Sarah Wilkins, NCT staff writer wrote on Jan 16, 2008 11:52 AM:I am writing a story on this incident and would be interested in talking to any parents who have children at Laura's Day Care, or who have used the day care center in the past. I can be reached at swilkins@nctimes.com. Thank you.

Once again..... wrote on Jan 16, 2008 12:07 PM:the republican agenda has put our children in harm's way. There should be a national mandate for subsidized child care so parents can work and children can be taken care of. What is wrong with republicans? Why do they hate the common folks so much. It would be nice if everyone was rich like republican fat cats in congress but we're not. So instead of fancy smancy au peres and nannies, us ordinary folks have to make do with the commercial organizations and informal child care. For the so-called party of family values, the republicans sure are miserly when it comes to kids.

Your Mom wrote on Jan 16, 2008 1:05 PM:What the? Sounds like lAura had too many kids to watch over, if she did'nt notice her missing all day...
Parents need to know who they are leaving there kids with...

What? wrote on Jan 16, 2008 1:20 PM:Once again some one takes a tragedy and uses it for their political agenda. You don't wait for all the facts to come in like was this a licenced daycare ceter or were the parents even in need of any kind of financial help to cover daycare. Nope you just start spouting your nanny state political views.

I AGREE !! wrote on Jan 16, 2008 1:30 PM:Your Right Again!!!

To Once again... wrote on Jan 16, 2008 1:31 PM:Yeah, and like this wouldn't have happened if Al Gore the Lionhearted would have taken his rightful crown... Get real!

TO ONce again... wrote on Jan 16, 2008 1:44 PM:... There's a word for what you're clamoring for: Communism.

Nice try wrote on Jan 16, 2008 2:08 PM:It's you dumb democrats who want to give everybody free everything. Glad the child is safe, that's what matters here.

Cimarron wrote on Jan 16, 2008 2:16 PM:LOL - the republican agenda at fault here? OMG - how absurd! (No, I'm not a republican) Guess what? I used day care during the Clinton administration, and gosh darn - it wasn't government subsidized then either. Having the government subsidize child care, health care = increased taxes, so guess what - you pay for it one way or the other. If you want a government that subsidizes everything for you, move to China - they'll even assign you a job.

Did you totally miss the fact that the staff of this day care center didn't even know the child was missing ALL DAY? The blame firmly lies on the staff - no one else.

Why blame Repubs? wrote on Jan 16, 2008 2:24 PM:Is it mandatory that all parents should work? Why should taxpayers be forced to pay for someone else's child care. There are many options here. Not having children that one can't afford, having one parent work at home, reducing expenses, moving to a lower cost-of-living city.

And last I checked, Democrats controlled both Congress, and the state of California. So clearly, anyone blaming republicans just hates them and pays no attention to the truth.

JR wrote on Jan 16, 2008 2:25 PM:The republicans fault? Why is it that the democrats constantly look to the government to solve their problems?

WHOA There!! wrote on Jan 16, 2008 2:26 PM:This article has NOTHIN what so ever to do with POLITICS!! ... Praise God the child was ok, and returned to her parents.
There is such a thing as personal responsiblity. If more people would implement this, there would be less stress, and fingerpointing in the world. The government is not in the day care business and SHOULD NOT BE!! Those who stand around with their hands out waiting for the "government" to fill their pockets, whether it be with babysitting services, food stamps, health care, whatever, are generally either arrogant or ignorant. Either one is no excuse to expect others to take care of your duties as a parent and adult in a civilized society. Pay your own way folks!!
By the way, I am Republican, but by no means a "fat cat". I have worked many, many years to have what I have and am enjoying in retirement. I highly suggest others do the same.

Werner wrote on Jan 16, 2008 2:30 PM:I guess this person doesn't like
Republicans. They probably blame
earthquakes on Republicans as well.

becky'snanna wrote on Jan 16, 2008 2:33 PM:Let's not put the blame on all child care facilities because of a few rotton apples. As a retired Early Childhood Educator I can tell you there are some FINE and SAFE and LOVING places out there for our little ones. It is a shame that all parents don't have the resources to get their children in these corporate daycares, but to rant and rave about politics is useless. ...

Ken wrote on Jan 16, 2008 2:36 PM:I'm very glad that this child is OK. That said, I can't resist hammering "Once again..". Why did you have to make this story political? Why find fault at a level that is way beyond where blame should lie. I'm sure if Hillary (Bill in drag) was president this would never have happened. As president, she would have personally been watching this child. Give us a break, and get off the political high horse. This was due to an incompetent childcare giver who would have been doing the same job with or without the donkeys in the high office. This daycare would have probably been getting some of that subsidized (tax) money you are talking about but the outcome would have been the same.

hmmm wrote on Jan 16, 2008 2:42 PM:the dangers of day care. what do you expect having some person you really do not know watching your child all day. I am so glad my husband agreed to let me be a stay at home mom. We don't need all the "stuff" that the neighbors have. We don't need the biggest house for our family of 6. My children deserve and NEED their mom home with them.

Ivybug wrote on Jan 16, 2008 3:04 PM:There are a lot of families out there who are for from rich, but they make the sacrifices nessasary to raise thier own children instead of dumpping them off in some daycare. The Rebublicans aren't putting any children in danger, it's irresponsible parents who don't want to raise thier kids who are putting them at risk. The vast majority of families don't need two incomes, they want all the things they can buy with two incomes. SO we don't need subsidized child care, we need people to either raise thier kids or not have any.

Joe wrote on Jan 16, 2008 3:05 PM:The only ones to blame are the daycare, they lose the kid, then lie about it. If you want to rant about the republicans go to the Daily Kos with the other deranged loons. By the way, they have medicine for that kind of paranoia. By the way Once again, you wouldn't have to be one of the left-winged activists who write this paper.

ONCE AGAIN, wrote on Jan 16, 2008 3:57 PM:you really hit a nerve with some repubicans out there. LOL.
Like Groucho said:: As soon as they get some money, they turn republican.

Linda wrote on Jan 16, 2008 4:26 PM:Three miles away, that's a long way. I quite doubt she could have walked that far. Thank god she is alright. A parent should feel that they can keep a child in a licensed day-care center knowing it is safe, if they don't feel good about leaving the child there than you should think these things over before having any children. Too many people have children that they simply can't afford.

Escondido Reader wrote on Jan 16, 2008 5:26 PM:How does a 3-year old get three miles from daycare? I hope to heaven she has not been harmed.
Whether her parents are millionaires or make minimum wage is utterly irrelevent--they paid for their little girl to be cared for and protected from harm. This daycare center needs to be shut down immediately.

THAT 3 YR OLDS MOM wrote on Jan 16, 2008 6:59 PM:I AM THAT 3 YR OLDS MOM....ME AND MY HUSBAND ARE A DUAL-MILITARY FAMILY...WE BOTH WORKING HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH WANTING THE BIGGEST HOUSE OR THE FANCIER CAR....BOTH ME AND MY HUSBAND WORKING ALSO HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT A LICENSED CHILD CARE PROVIDER WAS ABLE TO LOSE MY 3 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER FOR 9 HOURS AND NOT HAVE THE GUTS AND CALL ME OR MY HUSBAND... I SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO TO WORK WITH A PIECE OF MIND THAT MY CHILDREN ARE SAFE...AND TAKING MY KIDS TO DAYCARE IS NOT DUMPING THEM OFF ON SOMEONE...THATS WHAT SHE GETS PAID TO DO AND CAN'T EVEN DO THAT RIGHT....SO BEFORE WE START MOUTHING OFF PARENTS WHO ARE HARD AT WORK PROTECTING YOUR CIVIL LIBERTIES LETS LAY BLAME ON THE WOMAN WHO WAS LICENSED TO BE CARING FOR MY 2 DAUGHTERS IN THE FIRST PLACE THE WOMAN WHO DID NOTHING BUT LIE TO ME ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO MY DAUGHTER!!!

To that 3 year olds mom wrote on Jan 16, 2008 8:31 PM:Don't let these airheads get under your skin, you don't have time to waste on them. Hold that little girl like you'll never let her go and thank God for looking after her today!!

To Imaniey's mom & dad wrote on Jan 16, 2008 10:08 PM:I am a child care provider, hold and love them - get out of this chat room because if you haven't noticed there are alot of idiots on here trying to blame it on politics. You said it loud and clear, she lost your little girl was probably hoping that she would 'pop' up somewhere then lied to the authorities when the time was coming for you to pick them up. Laura's daycare should be shut down! Goodnight, now go rest with your two angels Imaniey and Zariyah. They are with you and thank god they are safe!

Margie wrote on Jan 16, 2008 11:46 PM:I think that not only should the day care place be shut down... Thank God the child is ok...This is clearly not the parents fault.

Mary wrote on Jan 17, 2008 6:17 AM:No matter who pays for childcare, no provider should be allowed to let a child wander off. That is the real point of this story. However the cost of childcare is so prohibitive, I do not know how young parents can even begin to afford it. To save money I had a live-in with my youngest instead of sending him to pre-school. I regret not sending him to pre-school and also not holding him back in kindergarden. I feel professional pre-school is essential for kids so do whatever it takes to get your kid in pre-school, not just a finding someone to make sure they are not wandering around.

FTM wrote on Jan 17, 2008 7:36 AM:Okay folks, back to the story: there are some interesting implications here: First, Oceanside has two kinds of schools: really really good, and really really bad. Those of us who live here know which ones are the really really good ones (I mean these schools are as good as any fancy private school), SO, my point is, that this person who brought little Imani to Christa Mc Cullaif just happened to bring her to one of the best schools in all of San Diego County. Why would a person in Vista know to bring the child way over to McCullaif school in Oceanside? Obviously, whomever delivered Imani to McCulleif knew what they were doing and that those people at McCullaif would take good care of the child and also get police involved. That particular elementary school is better than most privat schools and is staffed with only the very best. There is a missing peice of the puzzle here. Who was the person that delivered the baby to McCulliaf School? AND did the person do it because they KNEW it would get the police involved because maybe this person already was aware that the child care center Imani was in was not a good one?
Lots of mystery here.

lack of logic wrote on Jan 17, 2008 8:00 AM:"Once again," how in the world does government subsidized daycare = better oversight of those precious children? Your lack of logic is astounding. If anything, government subsidy would encourage some people to get into it for a monthly stipend, the worst reason in the world to take on the incredibly important task of caring for children. Look at foster care, which is government subsidized...we've all heard the horror stories.
The only logical lesson from this story is that this particular daycare needs to be shut down, and that any parents who have their children there should find another daycare NOW!!!

Beati wrote on Jan 17, 2008 8:08 AM:Having children is the parents resposibility. We "chose" to have children and have made many sacrifices to allow us to take care of them ourselves. Why have children if they are going to be sent off to some stranger for eight hours a day? These children were placed in Day care at 6 weeks! You come home from work, feed your child and put them to bed, then send them off again in the morning!! How could you allow a stranger to have so much influence over you children I will never understand. If a job is more important, than don't have children. They need parents!

Patriot wrote on Jan 17, 2008 8:18 AM:As much as some leftists would like to shift the blame from Palos-Martinez to a group of Republicans in Washington D.C., Palos-Martinez was the person the parents hired to safeguard their daughter, and Palos-Martinez should be held accountable.

Tekeila wrote on Jan 17, 2008 8:29 AM:To the 3 year old's mom...I am so glad that your baby was not harmed and is safe now. I have to agree with one of the people in this chat room...don't waste your time or energy on the ignorant people in this chat room. It has nothing to do with politics or if a family can/can't afford to stay at home with their children. The point is that a 3 year old BABY was found 3 miles away from the daycare center that the parents dropped her off at. Thank God she is alive!

This is about the safety of a child, look at all the political bull wrote on Jan 17, 2008 8:54 AM:I can't beleive all the chat about poliitics. While we are on the subject, all I have to say is, you have a child, you have to work, PAY THE PROVIDER YOURSELF!!! AS FOR THIS LAURA, ... WAKE UP!!!!!

former family daycare provider wrote on Jan 17, 2008 9:11 AM:How irresponsible of that provider!!!! That is awful. I'm so glad that the little girl is okay. Shame on the provider for not noticing she was gone all day!!!!!!

As far as making this political -- Once again.... is a looney. Subsidized child care is NOT what we need. That would be SOCIALISM!!! Yes, go to China for that....

To the child's mom wrote on Jan 17, 2008 9:56 AM:Please do not let these bloggers get you down. It takes a village to raise a chld, Unfortunately Laura is a village idiot. Thank god your baby is home safe and thank you and your husband for your service in the military

To the mom wrote on Jan 17, 2008 10:07 AM:Oh my goodness when my daycare provider said she saw this in the paper she could not believe what happened!! I am so sorry this has happened to your family, yes the staff at McAuliffe are awesome people, there are a lot of questions that need to be answered, most daycares have schedules like lunchtime, naptime, snacktime, playtime and this so called day care provider didnt notice that this little girl was missing????? I would contact the chaildcare licensing board immediatly so they have your side of the story. The point is how can you honestly trust another daycare provider??? There are really good daycares providers out there & I wish you the best of luck to your family you will get through all of this!

TO:beati wrote on Jan 17, 2008 10:17 AM:YES WE CHOSE TO HAVE CHILDREN BUT "IN THE REAL WORLD" AND NOW A DAYS BOTH PARENTS HAVE TO WORK!!! WHAT A SELFISH THING TO SAY!

greeneyes wrote on Jan 17, 2008 10:25 AM:I can certainly feel for this mother. I also had to leave my toddler in daycare. I was even married with my own home. To keep my home I had to go back to work when my child was 1 year's old. I was a bar widow, no family help and had to work full-time. These private babysitters were horrible. I could not breath a sigh of relief until I put my child in preschool with licensed and schooled child-care providers.

here's a novel idea. wrote on Jan 17, 2008 11:16 AM:How about you raise your own kids? Not just from 5-6 a.m. before work and 6-8 p.m. after work. Most employers would fire you for keeping those hours. Too bad the kids don't have the same power as employers.

If the area is too expensive, move.

to mom wrote on Jan 17, 2008 11:23 AM:"AND TAKING MY KIDS TO DAYCARE IS NOT DUMPING THEM OFF ON SOMEONE"

Really? Read what you wrote again. Call it what you want in your own head, you are delegating the responsibility of care-giver, protector, teacher, etc. to a total stranger. Yes, that provider should be held accountable for her unacceptable actions. But the kids would be better of with you. I believe you can do a better job than any provider. I wish you thought the same of yourself or would be willing to do the job of parent...full-time.

You don't HAVE to work. Sacrafice is seldom easy.

Working For? wrote on Jan 17, 2008 11:38 AM:Maybe we need to look at our priorities as a nation and what we are working for. My wife is a stay at home mom and we make the sacrifices (new cars, big house and such) but our children are our responsibility.

Patriot wrote on Jan 17, 2008 12:18 PM:All of you who are mouthing off at the mom need to read her Jan 16, 2008 6:59 PM post. My wife is a stay at home mom, and by budgeting and sacrificing a lot we have made do with one income. Most young military families however cannot survive on one income, no matter what. We just don't pay them that much. Military families cannot just pack up and move to a cheaper area either. The military tells you when and where to move. I thank this mom and her husband for serving their country and am truly sorry this happened to them.

greeneyes wrote on Jan 17, 2008 12:41 PM:To those spouting off about one parent staying home with your kids...you're right. BUT, not everybody has the right circumstances to do that. My home was bought before I had a child, but to keep it I had to work. There is good childcare and we certainly pay for it. BUT, there is also bad childcare out there. Also, why should I leave the state for a better living when I've lived here my WHOLE life. Not everybody is as lucky as you stay-at-home moms.

Get a life! wrote on Jan 17, 2008 1:53 PM:All of the posters telling the mom to stay home. Get a grip on reality. Most parents have to work. Thankfully she isn't a single parent. What would you suggest then? Government Assistance? Then you would be complaining about tax payers money. Get over it and realize the mom wasn't the one at fault here.

CommonSense wrote on Jan 17, 2008 2:49 PM:Patriot, you hit the nail on the head.The military does not pay very well and they sure can't just pick up and move! It's a shame all these people are persecuting this brave woman because she chooses to serve her country to make it a better place for her and the rest of our kids! Just remember, it's people like this mother who make it possible to freely say what we want to say. Including all the harsh and absurd remarks that have been posted.

To hmmm and Beati wrote on Jan 17, 2008 2:56 PM:A lot of people prefer not to sit at home all day watching Oprah. Believe it or not, they can be gainfully employed and good parents at the same time.

Smug SAHM's wrote on Jan 17, 2008 3:31 PM:It's pretty sad to see all the judgmental comments on here regarding the mother in this story. They know absolutely nothing about her circumstances, yet they are telling her all she has to do is budget and sacrifice. They are smug because they don't need "stuff" and "big houses". What's really sad is that they will most likely pass on their "holier-than-thou" attitudes to their children. Heck, they have all day to indoctrinate those poor kids.

O'side Resident wrote on Jan 17, 2008 3:36 PM:To Mrs Payton, Thanks to you and your husband your service on behalf of my freedom. I am glad that your child was found safe and unharmed. To the rest of the idiots that are blogging, did you not read the entire article or just the parts you thought important. This woman and her husband are a military family, whose family decisions are based on what their commanding officers tell them. The fact that they must put their children in daycare is not their choice unless they choose to no longer serve the military, but even that isn't as easy to do, since they are committed to the length of their service contract. So instead of lambasting them, you should be thanking them for protecting our freedoms, and sympathizing with them for the near tragedy that could've happened to their beautiful girls.

Concerned-1 wrote on Jan 17, 2008 3:51 PM:This is a strange story that needs lots of follow up. How did the young girl get to the school? Why didn't the day care provider report her missing? What about the mysterious red truck? The classic is that the day care provider called 9-1-1 and told them the girl had been missing 10 minutes! I can't wait to see how this comes out. The bottomline is that the girl is safe.

JSten wrote on Jan 17, 2008 3:57 PM:We agonized over having the wife leave the kids at daycare and get back into the work world. Its a tough decision with few right ansewers. It shoudl be easier for working moms to be able to find and arrange for competent child care, but the reality is that it is not.

I also have a lot of concern for peo-ple that have to place infants into child care. I guess in retrospect that the providers I ran into did not prvide care for babies. They really need to be at home with mom, a full charge nanny, or a trusted relative.

Consequently we were foced to wait until the youngeset was old enough (potty trained) to be in day care.

The gonernment could do more to help working moms and dads, but their priorities seem to be elsewhere.

As far as the provider is concerned, she is apparently in for a whole boatload of problems. Taking care of babies is not easy.

Cali wrote on Jan 17, 2008 4:13 PM:Some of these posts remind of people who blame the victim in a rape. If they hadn't been there...If they hadn't been wearing that outfit...blah, blah, blah. Sick!

What if the parents wanted to night out without the kids? Would you then be calling them selfish for needing a break? I've seen posts from people in past articles, blaming a parent for not taking a much needed break from their children. Everyone who has children knows this to be true. I have 4 of my own and love them to death, but I also know that I need a break every once in a while for me and for them.

I am a military wife, who was fortunate to stay home with my children because my husband was stationed overseas. Ya, we sacrificed, but when we returned to the states we couldn't afford for me to stay home anymore. I again count myself fortunate that my children were old enough at the time to be enrolled in school. Not everyone is as fortunate and people need to stop judging these parents and place the blame where it belongs, on the DAYCARE PROVIDER, who lied about her abilities to look after children responsibly.

You Know wrote on Jan 17, 2008 4:27 PM:I am SO sick of people wanting to push the blame on the Mother/parents! You snobs that are fortunate enough to stay at home have NO idea what it's like to provide for your children! Some of us single parents that were unfortunate enough to lose a partner that have to be both Mother and Father have NO choice but to put our hearts, our children into daycare. We do our research, we do the drop-in's to make sure the place is safe and we do our homework to check around with others to see if they've heard anything bad about a place. YOU NEVER KNOW!! People are so darn unpredictable, it's never a certain thing! I don't care who you are or what background you come from...people snap and people make HUGE mistakes. The provider of this daycare center needs to be prosecuted, not the parents...period! And you people that sit on your higher than thou attitude platforms need to seriously take a very long look at yourselves and who you judge!!!!!

C.J.R. wrote on Jan 17, 2008 4:41 PM:Fisrt of all, thank god that the girl is safe, as for Laura she shouldn't be able to keep her daycare. I mean if she can't keep track of one 3 year old what makes you think she can take care of the rest of the children and who is really watching the children.

Karl wrote on Jan 17, 2008 5:54 PM:Sarah Wilkins, NCT staff writer shame on you. Why don't you go write for the Enquirer? I have not seen you post on this blog until this story. If your quest is to get to the truth, you must have other sources. If your inquiry is earnest, please check out the enrolled parents and inquire then write the story. Your sort of journalism totally digusts me. Get a real job.

damn if you do and damn if you don't wrote on Jan 17, 2008 6:28 PM:I can't believe some people have the nerve to critize this mom for working? I rather see her working than on welfare or sitting at home getting fat. To the Mom keep up the good work

FTM wrote on Jan 17, 2008 6:33 PM:I just checked the map to see where Sunburst Drive is, and now I have MORE questions! Christa McCullauff school is on the TOP OF A HILL that's even hard for a CAR to drive up! That child NO WAY walked one mile to College Blvd, then walked ACCROSS BUSY COLLEGE BLVD, and then walked ANOTHER TWO MILES UP HILL ALL THE WAY to the McCaullif school? NO WAY! SOME ONE brought the child to the school, and I suspect the child was brought ALL THE WAY FROM THE VISTA LOCATION! There is NO WAY the child could have gotten accross College Blvd. I think someone in VISTA KNOWS that this daycare provider is not a good provider.

Local neighbor wrote on Jan 17, 2008 9:22 PM:I live in the neighborhood where the daycare is located. We are part of Oceanside, not Vista. As far as the details of the case, I am anxious to find out if this child was abducted by someone trying to harm her or if the person who took the child to the elementary school was somehow connected to the daycare provider or her assistant. I am anxious to find out because I have school age children who sometimes play with other friends in the same neighborhood. I will have to be more vigilant than usual.

2 That 3 year olds momma- wrote on Jan 18, 2008 7:51 AM:First why are you blaming this mom? I've been a working mom an at home mom a parttime working mom and now I work at my childs school - She, I am sure, did what every parent in her situation would do - checked it out looked around - do you know ow difficult it is to guess an area when barely stationed here from somewhere else? You almost have to trust what the reviews are and she did her job - ... you deserve it - from one mom to another...

(check out housing day care they may have more stringent standards than civil)

...grandmother wrote on Jan 24, 2008 12:25 PM:i can not believe some of the things that i have read in this chatroom. my daughter is a very responsible parent so its her fault that she has to work. no.. i don't think so.. so what your sayin is that cause she takes her children to daycare she is dumpimg them off on someone. so when we send our children to school are we dumpimg them off on the teacher. to my daughter.. please don't let these people get to you.. my babies are safe and you have your family and like i have always told you.. people are going to talk about you weather it be good or bad..

Thank God wrote on Jun 12, 2008 3:14 PM:the child is safe. I too had to put my kids in day care and return to work, much as it broke my heart. I found out my first was diabetic at 11 mos and that same week found out the second was on the way. Their dad couldn't handle the fact that he had a "diseased" child so drank himself to oblivion, every day. I thank God I WAS working because MY job provided the insurance. Most parents don't work to provide themselves with the "high life" at the expense of their children, just like this brave mother, serving her country, isn't. SHE is a true American hero and DOES deserve to serve her country with peace of mind that her children are provided with the same safety she is providing ALL our children. God Bless you, Paytons!!!