A horrific fire in Rayne on Saturday took the lives of four innocent children. The mother of the four children has been arrested and charged with four counts of negligent homicide. There are no words to describe just how awful this story is. The only good that can come from it is if we prevent another tragedy from every happening again. What should parents know about leaving their children alone? What does the law say about leaving children alone? How can you find a responsible babysitter when you need to be away from home?

Every summer we hear stories of how babies, usually strapped in car seats, are left in the searing heat of an unattended car. You might be asking how is it even possible to leave an infant behind in a car seat? In many cases it is simply a brief episode of forgetfulness or an ill timed phone call that makes even good parents forget. Louisiana law is very specific about leaving a child unattended in a parked car. What does the law say about leaving children at home alone? The answer might make you sick to your stomach.

We as parents have a sacred duty to protect our children. They learn from us and with our help they will grow to make our world a better place. My heart goes out to the family involved in this horrific accident. It is easy to place blame and find fault but none of our finger pointing will hurt this mother as badly as the loss of these four precious souls.

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