Around 3 p.m. this afternoon, in the playground at the apartments where Mrs Chad works, Rebecca (just turned 5 years old) was found hung by a jump rope on the play gym. Rebecca's mom was in her apartment while she was outside playing. Based on what is being said from the medical folks she had hung for 15 minutes or so before being found by a 13 year old boy whose screams brought adults. The boy's dad cut her down and tried to revive her until the first responders got there. They, and the ER docs didn't have any luck.


Younger Parents,

Small children should never ever have rope or string or anything like it that is strong enough to choke them. Ever.
You always hear the parents of children who meet a fate similar to Rebacca's say "I only turned my back for a second!" (exactly what she told police) and that's all it takes. The solution, don't turn your back. Don't kick your kids loose to run around without you. You have to keep them safe because they don't always know what is or isn't dangerous. Their survival depends on you.



I'm keeping my opinions on the matter to myself.



Edit: Scroll down for update.

Oh my god. Speechless.... just prayers sent. And give Mrs Chad an extra hug from me too.

Sad news.

Prayers for her family.

I have no words! prayers sent!

Totally Speechless. Prayer Sent

Gawd, this brings back horrible memories...

Prayers for family and friends.

Just found out that the mother's been arrested and the CPS took her two younger sons. One a toddler and one an infant.

And that is exactly what should have happend! Who the heck lets their 5 year old play on a public play ground without supervision!!!???

Making a bad situation worse, maybe?
Or protecting the other young ones?

Be interesting to hear why they decided that.

sad deal

the second question you asked.

Terrible news, I couldn't imagine having to be in that situation. I can take anything life has to throw at me just don't let anything happen to my kiddo

So sad and unnecessary. Prayers sent

I think many of us were wondering why a 5 y/o would be outside unsupervised. I do think it was a good move by CPS to protect the younger children. By the same token and young mother with a 5 y/o, a toddler, and an infant has her hands more than full just caring for all three.

Serious question here: What age is "old enough" to play outside unsupervised? My wife is pretty hyper-protective, while I tend to lean toward the side that lets 'em ride bikes without helmets, buys 'em a trampoline (Er, Santa did that, actually.), climb trees, walk down to their friends house on the block, etc. Just curious how young is too young for most parents in here.

I'm so sorry to hear that.


Fishbrain, I agree with what you do. My niece is 7 and holds a conversation, knows complex dance routines, and makes a mean Mac 'n Cheese on the stove. Not bad for a 6-7 year old, but not sure I'd let her or my (future) kids play alone till maybe 2-3 grade (how old is that?). That's when I remember playing around, riding bikes, throwing rocks, and having all sorts of other unsupervised times.

Horrible situation, prayers sent for the family!

Actually, I remember being in 1-3rd grade before we moved to a house and I ran all over up and down the apartment complex with kids my age. How old is that?

very sad situation

i would not let my children play anywhere unsupervised at 5 yo. we started giving them some space at around 8, now the youngest is almost 12 and he can go anywhere in the neighborhood without any issue.

1st grade starts (usually) at age 6, 3rd at 8. My son is 8.

Each kid is different. In Rebecca's case 5 is too young. I don't want to get into an argument about what age is old enough. Our job is to protect them from harm. If a child is too young to know what's dangerous and have the wherewithal to avoid the dangers, that's too young.

This whole thing is affecting Mrs Chad in an unexpected way. Back in the day she watched her older brother's girlfriend's kids a lot. Like they lived with her for months on end while their mom was on the road with Mrs Chad's brother who drove a truck. More than enough to have a strong bond with them. One day the kids' mom was passed out on the couch when one of the kids (a toddler) got into her pills and died from overdose. The mom went to jail and the other kids went to live with family far away. This child that she loved was dead and the others were gone from her life. She's dealing with all that again tonight.

Other tragedies involved, I hear that the kid who found her is taking it pretty hard, along with his dad who cut her down and tried to revive her until the first responders arrived. The first responders and the folks at the ER will also lay awake tonight thinking about the one they couldn't help. The police have yet another story to shake their heads about. The girl's dad has to come to terms with the loss, and I'd imagine he'll have to figure out how to not blame the mom. Mrs Chad's boss, the lady who runs the place, aged ten years today in anger at herself because she feels like this happened on her watch.

The only good that can come from this is that maybe some parents will hear the story and keep a closer eye on their kids, possibly preventing more tragedy. This was the intent of my post.

I don't want an argument either, Chad--just curious how other parents view this.

Hope your wife is okay, bud--prayers for her and the family of the little girl.

I was thinking they were at least 7 or 8 before they were given a bit more freedom.

The way things are now I am not sure I would let a 7 or 8 y/o run around an apartment complex unsupervised. It is a little different if you have a house with a fenced backyard or if there are several children the same age that play together at each other's home.

Well sounds like mom had other isseues than just turning her back for a minute (or 20)!

My girl was NOT the athleete type so I had to watch\help.

My niece on the other hand can do it all, every kid is diffrent.