This past Spring, I had the privilege of accompanying my best friend and her daughter to the Louisville Zoo. We had a great day, minus the fact that there was a large crowd. However, there was something I noticed that day that baffled me, and it really sheds some light on recent news headlines. Everywhere I turned, there was a child walking or running, unattended, and absolutely no adult in sight. Kids were running in front of people who were trying to walk and parents pushing strollers, and there was no authoritative figure around to control or discipline these small children. The question then began to creep into my mind: Why are these parents not enjoying the zoo with their children?
When I read about the small child that fell into the gorilla pit last weekend, I honestly was not surprised. However, I was surprised that the mother, Michelle Gregg, downplayed the incident and said, "accidents happen." Hold on a second. What? Your child fell into a gorilla pit and you're calling it an accident? Spilling milk on the floor is an accident and wetting the bed is an accident, but your child climbing over, according to RT.com, "a series of barriers" and falling into a wild animal enclosure is not an accident. That is a serious lack of parenting skills.
Now I sure don't have kids, so I get that my opinion on childcare is pretty much irrelevant, but hold on. I have worked in daycares long enough, and have been around my best friend's daughter enough, to know that if you take your eyes off of a toddler for a split second, they are either into something they aren't supposed to be into or somewhere they aren't supposed to be. You have to keep your eyes on them at all times, or keep their hand in yours to make sure they are close, especially being in an extremely crowded, public place with tons of other tiny children.
Here's the next question I know that will get thrown at me: "If it was your child in that gorilla pit fighting for his life, you would want them to kill the animal, too." Absolutely, 100% true. If my child's life was at stake, you best believe I would be shooting that animal myself. With that being said, it would never be an issue, because my child would be at my side at all times or sitting their butt in a stroller when they aren't listening. In fact, I would be having too much fun with my child. The zoo is such a fun and exciting time! I would be taking their pictures and clinging to them to see their reaction to all the animals because at each age they have a different reaction.
I'll end this with a quote from the Facebook post Michelle Gregg made about her eventful day at the zoo. "As a society we are quick to judge about how a parent could take their eyes off of their child and if anyone knows me I keep a tight watch on my kids." Well, the "tight watch" you kept on your kid landed him in a gorilla exhibit. And the gorilla is dead. I suppose accidents do just happen.
