viewer suggestions to see how the unsuspecting public would act. A few weeks ago, there was a scenario where a woman left her two daughters in a toy store while she left for a couple of hours to go to a job interview because she didn't have a babysitter. It really warms the heart to see ordinary people unable to just walk by two beautiful girls on their own and ask where their parents are, how long they've been there, when their parents are coming back, and even staying with them while they try to track down an employee. One woman managed to coax the "mother"'s phone number out of them, and called her to berate her on leaving her kids alone in public. I think at least two other people called the police (who are always in on the situation). I can't fathom ever doing the same thing if/when I ever have kids (mostly because I have a niece and nephew, and they mean the world to me).

[Pagemaster]

Hopefully you've brought something in need of serious attention to the right people, you're a more level headed woman then I.

[DXKramer]

I was once a Code Adam myself. The relatives I was living with at this time (I was 9) would let myself and my siblings wander around the mall BY OURSELVES.

I found myself at Service Merchandise (remember them?) playing videogames when I was grabbed HARD by a mall security guard (this was before it became illegal to touch a child that was not yours) and literally DRAGGED to my waiting (and pissed off) aunt.

[lamer]

Karebear, bless your heart.

Kristina is right, he's a dealer.

I turned around once and my son had turned to the other side... I had a conniption. If in the store, if I look away, I put my hand over his. I am paranoid and my son is ridiculously cute.

[T-Shirt Sponge]

There should be a test people must pass before having children >.> Question 1: "You need to get your fuck on. Do you leave your kid alone in a department store?"

[photoslave]

When I was 16 or 17, I lost my niece at an Old Slavery for all of 2 or 3 minutes and I freaked. How can a dad... no, sperm donor, be so effing careless?

[bearfoot]

I remember loosing my mom as a wee tot.. still have no sense of direction.

I am normally a peaceful guy, but I'm hoping to god this father at least got the kid taken away.