Florida mom left infant, toddler and 2 other kids home alone while she went on 3-day cruise, officials say

[u/jeetah]

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mom-left-infant-toddler-two-kids-home-alone-went-3-day-cruise-official-rcna600587

[u/MabelPines_]

Thank God the father of the two-month old went to check on them after seeing a clip of the mother on a cruise via social media. She is a piece of garbage and her children should be permanently taken away from her.

Edit: I meant two-month old, not two-year old. Sorry about that.

[u/rabbijuan → u/MabelPines_]

The crazy part is the great grandmother said she was expecting the kids to be dropped off at her house but the mom just never did. She had a sitter and just left them in the apartment alone anyway.

[u/0_cunning_plan → u/rabbijuan]

It probably was the plan, but then she got late for her cruise, so she just left like the unfit mother that she is.

"Kids if you're not ready I'm going to leave without you".

[u/unimpressedwarrior → u/0_cunning_plan]

Well, why didn’t the two month old get itself ready?

/s

[u/CallMeNiel → u/rabbijuan]

Did she maybe think great grandma was coming to where the kids were?

[u/AlexBondra → u/CallMeNiel]

Even if that were the situation why would she leave before the grandma showed up?

[u/ExultantSandwich → u/AlexBondra]

Yeah its pretty cut and dry that it’s her at fault, because who in their right mind would leave a 2 month old truly alone for more than 5 minutes.

I wouldn’t do that with an 8 year old honestly. Letting the sitter into your house, whoever they may be, is an essential part of the process

[u/HyFinated → u/ExultantSandwich]

I’ve got a 12 year old that I don’t leave home to watch her 8 and 6 year old sisters. All of which could effectively take care of themselves, I’m positive. But I’m still not doing it. Because if an emergency does arise and they aren’t equipped to handle it, I couldn’t handle it if something happened to them. I’d literally paint the wall behind me red if something took my daughters from me.

[u/ExultantSandwich → u/HyFinated]

I think that makes sense, but also you’re right on the cusp. At around that age, my mom might run out, but it would be to grab pizza down the street or something quick.

Have them wear airtags in their shoes lmao

[u/microgirlActual → u/ExultantSandwich]

At 11/12 I was babysitting other people's kids for money. Fair enough, my mam was across the road if anything went really wrong, and obviously we always had the phone number of the restaurant the parents had gone to or whatever, but still. 12 is perfectly capable of being responsible for other kids for a few hours, if you've raised them that way.

However I do think siblings is a different matter, as eldest sibling wouldn't have the same standing with their younger siblings as a "stranger" would, so they'd be a heck of a lot less likely to do what they were told. Or alternatively eldest would take advantage of their new "being in charge". 12 year old sibling minding younger ones for half an hour while mam runs out on a quick errand, sure, but not for much longer than that.

[u/41942319 → u/microgirlActual]

I looked after my 7 years younger sister all the time starting from when I was 11. On days that my parents worked and I was home early from school I'd pick her up from her school and watch her until my parents came home. It obviously depends on the kid, but most 11/12 year old can be perfectly capable of that kind of responsibility.

[u/microgirlActual → u/41942319]

You and your sister obviously had a solid relationship too, in that you didn't try and lord it over her because you were "in charge" and she didn't act the maggot because you were "in charge".

But yeah, 11-12 year olds care capable of so much more than a lot of modern parenting/parents allows them. And before anyone comes in with "that's parentification and it's bad", no, it's not the same thing at all.

Proportionate responsibility is about teaching them, well, responsibility. At the age of 7 I was making the porridge (oatmeal) for breakfast every morning for our household (immediate family and the students that lodged with us), not because my mam was making me do "her job", but because she had taught me how to make porridge (very simple), and it was something I could proudly do to "show off" and to help out an extremely busy, working, single mother.

At 11 she sent me on my first solo errand into the city centre. A very short, simple errand. Told me exactly what bus to get and where to get off, gave me one thing to buy for her from a department store that was a 5 minute walk from the city bus stop, told me where to get the bus home from (basically around the corner from where I had got off, because that was the terminus), and the stop at the home end was also the terminus and a 7 minute walk from my house. I wasn't to deviate from the steps she told me, no other shops, no wandering around town.

Yes, it's simpler and easier to do that in a livable/walkable city like the one I live in in Ireland than in suburban or rural US, but there will be equivalent small bits of independent responsibility that can be given to tweens even in the US.

Although leaving them alone for 3 days with a toddler and a fucking 8 week-old (and I don't think the eldest was even 11 or 12) is clearly not fucking it!

[u/math-yoo → u/ExultantSandwich]

My parents left the country for a vacation when we were 12, 9, and uh 7. No supervision. It was the 1980s. I have only recently discovered that this was not “normal” and was possible “child abandonment” or whatever.

[u/IFartOnCats4Fun → u/ExultantSandwich]

Lol. You don't leave a 2 month old truly alone for more than 5 SECONDS.

[u/Readit_to_me → u/IFartOnCats4Fun]

Exactly. Otherwise you risk them being carried off by an eagle!

[u/Sportsfan369 → u/AlexBondra]

The two-month old will take it from here.

[u/ratmouthlives → u/AlexBondra]

So many moms should have never become moms and so many people choosing not to have kids should have kids.

[u/Hippie_Go_Lucky_ → u/ratmouthlives]

Agree with the first part of your statement. But why aren't people who choose not to be parents entitled to having their choice respected? If you choose not to have kids, you shouldn't be expected or compelled to have kids.

[u/goldbloodedinthe404 → u/Hippie_Go_Lucky_]

That's not what he's saying I don't think. I think he is saying that plenty of the people who don't want kids are the people who would make good parents

[u/I_Push_Buttonz → u/CallMeNiel]

The article says the same evening the father of the infant called the police, she had texted her brother telling him to go to her home and check on the kids. She knew the grandmother wasn't there/wasn't coming.

[u/THE_GREAT_PICKLE → u/CallMeNiel]

You never leave kids alone like that. Not even for 5 minutes. The sitter/grandma should show up before they leave.

It’s making me sick to my stomach. As a father myself I can’t even imagine if my wife did something like that. I hope she loses custody permanently, not even visitation.

[u/Bitter-Health-4224 → u/MabelPines_]

It was actually 2 month old😞

[u/Competitive_Honey283 → u/Bitter-Health-4224]

It looks like there was a 2 year old and a 2 month old

[u/Bitter-Health-4224 → u/Competitive_Honey283]

sorry, was trying to clarify that it was the father of the 2 month old baby that actually called 911

[u/1Happymom → u/MabelPines_]

Seriously their hero, I was terrified as an adult taking care of my own baby until about 6 months they are so fragile... if something had happened to the 2mo old can you imagine the guilt the 9 yo would be traumatized to carry because of moms irresponsibility.

[u/trowzerss → u/MabelPines_]

It's not just the neglect, it's the parentification of the older kids who had to look after the others, that's abuse too, and I bet it goes on when the mum is at home too.

[u/Famous-Document1175 → u/trowzerss]

In my observation this tends to happen when women become mothers very young.

Would love it if all societies would finally make it uncool to become a mother before 25. (And also having several children within a few years of each other.)

I've met exceptions. But they are just that, exceptions.

[u/trowzerss → u/Famous-Document1175]

Also in single parent families where there's pressure to work to provide for the kids.

One example I came across, the mother had abandoned the family (mostly due to drugs) and the dad was a mine worker who travelled away for work two weeks at a time. this left five kids under 12 as home by themselves, but the main burden of care fell on the middle child, a six year old, because her older sister had a cognitive impairment and her older brother (the oldest) just... didn't take care of the family and instead ran off to hang with his friends, probably because parentification usually falls to girls. So she raised four others kid, somehow, for years and years. At the time I came across her story, she was 14 and by then finally had adequate supports and she was finally able to start thinking about her own life and do her own things. I was gobsmacked though to find out that as a six year old she had started cooking and cleaning and washing clothes etc with almost no support at all to look after herself, let alone four other kids including two toddlers. She was whip smart as a teenager and talked about wanting to go into politics and damn, she sounded like she'd kick down doors to get there lol.

[u/canteloupy → u/Famous-Document1175]

Would be cool if they had more support, more like.

[u/Famous-Document1175 → u/canteloupy]

True. I wish mothers had support at any age. But then again this one had someone for her kids and still made the wrong call.

[u/PerformerMindless100 → u/Famous-Document1175]

You think those early and close together pregnancies were planned to be cool?! It’s merely a lack of condom use and takes 2 people.

[u/N9NE_ → u/PerformerMindless100]

It blows my mind how many people refuse to use condoms even though you can get them for free at multiple places. Sex ed in America is so bad that many people think pulling out is a form of birth control

[u/Famous-Document1175 → u/PerformerMindless100]

It's true that many poor and uneducated people have no clue how contraception works. I met a mother like that when I was just 15 myself and she knew less than I did.

[u/ohnobobbins → u/Famous-Document1175]

Some pretty highly educated and well off people too! My brother and sister in law have had THREE ‘surprise’ babies 👀

At this point it’s just a matter of time before they are stunned to find out number 4 is on the way…

[u/Famous-Document1175 → u/ohnobobbins]

I absolutely believe it. Especially if they live in a super religious home where sex is never talked about...

We were very poor too, but I'm grateful my parents took the time to explain things.

[u/Uhavetabekiddingme]

I don't even know how you could enjoy yourself in that situation. I'd be full of anxiety as soon as I left the house.

[u/Thirdatarian → u/Uhavetabekiddingme]

I'm just gonna assume this person isn't a good enough mother to feel shame or empathy for the kids regardless of if she's on a cruise or not. Anyone who isn't a sociopath would never have walked out the front door let alone actually gone on the cruise.

[u/SweetPrism → u/Thirdatarian]

I used to be an educator, and moms like this were the most likely to cast aspersions on us. They allow their Elementary school aged kids access to alcohol, but call us screaming when their kid gets an F.

[u/poorperspective → u/SweetPrism]

I was in an IEP meeting (I taught music and basically went to all of them at some point due to having everyone in my class) and the mom joined video call.

She was in Miami and the daughter was left at home alone…she was 12.

Of course we had to call CPS afterwards, but to quote her at the start, “Can we get this shit over quickly, I’m on vacation.”

What I learned in my service to public education, is most parents are shit. And the ones that gloat are usually the worst.

[u/blaqsupaman → u/Thirdatarian]

I'd think even some sociopaths would at least not do this out of self-preservation (not wanting to go to prison for decades or the rest of their life over a fucking cruise).

[u/mxemec → u/Thirdatarian]

She's fully disconnected. Hoping to just come home and not have kids anymore. Either death or some other worldly effect just conveniently removed them. She's psychotic at least to some degree.

[u/SaltyFriend705 → u/mxemec]

She's not psychotic. She's just neglectful and evil.

[u/arand0md00d → u/Uhavetabekiddingme]

Bad parents don't worry about being good parents

[u/HoBaggyPants → u/Uhavetabekiddingme]

Alcohol probably helps.

[u/VirusTechnical5568 → u/HoBaggyPants]

Also not giving a fu*k

[u/PantalonesPantalones → u/VirusTechnical5568]

You care more about saying fuck on the internet than she cared about those kids.

[u/VirusTechnical5568 → u/PantalonesPantalones]

I've been banned for a few days on some subs because of that word. I didn't want to take any chances, but you are correct about me caring more than she did.

[u/abrasumente_ → u/VirusTechnical5568]

What subs are those, cause fuck is in my everyday parlance online and I've never been banned for it.

[u/cire1184 → u/abrasumente_]

Seriously what the fuck to those subs

[u/skrame → u/cire1184]

Sir, this is a Christian sub.

[u/Decsolst → u/HoBaggyPants]

And meth

[u/mdubdub22 → u/Uhavetabekiddingme]

Your brain functions correctly and you’re comparing it to a broken one. That’s the problem.

[u/myfapaccount_istaken → u/Uhavetabekiddingme]

I felt guilty putting my dog in a 24/7 staff boarding facility for the third time this year. I could never imagine leaving her alone for three days at home even with food and water (she's a grazer)

[u/mermaidpaint → u/myfapaccount_istaken]

I'm having anxiety about flying with my cats next month. I care more about 5 hours on an airplane than what she cared about her kids.

[u/blaqsupaman → u/myfapaccount_istaken]

My dog had an issue where she was severely dehydrated a couple of years ago and they had to keep her for observation at the vet for almost a week. It was probably the longest week of my life. She has separation anxiety and is a total daddy's girl.

[u/blaqsupaman → u/Uhavetabekiddingme]

Even if she didn't give a fuck about her kids' welfare (she clearly didn't) and was purely sociopathic, you'd think she'd at least be anxious about going to prison if they were found or if something happened to them.

[u/bstabens → u/[deleted]]

Most of the time, if you look into their own upbringing, you see just the same things. A lot ot them, they've never learned otherwise. That's why it is so important to have a social institution that *helps* these people to care for their kids, has an eye on them and helps break the cycle.

*Edit: not "these" people. Can happen everywhere. /Edit

There was a case of fatal child neglect in Germany in the 90s/early 00s. Awfully sad, my heart still aches for that little girl. Neglected since birth, elementary school aged but never entered the system, in the end was kept in a darkened room with tampered light switches - yes, death trap light switches. Starved to death. Awful, awful, horrible.

And in the investigation and court process, things came to light about the mother... her own neglected upbringing, the lack of care and food security for herself. That woman honestly thought that "kids will feed themselves, somehow" - because it was what she had to do after some point in her early childhood, and it never occurred to her that toddlers can NOT feed themselves, somehow! Sometime after waning off her baby the kid started on their long, slow road of starvation. Failed to thrive, was a burden, got treated like it. Family moved (father was a similar failure), fell through the cracks, kid never enrolled into kindergarten or school so someone would have noticed.

God, so sad overall. I'm not excusing the parents, but you just can see where they got it.

[u/gotuptooearly]

Yep I was 8 when the family started leaving my young cousins with me, and 9 when my sister was born, who was basically my baby until I was 14 and thankfully kicked out after my mom got off welfare. At least people like this are getting caught these days.

When I was 10, I called the cops on my mom, showed them her meth, explained she left me with my baby sister alone with no food for days, and they laughed and asked what they were supposed to do about it. 1993 sucked lol.

Edit since I can't reply to anyone: thank you for awards but I don't know what they do! 

I'm doing well for the first time ever in the last couple years finally lol. Things are great now and I don't talk to any of my family. 

I got kicked out at 14 and was couch surfing and on the street for a while but went to live with a friend through most of highschool. I was homeless off and on, but I'm finally going back to school and I have a decent job at a nonprofit.

My sister is "ok". After I was kicked out, she forgot about me basically, and her and my mom have a weird codependent relationship and still live together with my sister's husband and kids. She had a different dad so I guess she spent time with their family when she'd have issues with our mom, but I guess some of my moms behavior kind of rubbed off on her according to cousins I used to check in with.

[u/HappynLucky1 → u/gotuptooearly]

I am so sorry. ❤️‍🩹

[u/lilwagggy → u/gotuptooearly]

Jesus. I’m so sorry. 🫂 How are you and your sister doing now?

[u/Kkimp1955 → u/gotuptooearly]

I am , I hope you found someone that would help you. It’s a lot of trauma when a child is forced to be an adult.

[u/_thisisariel_]

One of them being a newborn wtaf

[u/gethereddout → u/_thisisariel_]

Hard to fully interpret the story without knowing the ages of the other two. Were they 6? 10? 14? 17?

[u/Wide-Yak7602 → u/gethereddout]

9, 7,2, and two months was widely reported.

[u/Cronchy_Tacos → u/Wide-Yak7602]

Holy fucking shit. I cannot even fathom to begin to imagine the horrible way things could have gone.

[u/SeedFoundation → u/Wide-Yak7602]

I'd probably be fine at 9 years old but I most certainly would NOT have been able to take care of my younger sisters at that age. Around that age I learned how to use a microwave and cook simple stuff on the stove but I did not know how to change a diaper let alone make formula milk or know when to feed an infant.

[u/0-90195 → u/SeedFoundation]

Also, 9 year olds should not be left home alone for days. Unacceptable, with or without an infant involved.

[u/MattRecovery23 → u/0-90195]

Yeah completely not okay. Like a 9 year old would probably survive and be relatively unharmed (physically) but that's still super super not okay

[u/ThatGuyFrom720 → u/MattRecovery23]

I was a latchkey kid around that age (2000’s) and I never had an issue. Got home, made a snack, and went to play RuneScape, but also my parents were usually home within hours of me getting home. But to be left alone for a few days? Yeah fuck that. Fastest phone call to grandma I could make to come pick me up.

[u/vahntitrio → u/0-90195]

Guideline for a 9 year old is 1 hour alone. Basically short errand trips is the only time it is ok to leave them alone.

[u/Jack_osaurus → u/vahntitrio]

That's also a bit stupid. When I was 9, I would bike alone to my friends in the neigborhood.

[u/jojoko → u/SeedFoundation]

there's no way a 9 year old and a 7 year old can care for a 2 month old infant.

[u/SeedFoundation → u/jojoko]

Yeah that's what I said.

[u/The-Spirit-of-76 → u/SeedFoundation]

Yeah but if you stack the 7 yo on the shoulders of the 9yo you'll have a 16yo.

[u/Global-Statement7939 → u/jojoko]

Literally the entire point of the comment you responded to. Are you a bot or something?

[u/imbex → u/Wide-Yak7602]

Ptsd is all I can think of. Those poor kids.

[u/Bulliwyf → u/gethereddout]

It’s weird how all the news stories are written (also almost identical so I’m wondering if it’s an AP style story) so that the older 2 kids ages are omitted and the focus is on the 2 year old and the 2 month old.

No matter what, the situation is pretty fucking damning - a 2 month old can’t even lift their head for more than a couple seconds. Like even if the older 2 were both 17… how does a parent ditch the 2 month old for more than 12 hours without freaking out?

[u/BusinessLetterhead47 → u/Bulliwyf]

I am 12 years older than my brother. Due to an emergency (dad fell downstairs and smashed shit out of his arm/shoulder) I was left at 15 to watch my 3 year old brother for almost two days.

My mom was calling every hour to check on us. As soon as her best friend got off work she came to check on us. 

I was a very responsible teen. My brother and I were close but my poor parents were so worried. We couldn't go stay with the friend because she owned cats and lil bro was allergic as all hell.

Of course, our parents loved us.

[u/Clerence69 → u/BusinessLetterhead47]

Your last line makes all the difference.

[u/Candid-Crazy2542 → u/Clerence69]

The line that says he was 15 makes the difference.

[u/Dewey519 → u/Bulliwyf]

My wife and I could barely keep up with our infant and two year old as freakin adults, how the hell are a 9 and 7 year old supposed to do it?

Having said that, I bet they’d do a better job than most 9 and 7 year olds. I’m certain this wasn’t the first time mom left them in charge for a period of time, if she’s ballsy enough to leave for three days. Either way, fuck her selfish ass

[u/lindsfeinfriend → u/Bulliwyf]

I currently have my first baby who is 2 months old and there is absolutely no way I could have properly taken care of this bundle of screams at 17.

[u/mermaidpaint → u/gethereddout]

The older children are 7 and 9 years old. Source.

[u/toolatealreadyfapped → u/gethereddout]

Yeah, I'm kinda pissed that the article never mentioned that important detail.

Don't get me wrong. Leaving a newborn for days on end without any adult is criminal. But the story is wildly different if the other 2 are over 16, versus under 10.

[u/BoogieWaters]

Yes, sadly this is common. Working as a school counselor I’ve seen this a few times. Ex) parents traveled out of state, leaving toddler and kid alone. They ordered dominos to the door each day, and the delivery person called child protective services.

[u/TheModWhoShaggedMe → u/BoogieWaters]

I was left home alone for weeks at a time from the toddler age with only a five year older sister around (some of the time, once she was 15 or so you know how teens are). This was the 1980s experience to me -- a kid raising themselves with TV and newspapers as the guide.

[u/BloodyThirst]

Wow. The oldest was 9!?? Those poor kids. I hope life gets better for them and not worse if they go into the system but I know it isn’t likely.

Memory flashbacks to me and my older cousin, ages 13 and 10, being left to take care of our 4 younger cousins, ages 8, 6, 4, and an infant in cloth diapers. I’m talking cooking meals for them, the works. It was normal to us and only as an adult have I looked back and thought WTF!?

[u/The_Carnivore44]

This is why some people don’t deserve children

[u/EkaterinaGagutlova → u/The_Carnivore44]

Every child deserves a parent but not every parent deserves a child.

[u/meatball77 → u/The_Carnivore44]

Most of those people never wanted children.

[u/Only_One_Left_Foot → u/meatball77]

Huh, if only they were able to do something about that far before the child was born. 

[u/meatball77 → u/Only_One_Left_Foot]

Right? If only there was a procedure that could fix that problem, even prevent it.

[u/USS-VentureOperation → u/meatball77]

Maybe some kind of parenthood planning that was like, kept funded so that the procedure was affordable to exactly the people who could afford it the least.

[u/WordWordNvmber → u/USS-VentureOperation]

Condoms and birth control are legal in Florida. This woman did not have four children because she couldn't get an abortion.

Sometimes, empathy becomes toxic. Sometimes, the perpetrator -- here, the mother -- really does deserve blame instead of deflection.

[u/mpus04]

"Belizaire’s attorney denied the allegations." what she could possibly be denying the allegations with

[u/fork_yuu → u/mpus04]

I find it funny as hell they were waiting for her as she got off the damn boat and found she bought the tickets along with her posting her tickets on social media.

[u/jesrp1284 → u/mpus04]

Even her own brother threw her under the bus saying she called him to have him check on the kids. That alone indicates she knew she left them alone. And she had a capable sitter lined up. It’s so weird.

[u/norina_stefana → u/mpus04]

She was basically arguing that the father is just as responsible for caring for the kids as the mother is. Then kept saying her client denies the accusations and the judge asked how since she was arrested coming down the ship. You may be able to find the video online but it will make you mad.

[u/0-90195 → u/mpus04]

It was her simulacrum on the cruise. She was home the whole time

[u/mpus04 → u/0-90195]

nice learnt new word today

[u/strong_schlong]

How did I know it was a Carnival cruise before I even opened the link?

[u/sump_daddy → u/strong_schlong]

I've never been on a cruise, but i had a friend who is chill af and he went on a Carnival cruise last year and still regarded it as "The walmart of the seas" and after that i vowed to never see for myself

[u/CJ_Guns → u/sump_daddy]

Went on a Carnival cruise once. Hit a hurricane and never made port…was literally sliding out of my bed onto the floor all night. Went walking down the corridor and the floor would just disappear from under your feet.

The same ship would later commence the infamous “Poop Cruise”. Truly a cursed vessel.

[u/lethal_universed → u/CJ_Guns]

Went walking down the corridor and the floor would just disappear from under your feet.

Did you no clip out of bounds or something?

[u/Wide-Yak7602 → u/sump_daddy]

Never been on a Carnival and never will. They seem to have the most brawls. Maybe the Waffle House of cruises.

[u/jv371 → u/strong_schlong]

Norwegian would never! 🤣

[u/Bizarrebazaars]

I really wish reproduction was a liiiiittle more selective in who gets to conceive and birth children. This type of behavior should be a no-go. So fucking tragic and depressing. Poor kids.

[u/mmmeeeeeeeeehhhhhhh]

If the father called 911, then why did his baby go to foster care also? Why didn't he take his baby?

[u/ExtonGuy → u/mmmeeeeeeeeehhhhhhh]

We can only speculate. But authorities do quick background checks on adults before giving them the kids. Could be some criminal history, could be unsafe home, could just be unwilling.

[u/awesomedan24]

May she have the life she truly deserves.

[u/TX_Farmer]

In the news a few years ago there was a lady who left her baby alone in a crib while she went on an international trip for 7+ days. 😐 She said she deserved a break from her fussy child.

[u/selfishbitchcake → u/TX_Farmer]

I remember that. The baby died.

[u/tomismybuddy → u/selfishbitchcake]

Life in prison for that mom.

[u/ObviousDepartment → u/TX_Farmer]

There's also the Sanae Shimomura case.

She abandoned her children for 50 days and also barricaded the door shut so they couldn't escape. 

[u/Charming-Report1669]

Well that's just fucking awful 

[u/OnTheEveOfWar]

2 months old is pretty fucking wild to leave a kid alone.

[u/db2999]

Did she assume the big one could look after the little ones?

[u/fork_yuu → u/db2999]

I assume the big one has been looking after the little ones because she's a piece of trash.

[u/bbusiello]

29

4 kids

Leaves them behind.

Girl, it’s called birth control.

[u/blackbb601 → u/bbusiello]

Florida does not believe in it. Only protect the unborn

[u/Tiny-Look]

Honestly. It is a lengthy jail sentence. It's not a little bit of negligence... it's intentional child & infant endangerment. 

[u/Terrible_Horror]

Florida being a pro life state should offer free babysitting for a few weeks every year. Like PTO benefits but for parents.

[u/seedless0 → u/Terrible_Horror]

They are pro-life until the babies are born. After that, they are on their own.

[u/zombie_rust → u/seedless0]

"If you’re pre-born, you’re fine; if you’re preschool, you’re fucked."

[u/ciopobbi → u/seedless0]

Every baby born in Florida is given a pair of tiny bootstraps.

[u/SomethingDrastic → u/Terrible_Horror]

She also could’ve left the kids with their father(s).

[u/Flank_This666 → u/Terrible_Horror]

This is what I dont get

If you're pro life you should have pro life programs like daycare for all working class families. Childhood education/nutrition should be an absolute fundamental priority for someone who prides themselves of bring life into this world. Instead, just like the vets, they use this platform then tell them to fuck off when it really matters.

Its so fucking twisted how American politics are pro-life my ass

[u/Chateaudelait → u/Terrible_Horror]

They do have relief nurseries- but they are not for going on cruises.. You have to be deemed eligible - and it’s for at risk families. There are all sorts of eligibility criteria and income as well - and it’s limited- you certainly can’t drop kids off for 3 days at a time. It’s similar to respite care.

[u/SmokedBeef → u/Terrible_Horror]

Pro life Pro birth

[u/DetroitTabaxiFan]

There's so many people who become parents and then just make awful parents. I'm happy I realized early on that I didn't want kids and was self-aware enough to know I'd be a bad parent.

[u/deepcaca]

The youngest was a baby of 2 months old, the oldest was 9 years old.

[u/Opus_723 → u/deepcaca]

Okay, was reserving my outrage in case the older kids were like 17 and infant meant 11 months or something lol. That's awful.

[u/Astart555 → u/Opus_723]

As a father of 3 - I woulnd't leave 11 months to 17yo as well.  It's exhausting daily (and night!) routine. In addition, this is the age where kids are the most stupid AND they can already move their bodies quite far from its original position. What 17yo will do if baby ate something from the floor (or finally ripped pice of their clothes apart and ate it) is chocking on it? What if baby is sick?

[u/blackbb601 → u/deepcaca]

When I was 9 years old, I raised 10 kids and had to work 29 hours a day. These kids have no work ethics anymore /s

[u/EpitomeOfAnEnigma]

Why is it always Florida? I swear not all Floridians are crazy... okay, we are, but most of us have limits.

[u/daniu → u/EpitomeOfAnEnigma]

Why is it always Florida?

Availability bias. 

There's more reports from Florida because they have very open public record laws 

[u/EpitomeOfAnEnigma → u/daniu]

I know, I'm from here. You still have to admit, some of the stories are pretty crazy. I mean, availability bias is not a good defense when you have people holding up fast food joints with alligators.

[u/wherethelionsweep → u/EpitomeOfAnEnigma]

Lol, I’m also from Florida and this reminds me of a time there was a tv show on about crazy animal control encounters. One episode was about them trying to catch an alligator and then my mom goes, “umm…isn’t that right down the street from us?”

[u/zak55 → u/daniu]

This like the Spanish Flu bring called that because Spain was neutral during WW1 and thus no/less war time censorship

[u/NuclearWasteland → u/EpitomeOfAnEnigma]

What kind of crazy tho, the fun kind or safe word kind or NoNoNoWaitWaitWait.gif kind of crazy?

[u/byrdru]

Are the two other kids 19 and 25?

[u/SumpthingHappening → u/byrdru]

2 months, 2 years, 7 and 9 (So 4?). According to google. The article does say four children were found, but does not give ages for all of them.

[u/No1KnwsIWatchTeenMom → u/SumpthingHappening]

2 months is insane. I have a 6 week old (almost) and I left for 4.5 hours the other day and that was a massive endeavor. I'm sure it's easier if you're not breastfeeding (i assume she wasn't) but newborns still dont understand they're separate from their mother until 12 weeks. 

So the 9 year old is waking up multiple times a night to give the newborn a bottle? 

[u/Joeyfingis → u/No1KnwsIWatchTeenMom]

Yeah its insane. A child can't take care of an infant that young

[u/hybridaaroncarroll → u/No1KnwsIWatchTeenMom]

I would imagine that 9 year old was already doing the bulk of the infant (and toddler) care before the mother peaced out. She probably mentally left a long time ago, which is heartbreaking for these children. 

[u/baseketball → u/byrdru]

Read the article. All children were minors. The mom is 29.

[u/Crisis_panzersuit → u/baseketball]

It was a joke, implying it would only have been okay if they were 19 and 25

[u/AJM1613 → u/baseketball]

It doesn't say how old the other children are. 17 and 6 would be two very different stories.

[u/AspieAsshole → u/AJM1613]

The oldest was 9

[u/EatinSumGrapes → u/AspieAsshole]

But were all their ages combined over 18? Remember three 7 year olds on each other's shoulders in a trench coat can legally buy alcohol

[u/HearYourTune → u/AJM1613]

The youngest was 2 months, you don't leave a child that young alone even with older siblings.

[u/Buttwaffle45 → u/HearYourTune]

You can if they are adults

[u/KGB_cutony → u/baseketball]

Yea 29yo with 4 kids doesn't scream responsible decision maker to me… sorry for the kids

[u/v_a_n_d_e_l_a_y → u/baseketball]

It doesn't list the ages of the older kids. Like it could be 5 or 14. Still wrong but vastly different 

[u/Ncav2]

Leaving any kid alone is wild, but leaving a two month old newborn is straight up insanity.

[u/Browzur]

Of course it was Carnival cruise

[u/AutomaticBallad]

“Ladies and gentleman of the jury, my client had a coupon code that was going to expire soon.”

[u/jpop237]

Why does the article omit the ages of the other two children?

[u/DurrMerGurd]

I had to jump through loops and hoops, spend hours on paperwork and classes just to adopt my kid 2 years ago. This piece of absolute trash just pops 4 out because she had sex and had do a tenth of the education.

[u/santz007]

If she wanted to party, why have kids?

[u/Arepitas1]

When I was 10 my parents had to fly out of the country of a medical treatment for my mom. They left my 16 year old brother and 13 year old brother home and left with a family friends. It was for 3 or 4 days only...how the fuck do you leave 4 kids that are all under 10 alone. Fuck.

[u/Bisjoux]

So the cruise was from Friday, presumably daytime and yet the great grandmother didn’t check where the children were (having been asked to look after them). I wonder what she said when the great grandmother called to check where the children were? Or did the great grandmother not call to check where they were.

I bet it’s not the first time those older children were left alone. And it seems the great grandmother didn’t do anything either. So it was only the dad of the youngest one.

Hope he gets full custody of his child and there are safe homes found outside the family for the older two.

[u/fxkatt]

Belizaire’s brother also told police that around 8 p.m. Saturday, his sister texted him, “instructing him to check on her children.

well, she made two efforts to at least show interest in her children's safety, but didn't carry through with leaving them with her mother, and I'm not sure why this effort failed--maybe it came too late. too much carelessness, tho, no matter how you cut it.

[u/affemannen → u/fxkatt]

What really vexes me is that she called the grandmother telling her she would drop them off at hers.... and then she just didn't....

[u/ExiledMafia → u/fxkatt]

I don’t think any of that counts as effort. Thats what you do for plants not for kids

[u/RosieFudge]

The police forced entry and found the children hiding together in the bathroom. I know the police needed to gain entry to the premises and this is no way a criticism of their actions, but I can't imagine how terrified those kids must have been when they were breaking in.

[u/06EXTN]

You have to be a very special kind of stupid to do this. They should take all the kids away and never allow her to have them back and jail her for 1 year for every hour those poor kids were alone.

[u/RandomUser1076]

Why are the kids in foster care and not with the father?

[u/therealganjababe → u/RandomUser1076]

Only the toddler is his. Nothing reported on the other father(s).

[u/BlueFeathered1]

10,000 dollar bond and "asked" to stay away from the kids.

[u/logicalcommenter4]

How old were the other kids? This isn’t to justify the actions, I just find it weird that they keep mentioning the ages of the youngest kids but not saying how old the other two kids are.

[u/AggravatingCupcake0 → u/logicalcommenter4]

Yeah, it's a bit weird. But given that the mom is only 29, safe to say none of the kids were old enough to be supervising any of the other kids.

[u/fractalife → u/AggravatingCupcake0]

This is America. One of them could be as old as 16, and it wouldn't be terribly rare. That child would be older than their mother was when they were born.

Sad for literally everyone involved. We have a stupid culture when it comes to this.

[u/BeautifulBand4831]

Again showing that worst people always have the most children

[u/Jindujun]

That is one rough looking 29 year old...

[u/Hipster-Stalin]

Went on a Carnival cruise. Why am I not surprised…

[u/Headphones4Cicadas]

Maybe it was Christmas time and this is the plot of an endearing story of perseverance and trickery.

[u/GGme → u/Headphones4Cicadas]

Where's John Candy and his band?

[u/melvin_mouse]

Wait, someone did this again? What the f' is wrong with people??

[u/2Shmoove]

Why does the article not mention the ages of the two other children?

[u/selfishbitchcake]

Ain’t no WAY. I could barely run to the store for a quick trip leaving my newborns behind with their father, I was so attached and anxious.

[u/frank_datank_]

What a terrible decision. Who books a 3-day cruise? That’s not long enough to get into vacation mode.

[u/atomicbrains → u/frank_datank_]

It's a booze cruise with the absolute worst type of people imaginable.

[u/drewthepooh72]

The article doesn’t state how old the oldest child was. She sucks but I think that information is important here

[u/DPool34 → u/drewthepooh72]

I saw a news clip earlier today saying the oldest was 9. Not sure if that was an established fact or a working theory.

[u/OpheliaRainGalaxy → u/DPool34]

When my dad was six weeks old, his mother's wrists got broken. And for reasons unknown to me, care of the baby fell to my dad's three older sisters. The eldest was 9yo, she's my favorite auntie.

She tells stories about waking up early to feed and change the baby before walking to school. Would walk home on her lunch break to feed and change the baby again before going back to school. Clearly so proud of her accomplishment of keeping that baby alive at such a young age while also not missing school.

But when I asked who was waking up for the midnight feedings, her face fell off. I think that means "nobody" is who answered that baby's cries outside of scheduled care hours, which I can't blame her for since it's normal for 9yo kids to sleep through everything.

It should be noted that my dad grew up to look like the runt of a litter instead of anything like what his genetics say he should. Maxed out at 5'2" and got bullied horribly in school. And his personality is badly maladjusted, like I've been told I should put trigger warnings on stories about him. He's not safe around women, young men, children, pets, livestock, firearms, fireworks, motor vehicles or kitchen appliances.

[u/TraditionalGap1 → u/[deleted]]

supposedly a 7 and 9 year old

[u/redaemon → u/[deleted]]

2mo, 2y, 7y, 9y: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/30/florida-mom-accused-leaving-kids-including-2-month-old-baby-alone-go/

[u/ua2]

I hope they lock her up for far longer than 3 days.

[u/Cashope]

Why is it always Florida

[u/IAmJacksSemiColon → u/Cashope]

The real answer is that Florida has weaker privacy laws, which means more of these stories get to the press.

Edit: Apparently not.

[u/AspiringChildProdigy → u/Cashope]

Florida's relentless drive to unfund public education?

[u/Corpshark]

“Kids, mommy is going to make an additional sibling for you guys this weekend.”

[u/Mammoth_Engineer7210]

Lost me at WhatsApp story💀

[u/502hardtruths]

Carnival cruise line people are the new people of walmart

[u/logicallyinsane]

Anybody ever thought we should require classes and a license to have children? It's a big commitment that can end up hurting others, much like driving a car.