When you send your kid to daycare, there are lots of things you worry about while you’re away. Will the other kids be nice? Oh god, will MY kid be nice? Will they miss me too much while I’m gone? I hope they like their teacher. But among the many, many things on your list of worries, I'm willing to bet this one has never crossed your mind: I hope my kid doesn't bust outta' daycare and wind up near a highway.
And yet, that's exactly what happened at one daycare in Louisiana, when daycare workers weren't looking.
The incident happened March 22 at Color Wheel Learning Center in Prairieville. And it wasn't just one toddler that sprung loose -- it was FOUR!
According to WBRZ, daycare workers were apparently left scratching their heads as to how a group of 1-year-olds escaped the fenced-in play area outside the center. But the fact that they were later found wandering the parking lot — which is right near a busy highway, where any number of terrible things could have happened to them — has left people shocked.
Luckily, a passing driver spotted the diaper-clad escape artists, rounded them up, and brought them back into the daycare center.
Honestly, I'm glad this story has a happy ending, but I mean … can you even imagine? One minute you're driving along the highway, the next you see a bunch of babies toddling next to the road, completely unattended.
But here's the real kicker: This isn't the first time this has happened at the facility.
(Oh, how I wish I were joking.)
According to WBRZ*,* there have been multiple incidents of toddlers escaping the daycare. Multiple!
The last incident happened in October, when a staff member found a child alone in the parking lot and took the youngster inside. The incident was later reported, and the Department of Education licensing division came in for a full inspection and cited the center for lack of supervision.
But apparently, that wasn't quite enough.
Following this latest incident, however, the daycare center's license has been fully revoked -- along with its two other locations.
The daycare has 15 calendar days to appeal the decision, but it's unclear whether that will happen. After all, I can't imagine many parents will be eager to bring their toddlers back after hearing this latest story.
As news of the incident continues to make headlines, it's left many locals shocked and concerned.
"Thank goodness nothing happened to those babies," wrote one Facebook user. "My kids have gone here," wrote another. "I’m literally in shock that this could have happened."
"This is so sad for many reasons," added one mother. "First as a parent, this would be terrifying and I’m so grateful they were found before something serious happened. There are now families who relied on their care who have to find a place for their kids and waiting lists tend to be long. And now many women are out of jobs and I know they loved the kids they cared for. This just breaks my heart."
Believe it not, this isn't the only daycare center where this has happened, either.
Just last year, a 2-year-old escaped a daycare center in Texas and was found crawling by a busy road.
The child's mother, Dalia Castro, was understandably upset when she heard the news — but she was livid at the way the daycare handled the situation.
"The first thing she told me was, 'You are going to be pissed off — it's about your son,'" the mom told KPRC in Houston. "The cops are here if you can get here as soon as possible."
In less than a minute, the toddler had apparently run half a mile from the daycare center before a passerby noticed him and returned him to safety. The facility, 4 Our Kids Learning Academy, was later closed.
Luckily, the child in Texas, just like the four toddlers at the center of this story, was unharmed. But it's still cause for concern.
“We are thankful these young children are safe, but we cannot ignore the recurring negligence displayed by this center,” State Superintendent John White told WBRZ.
