I have been able to work some different summer hours in the past month and I was able to get home yesterday in time to watch Oprah! I miss watching Oprah.
The show that they presented yesterday was about an overwhelmed working mother that was so pre-occupied one busy morning that she forgot she had her 2 year old daughter in the backseat and went directly to work. The 2 year old was left in the car all day, during a very hot day and died of a heat stroke. It's a very, very sad story and if you would like all the details, check out Oprah's website.
Of course, my first thoughts were, "how the heck could you forget your child?"
Then, after listening to her share her horrible story, I started to realize that it could happen to anyone. Anyone who is overwhelmed, busy, doing a million things all a once, and focused or un-focused on too many details.
Tragic accidents happen when we aren't paying attention to the people that matter the most.
This woman will have to live with the fact that she killed her daughter for the rest of her life.
The moral/point of the show was that everyone needs to SLOW DOWN in your life.
This means that if you have children, yes it's important to get to work on time and yes checking your blackberry for the recent email you just received is important, but not when you are with your children.
Stop multi tasking! Women/Mothers are given a crown because they can "do it all" with one hand but, is it really such a great honor?
I really think this sad, sad story is a good reminder for everyone.
Slow down, pay attention, and nothing it more important than the people you love and who love you. 
2 comments:
I saw that Oprah when it orginally aired earlier this year. I have never cried so hard at an Oprah show. The thing that struck me was what a typical & normal mother she was. Not one that abused her child or abandoned them. Just like you and me! It is so easy to think that it would never happen to me! But that lady was an example of yes, it can! So like you said Slow Down and remember what is important to you! :)
Great Post! I agree too...it can happen to anyone. I usually do the daycare drop-off and pick up, so its routine for me. On the rare occasions that Daddy has to do it, I always call him as soon as I can to make sure the kiddos aren't still in the back seat of the truck! He thinks I'm nuts - but he did almost forget to drop off Madison once when she was about two. Thankfully, she said "Dawn's house" as they drove past the turn to her house.
I agree - it is time to slow down, do less and live more in the moment!
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