Responsible Parent

The Responsible Parents
Last week my wife and I were spending a couple of days of much needed R&R at a local hotel. Flipping through the same 15 channels on the TV (there's never a huge amount of choice at hotels) we saw a story on one of the news channels that set me off. A young couple in Orlando decided to go on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney World . This would not make much news in itself, except that the couple neglected to take their three year old child along for the ride. Again, not major news until you tie an important element to the story. They not only neglected to take the child on the ride, they neglected their child!
The three year old was left in a stroller while Mom and Dad decided it would be OK to go on the ride by themselves. It was 90 degrees outside and the child had been left alone for quite some time. Obviously child services got involved but.....please explain something to me.... WHAT WERE THESE PEOPLE THINKING?!
I am Studio Producer and a co-host (third wheel) of the FLY Show on World Talk Radio and I brought this topic up on the June 28 edition of the show in the first segment. Since that program's listening base consists heavily of moms I put the topic out and for the 45 minutes or so that followed we received several calls about the topic. What was a bit interesting is that some of the parents discussed and shared stories about times when a child could be forgotten in ones regular routine. I simply cannot understand this.
I am not yet a parent and as far as we know Rochelle is not yet a parent either. I have been trying to become a parent for several years and my wife and I are still trying. What appalls me is that being a parent is something that does not require education, licensing, training. The sad unfortunate part is that there are some people out there that are not fit to be parents. When you adopt a child, you have to be subjected to a number of things; a credit check, proof of being able to provide for the safety and well being of the child, and your criminal and economic background among other things. To become a natural parent requires some talent in the bedroom, a good sense of timing, and the strength and ability to get through pregnancy and childbirth (and before I get slammed for this, mind you that BOTH parents are going through this together, not just the mom).
I know I don't know exactly what it is like to be a parent. I know there are stresses that come with being a parent that I know nothing about. I know that certain freedoms go bye-bye when you have kid(s). Here is what I don't understand. Are there really parents that think it is okay to be irresponsible? Leaving a child alone in a stroller at Disney world because you want to have some fun? I could understand if there were grandparents or other relatives along who could watch the kid. Disney World even has a program where one parent can go on the ride while the other stays with the child and vice versa. No waiting!
There are certain sacrifices one has to go through to be a responsible parent. You will get your funtime, but you have to go about it the right way. Take a few more members of the family to Disney. Take turns going with the child or being left behind. If the child is too young get a babysitter. I hope that he or she is trustworthy. Best advice: wait until the child is a few years older and come back to enjoy the park together. The good rides will still be there and I think you'll get more out of the park anyway. I know your kid will!