IN - Boys, 7 & 4, found alone watching ‘Home Alone’, Muncie, Delaware County, 18 Dec 2018

[cybervampira]

Mom faces neglect charges after children found alone watching ‘Home Alone’ | WTOP

A mother in Indiana is facing neglect charges after her two young children were found home alone — and watching the classic Christmas movie, “Home Alone,” police said.

Police received an anonymous tip on Tuesday that two children were left unattended at a residence in Muncie, Indiana. The investigating officer found a 7-year-old boy and his 4-year-old brother inside the home with no adults, according to the arrest affidavit.

Police told ABC Indianapolis affiliate WRTV that the boys happened to be watching “Home Alone,” a 1990 film about the adventures of a mischievous 8-year-old who is accidentally left behind when his family takes a trip to Paris for Christmas.

But the boys in Muncie weren’t left home by mistake, police said.

Their mother, 25-year-old Taylor Joann Cumings, was contacted at her place of work and told police she had to leave the youngsters alone because couldn’t find a babysitter. She said she had done so “previously but rarely,” according to the arrest affidavit.

Cumings was arrested Tuesday afternoon on two felony charges of neglect of a dependent. She remained jailed Wednesday in Delaware County on $10,000 bond, police said.

The boys were placed under care of their aunt, according to WRTV.

Woman defends her decision to leave her young children at home alone

Police: Indiana boys left at home alone were watching 'Home Alone'

Muncie mom arrested after leaving kids home alone shares her story

Muncie mom in home alone allegations: 'I'm not a bad parent, I'm not a joke'

 

[mickey2942]

I can't really blame this gal. At least she was at work, not out partying. And she hasn't hooked up with some who "watches" her kids while she is at work.

She doesn't even have money to pay bail, at Christmas.

This could be a custody child support thing, Father watches her leave to go to work, after he bailed on watching the kids, and calls CPS on her.

There may be much more to the story. And really, was this an offense for jail? Seems like she needs help, not punishment. I guess she will be fired from her job, probably homeless soon. And once you become homeless, it is an impossible task to get back.

 

[MediocreJelly]

This just reads to me like a really sad situation, not a crime. She wouldn't be at work if she didn't care about them. Not everybody has a support system.

 

[mickey2942]

Now, we can see how so many women with children end up with "boyfriends" who abuse their kids. They end up with out any choices. Or the homeless shelter. Or the whole thing is so depressing and hopeless they turn to drugs, or abusing and neglecting their kids. It is tragic, especially when the Father bails out on child support.

And we see how "easy" it is with kids, to go to the state agency for child care subsidies. https://www.google.com/amp/s/ktla.c...aby-from-woman-at-food-assistance-center/amp/

And really, are daycare centers safe anylonger? https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wf...ged-with-child-abuse-in-clearwater/1520139720

Not in any way defending leaving 2 young children home alone...but it is sad that this young Mother had no one to help her. It takes a village to raise a child. The village isn't helping much.

 

[cybervampira]

Now, we can see how so many women with children end up with "boyfriends" who abuse their kids. They end up with out any choices. Or the homeless shelter. Or the whole thing is so depressing and hopeless they turn to drugs, or abusing and neglecting their kids. It is tragic, especially when the Father bails out on child support.

And we see how "easy" it is with kids, to go to the state agency for child care subsidies. https://www.google.com/amp/s/ktla.c...aby-from-woman-at-food-assistance-center/amp/

And really, are daycare centers safe anylonger? https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wf...ged-with-child-abuse-in-clearwater/1520139720

Not in any way defending leaving 2 young children home alone...but it is sad that this young Mother had no one to help her. It takes a village to raise a child. The village isn't helping much.

True. But the good news about the village is this:

Cumings said she received an outpouring of support from the community. Some people have made donations to her and her family, while others have offered kind words and many have offered to help her with child care. From here, police will hand the case to the Delaware County Prosecutor's Office to decide what, if any charges they will file.

 

[oceanstarryeyes]

I can't really blame this gal. At least she was at work, not out partying. And she hasn't hooked up with some ******* who "watches" her kids while she is at work.

She doesn't even have money to pay bail, at Christmas.

This could be a custody child support thing, Father watches her leave to go to work, after he bailed on watching the kids, and calls CPS on her.

There may be much more to the story. And really, was this an offense for jail? Seems like she needs help, not punishment. I guess she will be fired from her job, probably homeless soon. And once you become homeless, it is an impossible task to get back.

I’m glad someone cared enough to report her.

 

[human]

I am glad someone(s) care enough to help her. Poverty sucks.

 

[Jennifer17]

I’m glad someone cared enough to report her.

I think that it is a shame that that person reported her instead of helping her.

 

[mickey2942]

I am glad that she is getting help.

 

[2Hope4]

It the house had caught fire? If someone had broken in? Someone had stolen her kids? Kids ate something poisonous, or some other situation that resulted in serious injury or death... would it still be OK they were left alone? There's obviously an aunt in the lives, per the articles above, why wasn't she called to watch them?

 

[human]

People do not get to live on welfare. There is a five year lifetime limit.

What exactly are poor people supposed to do?She probably has a job with no sick days. Is Indiana a right to work state? She could be fired. Then what.

 

[oceanstarryeyes]

Now, we can see how so many women with children end up with "boyfriends" who abuse their kids. They end up with out any choices. Or the homeless shelter. Or the whole thing is so depressing and hopeless they turn to drugs, or abusing and neglecting their kids. It is tragic, especially when the Father bails out on child support.

And we see how "easy" it is with kids, to go to the state agency for child care subsidies. https://www.google.com/amp/s/ktla.c...aby-from-woman-at-food-assistance-center/amp/

And really, are daycare centers safe anylonger? https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wf...ged-with-child-abuse-in-clearwater/1520139720

Not in any way defending leaving 2 young children home alone...but it is sad that this young Mother had no one to help her. It takes a village to raise a child. The village isn't helping much.

A Solution to that problem would be State Owned Day Care Centers for Families that qualify for help. The Day Care would collect payment off the top of Child Support or directly from the Fathers for Dead Beat Dads.

Another Solution would be the Mothers Employer paying for Day Care with a tax incentive from the State for reimbursement.

 

[oceanstarryeyes]

I feel bad for the Mom in jail on Christmas and the kids but where does she work and why didn’t she just say that her 4 year old baby was sick and that she had no babysitter to babysit her sick 4 year old and her 7 year old child?
Where are the Fathers?
It’s never Safe to leave small children all alone.

 

[mickey2942]

People do not get to live on welfare. There is a five year lifetime limit.

What exactly are poor people supposed to do?She probably has a job with no sick days. Is Indiana a right to work state? She could be fired. Then what.

There is a regular checker at the Albertsons by my house, she only gets paid sick leave when she is off for three or more days, with a doctor's note. And since she has no paid health insurance, except for Medicaid, for her kids, a copay for the visit is $50.

So, taking time off work, could end up costing a lot of money. Or even getting fired, and jobs are not that easy to find, contrary to what everyone says.

Yes, where are the Fathers...every Mother should say, "There, but for the Grace of God...that could be me.". Luck of the draw. Life is not fair.

 

[oceanstarryeyes]

Leaving two small children home alone to go to work to make money is no different then sitting a hungry kitten in the middle of a busy highway so you can go inside the store to buy cat food.

 

[Indy Anna]

I feel bad for the Mom in jail on Christmas and the kids but where does she work and why didn’t she just say that her 4 year old baby was sick and that she had no babysitter to babysit her sick 4 year old and her 7 year old child?
Where are the Fathers?
It’s never Safe to leave small children all alone.

I haven't seen anyone here saying it's acceptable to leave young children home alone...just that this woman needs help so she has other options.

She may have already used all of her sick days, since it's the end of the year. Also, some employers are very inflexible with giving employees time off, especially around the holidays because that's when almost everyone wants to take off. So, if something comes up, like a child or the regular baby sitter is sick, it's not easy to find child care on the spur of the moment.

I hope this woman does get plenty help so that in the future she knows she has other options.

 

[human]

And with some jobs there are zero sick days allowed.