I'm with romani and the cops on this one. I don't see anything at all traumatizing about saying, "Okay sweetie, could you push that table over to the door and unlock it? That's a good girl." I've had a few very light coffee tables that would be no big deal for a toddler to move. Much less frightening than crash, breaking the windows. And alot less risk to the little girl. What if she ran over to the window and stepped on the glass? After being with her dead mother for three days, taking care of herself, something like that wouldn't even be remotely traumatic. At least that's how I read it. That is amazing that she is okay after being by herself for so long.
I should more say, I hope that that was their thinking.
On another note, the fact that this child was able to do this, I believe, is a testament to her mother. Think of how well that mother must have raised her (barring the possibility that the girl is a genius) in order to take care of herself for 2 days. Maybe many three year olds could, if put in this situation, but few that I have met. Then again, they've never been in that situation (thankfully) so I can't say for certain what they would or would not do.
A final positive note is the strength and closeness of this family. The fact that they didn't hear from the mom for two days, and that made them worry enough to call a friend, is a good sign that this girl is going into good hands. It's obvious that she has family that is going to care for her and watch over her. Heartbreaking, but almost uplifting at the same time (since it's rare to be THAT close to extended family nowadays).
Well, maybe this was less traumatizing to the girl. I mean, she had already lost her mom and had been alone- can you imagine if a bunch of adults busted down a door or out a window to let themselves in? I'm sure if the girl couldn't do it, they would have busted in, but I really think this was less traumatizing. That's just my take though.
This is an absolutely tragic story. Reading it left me with one important question. I highlighted it in bold, so you can see what I mean. Then read to the end of the story for my question, also in bold.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A 3-year-old girl comforted herself with her favorite toy and ate cheese, leftover lasagna and milk for two days after her mother died unexpectedly in their New Zealand home.
The girl's uncle, Pete Silbery, told The Associated Press on Friday that Shylah Silbery managed to open the fridge and comfort herself with a teddy bear named "Possum" after Lauren Silbery, 28, died.
The family last spoke to Lauren Silbery on Oct. 19, he said. Two days later, they were worried enough to call a friend who lived near her Wellington home. The friend could see the girl inside the home, but not the mother, prompting the family to call police, Pete Silbery said.
Police coaxed Shylah to drag a coffee table to the door so she could reach the lock and unlock the door, before she told them, "Mummy won't wake up," Silbery said.
"I can only imagine her in there for that long, trying to wake Mum up as well," he said.
Shylah spent several days in a hospital recovering from dehydration and diaper rash.
"She's doing OK now. She's still bubbly," he said. "When we lowered the coffin into the grave at the cemetery, though, she pointed at it and said 'Mummy's in there.' It was pretty heartbreaking."
Authorities are awaiting the results of an autopsy but don't believe Lauren Silbery's death was suspicious, Wellington police spokesman Victoria Davis said.
So mom has died, the little girl has been feeding herself for three dies and has a nasty case of diaper rash, and the police make the little girl drag a coffee table over to the door and climb up and unlock the door?
No offense to New Zealand police who arrived on the scene...but why didn't they just break a window and let themselves in? There were windows in the house. What if the little girl wasn't strong enough to move a table? Every coffee table we ever had was too heavy for a toddler to move.
