To the Editor,
Last year, a close friend of ours experienced every parent’s worst nightmare. His young son was forgotten in a vehicle on the way to daycare — while our friend’s office sat literally next door.
Like many in our community, we followed the story with shock and heartbreak. We told ourselves it was an unimaginable tragedy. Something that could never happen to us.
But over the months that followed, one thought kept coming back to us.
The tragedy wasn’t that nobody cared.
The tragedy was that nobody knew.
His son was expected at daycare that morning. Yet nobody ever had to confirm he actually made it inside.
Everyone assumed. But nobody knew.
And there is a big difference between the two.
We assume the child was dropped off. The daycare assumes the child isn’t coming. The driver assumes the child was brought inside.
Good people doing their best can all make the same assumption at the same time.
Our friend once shared a thought with us that we haven’t been able to forget:
“If someone had known my son wasn’t in daycare that morning, my son would still be here today.”
Not if someone cared more. Not if someone tried harder. Simply if someone knew.
In his memory, and in the hope that another family never has to experience the pain that his family lives with every day, we have decided to partner with Kido and provide their check-in terminals to Lakewood daycares — for free.
We know cost can be a reason daycares hold back. So we wanted to take that off the table.
If it helps prevent even one tragedy, it will be worth it. To date, this system has already helped save five lives.
May his precious Neshama continue to be a source of protection and inspiration for our community, and may we only share besuros tovos.
Sincerely,
Elazar and Rachel Brody
TLS welcomes your letters by submitting them to us via Whatsapp or via email [email protected]
ashreicha! kol hakovod!
This is a true need! A babysitter recently told me she saved a baby’s life by BOTHERING the parents at work to find out why their child did not come to her babysitting group. THE BABY WAS FORGOTTEN IN THE CAR!! The mother was teaching a class, I believe when she was called out to answer the babysitter’s call. It really does happen!!
תבוא עליכם ברכה
This is a great project.
A maamin never looks back & says,”if someone had noticed my son missing at the daycare, he would still be alive” This was part of the gezeirah, that no one should notice. There was no outright negligence not to notice. A Yid looks to the future & does his best to prevent tragedies from reoccuring, he never looks back. Rav Chaim Kaniyevsky said that the worst statement in the Chazon Ish’s eyes was, “I should have”. Hashem did whatever should have been done whether we understand it or not.
How much does it cost per daycare center?
As a playgroup morah , i have a rule if your child is Not coming or is coming late . Text or call me. It doesnt matter winter spring summer or fall always communicate.
If a parent forgets at a specific time depending on what time the child ussally comes i call the parent. Or text them. If the is no responce than i call the emergancy contact. Which is visual at all times.
I only had to do it once. For i could not get through to both parents. Bh i ended up getting through to the emergancy contact . For the child ended up being left home by herself. Child was 2yr old. Reason being the child didnt feel well. The mother went to work and told the husband to stay home but he forgot.
As a teacher it is important for us to update the parents and make sure the children are safe in school. As a mother even if my child is in elementary school i always let the school know that my child wasmt coming or coming late.