Strollerderby : madeleine mccann

McCann’s Cleared As Suspects in Daughter’s Disappearance

Cole Gamble — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:00:00 GMT

Due to a lack of sufficient evidence, Portuguese police are saying there will likely be no charges against Kate and Gerry McCann in the disappearance of their almost 4-year-old daughter Madeleine over a year ago.

While the McCanns look to be cleared as suspects, there is still no doubt as to their gross negligence…

In their original statement, the McCanns said they left Madeleine unsupervised in a ground floor holiday apartment with her 2-year-old twin siblings while the adults dined at a restaurant 130 yards away. The night of Madeleine’s disappearance, the McCanns tucked their kids in at 6pm; left the apartment unlocked and toddled off to have dinner with friends. When they returned 4 hours later they found Madeleine gone and a bedroom window open.

The story may not be over yet. A glimmer of hope lives in that Madeleine could still be out there. Despite their apparent exoneration, I should think the McCanns guilt weighed heavier than any possible legal trouble. To a small degree we have all done this, taken our kids to the park, got wrapped up in conversation and took our eyes off the kids for a moment. And who hasn’t lost their child at a department store? What the McCanns did however, was more willful. That night they thought what they did was safe and it is tempting for any of us to think so, that we could just leave our kids for a blessed moment of peace. This is a frightening example of how parenting is a 24-hour a day job.

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Madeleine McCann: Are You Thinking Twice Now About Hotel Childcare?

Karen Murphy — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 18:29:00 GMT

The story of the disappearance of Madeleine McCann from her parent's hotel room is by now a familiar one. The latest word has it that her parents have been absolved of any role in what happened to Madeleine, but it now leaves parents everywhere wondering what did happen. And for families who travel, there's something else: how much can you trust hotel child care?

I don't travel much with my kids these days, and when I was traveling a lot I wouldn't have considered hotel childcare as an option (that would have been a failure as a parent somehow in my eyes; isn't that crazy?), so I'm not the person to ask about this. But tons of parents rely on hotel childcare so they can get a bit of alone time or have a nice dinner in peace while the kids get enough sleep.

But a family travel website survey showed that the majority of parents surveyed would now be less likely to use hotel childcare services because of the Madeleine McCann story.

What about you? Will this affect your plans? How do you feel about hotel child care anyway?

Photo: caribbeanblog.canalblog.com

Missing Madeleine: Police Asking Vacationers to Upload Photos to Help

Rachael Brownell (Redsy) — Tue, 22 May 2007 16:58:00 GMT

Vacationers at the resort in Portugal where Madeleine McCann disappeared May 3rd, are being asked to submit any vacation photos for the two week period before Madeleine's abduction.

Anyone staying at the Ocean Club Resort in Praia da Luz or surrounding areas are asked to look closely at any vacation pictures and take note of suspicious looking people in the background.

Photos should be uploaded to a special Web site www.madeleine.ceopupload.com

Missing Madeleine Captures World's Attention, Brings Up Parenting Issues

Stefania Pomponi Butler (CityMama) — Fri, 18 May 2007 16:29:00 GMT

By now you've probably read about Madeleine McCann, the four-year-old British girl that went missing from her parents' hotel room in Portugal on May 3.

Despite a massive search, pleas from celebrities like David Beckham, and a multi-million dollar reward, the little girl has not been found.

The story brings up a touchy parenting issue with cultural overtones: whether it's appropriate to leave small children alone at home or in a hotel room as the case maybe. In some cultures, it's acceptible to leave strollers outside shops and restaurants while parents browse or eat inside.

Kate and Gerry McCann left Madeleine and her sleeping younger siblings asleep alone in their hotel room while they had dinner "50 meters away." They felt it appropriate to do so even though the resort at which they were staying offered a nightly babysitting service. The McCanns say they took turns checking on the kids throughout their meal. Then they returned home to find a parent's worst nightmare had become a reality.

Anyway you slice it, this story is heartbreaking. The McCanns surely feel responsible for the choice they made, but I have to admit, I've thought about just dashing to the corner store for milk or whatever while my small kids napped. I've even gone so far as mentally timed how long I'd be gone ("just 5 minutes maybe less").

Perhaps what has captured parents' hearts everywhere is that we can all relate to wanting time alone. We've all been in a quiet house with kids fast asleep and thought, "What if?" It's tempting isn't it? But then, there are always those worst case scenarios that creep into your head.

I wish Madeleine a safe return and my heart goes out to her parents.