In England the McCanns would be arrested

[LostPuppy]

Off the bat, I of course hope with all my heart that Madeleine is returned safely

But her "parents" are a disgrace. They left Madeleine and two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie sleeping in the apartment ON THEIR OWN. They had taken turns to return from the restaurant to check on their children.

Now hang on! In this country that is illegal, for very good reason.

Even if they 'checked on them' every five minutes that's plenty of time for one of the kids to wake up and try to go to the toilet and crack it's head open slipping on the bathroom floor, or something equally disastrous. They'd never hear the screaming from a bloody restaurant down the road!

Obviously it's unlikely, but I just cant comprehend the mentality of leaving three children under 3 alone on their own, ever, let alone at night in a foreign country!

So what is judging then. If you say you wouldn?t do something that someone else would, does that mean you judge those who would? If you would never give your children fruit shoots, does that make you judgemental of those that would? Would never smack/would never give formula/would never give coke. Are you judgemental of anyone who lives a different lifestyle to you? It?s not that black and white surely.

Wannabe - I'm sorry but you have no more idea of why the McCanns were reinterviewed than of whether there are aliens in space!

If people want to continue the kind of speculation that has caused so much discord on MN over the last few weeks, that is fine.

But I am off. I have no interest in being part of that!

Dogsbollox, that is so true. Its absolutely pathetic when it comes to this - people picking over the 'what ifs' like a pack of vultures.

I'm off to force feed my son a fruit shoot...

I think that the ignorant, malicious and frankly evil comment that started this threat can be explained by the fact that LostPuppy and sick people like him/her can't bear the thought that bad things happen to you when you haven't done anything to deserve them. What has happened to Madeleine and her family is so horrific it is painful to think about, so we look for explanation, or reason. Immature minds which are incapable of recognising that bad things happen sometimes just because they do will always rush to blame someone or something - it makes them feel secure and protected.

i heard there were anonymous accusations that the mccanns stayed seated at their table all night. who knows whether this is true or not? but if they had a monitor then tbh i don't see a problem with this.

i was amazed that they had left the patio door open, thinking if the children needed to escape they could have used the main door. but that was before i realised it was an apartment and not a hotel room. i am assuming because it was an apartment if you locked the door it could not be opened from the inside.

i see mini dresses and think they are gorgeous, but i wouldn't wear them.

i see the new BMW and think its a stunning car, but its not suited to me and my family.

I love the idea of all organic homemade food, but it just isn't possible within my budget and time.

you see, just because there are things you wouldn't do doesn't mean you judge others that will.
those who say " i wouldn't have left my children but i guess they couldnt have imagined going back to find their daughter missing" are giving their opinion.

those who say " they are disgusting, how could they leave three children so young. io hope they feel guilty" ARE BEING JUDGMENTAL. it may be only a subtle difference but a difference all teh same

Yes mama, and with that they also imply "so it wouldn't happen to me..."
Good luck to them in their smuggery.

What a gret apost, by Wannabe @ 21.45.
I agree with everthing she said.
I was shocked and knew that I never would have done what they did, when I first heard.

And I was ona similar (mind you First choice is totally family orientaed, whereas MW does not sound as much), 2 days after, the actaiul first news report.

The McCanns have used the medai to their advantage ,a s does every other famour person - the Beckhams - Britney - Naomi Campbell - WHEN it SUITS them.

Just becsue I wouldn't , and even before the madeleine case, would never have considered leaving ds alone, on our recent holiday, doesn't mean I don't have every sympathy. and I don't believe they bought it on themselves.
As another poster said, one idea does not prevent the other.

binkleandflip: I am sorry I now see that you weren't speculating. Misunderstood you. Can't keep up. This is frantic.

hope that you all have a good night

NA ? not necessarily true re Appt?s having a lockable door ? I have stayed in Appt?s in Greece, Cyprus, Tunisia and Australia where the door was locked from intrusion from the outside ( a key was needed to get in), but once inside only the ability to turn the handle was required to open the door.

Mine are all grown and I can say I didn't leave them alone. Not for fear of strangers and abduction. Due to the nature of children and the accidents that are waiting to happen given the chance. My eldest would fall out of every strange bed she ever slept in, leaving her alone for 45-60 mins would have been disasterous.

I don't understand about MW holidays. Every med country we have holidayed in has been so very child friendly. Children are actively welcomed into restaurants, so why aren't they on the MW resorts?

We took family holidays as a family, which meant we stayed, swam and ate as a family as we didn't have much time in our day to day life to. Once or twice we took the nanny but on those occasions the nanny would join us in our activities, more often than not. We used to have 1-2 nights alone on those holidays. None on nanny free ones.

No one is saying they deserve this tragedy but they did act irresponsibly. Everyone only wants a happy ending but we have the right to discuss events.

Unfortunately, the media furore has stoked this into a frenzy, but so has the internet. People don't just discuss things at the school gates anymore. The internet turns things, look at what happened in big brother.
The campaigns that internet start can be detremantal. As long as things are agreed by the police and the family, fair enough. But it sickens me to have these yellow days and ribbons and the emails landing in my inbox.

Like I said I want a happy ending and so do everyone else. We don't need hysteria or being told what not to discuss.

Thats ok toughdaddy, didnt mean to offend, good night to you too.

Bigbird, you're right about the internet. I also think a lot of people are hiding behind their computer screens and saying things they know full well are in pretty poor taste.
I bet the OP wouldn't have dared to make such inflammatory remarks at the school gates for fear of coming across as a miserable, hating git and losing their kid future birthday party invitations.

Actually loveangel, this is the ONLY place I have heard anyone being nice about their decision to go out and leave those 3 babies.

Everywhere else I have heard or taken part in a discussion (in real life) everyone I have spoken to, berates that decision

No one is saying it serves them right, but their original decision is highly questionable

And will repeat, all anyone wants is a happy resolution to this sad event regardless of how they feel towards the parents

I just wish this thread would be deleted..It just seem piss poor to have it on here, when surely whatever anyone thinks about the rights and wrongs, there cant be one of us who doesnt feel really sorry for the parents and want Madeleine back with them safe and sound?
Or just the thread title changed..just seems in pretty bad taste to me..

Well you obviously live in a very different part of Britain to me then bigbird.

Goodnight all.

Message withdrawn

do you not think in real life people are more likely to say they would never leave their kids even if they would/have though.

Night, LoveAngel

Message withdrawn

UCM, We have been discussing this for days now. Since dd1 was 6 months we have been to various "Luxury Family Hotels", Ickworth, Calcot Manor, Watergate Bay, and Bedruthan Steps. We chose these because we could all have a well deserved rest, be looked after and so that dh and I could have dinner in the evening, knowing that our dd's were safe in bed and were constantly being monitored by the reception staff, and that we would be told as soon as any noise was heard from the children.

This has worked perfectly well for the last four years, we are now both questioning whether on not we should do this on our next holiday, we still haven't decided. I think there are alot of other mners out there who are also in the same posistion, but are affraid to say that they do take this kind of family holiday in case they are completely slated.

If anyone cares to look at the top UK Hotel recommendation list on MN, the hotels we have used are there. I don't think this is purely for the decor and menus, I'm sure it is also because they offer good child care facillities.

I hope other MNers feel able to give UCM a truthful answer, I would like to know their thoughts too.

no i think people who say they wouldn't leave their kids in such a scenario mean it

I think the distinction being made (rightly or wrongly) is one of being in the same building and being some distance away.

I MIGHT have left three children in an apartment to go and eat 30 metres away,... maybe if my twins were in cots and I had told my nearly 4 year old that me and Daddy would be out but would be coming straight back, in case she woke up... and if the resort I was staying in was small and peaceful and the only other guests were friendly families with little children,....and it was a quiet residential area,... which appeared to be full of retired English people,.... with no night clubs or traffic,.... and the days were warm, and I was relaxed and I let down my guard.

Yes I might have made that same mistake. And I'm sure I'm not alone.