In all of the videos you have seen of Madeleine McCann do you agree?

Question

that she looks happy ,well adjusted and cared for, including the ones taken in Portugal??

To: Barbie. My point is that whilst I don't agree with children being left on their own, I don't think her parents neglected her as is implied in some of the questions on here.

To Hallie: Thank you but if you read over some of the previous questions and answers about this child you will find that most of the people against the McCanns are intent on convincing everyone that Madeleine was a neglected child and that the twins are still being neglected. They consistantly tell us that the parents only care about themselves, holidays and money.

Answer 1

Fantastic point!
Yes, she does seem like a happy carefree little girl, well cared for & loved immensely by her family...

Someone, with a rock where his heart should be, did try desperately to insinuate that she was unhappy but Madeleine's own happy little face refuted him, time & again...

Answer 2

Children are happy when they are being interacted with - they love attention. She will look happy and well cared for because in that way her parents looked after her and her siblings. They have never mistreated her in that way.

However what they did do was completely neglectful. The more you read the more it comes to light that they did not check on their children as often as they claimed (that's not the point anyway - they should never have been left at all). If it is true that she was heard crying for her parents while they were out enjoying themselves, then it is absolutely disgraceful.

What they did is the same as leaving their children at home alone and going to the pub on the corner. In the UK if you did that you would have your child taken away. My post box is a few hundred yards away yet I would never ever leave my son sleeping in his cot and go to post a letter - however tempting it may be. What if something happened in that time - either he fell from his cot or I got run over. It does not even bear thinking about.

When you decide to start a family you put all your carefree days behind you and become responsible adults. That includes NEVER EVER LEAVING YOUR CHILD ALONE without a responsible adult near by. They were not near by - they were not even in earshot.

Yes I am sure she was happy and very much loved but ultimately it appears that they put themselves first and will pay for this for the rest of their lives. I don't want to be negative but I doubt she is still alive - how awful to have that on your conscience. This was no "wrong place wrong time" scenario but parenting at its worst.

Answer 3

dont think for a second maddie was unhappy, why should she be however the wrong thing was done in leaving her alone, as a mother of a 3 year old I would never ever leave her alone either in this country or abroad, not because i would even be thinking about her being kidnapped (although obviously that is on everybodys minds now) but what if she had a nightmare, woke up scared and I wasnt there? I would be worrying about this the whole time I was away (even happy well adjusted kids have nightmares)
I suppose what I am saying is that I cant blame them for not thinking through that someone might break in and steal there child (who would) but the lack of concern for if maddie or there even younger children woke up needing there parents they would not be around is unforgivable and no matter how well dressed she is how much money they spend on holidays or creches does not make this ok

Answer 4

She does in the videos look well cared for, but I dont think u can go by looks always.
I saw a picture in the paper of Victoria Climbie and she was smiling and looking happy. Looks are deceptive, I am sure that any Social Workers doing their job properly would have to look beyond the outward appearance.

Answer 5

Does it matter how happy she looked in the photos or videos,the point is she was left alone at such a young age along with the twins who were even younger, and in my eyes that is neglect.To me I honestly don't think her parents are very paternal or maternal as they really didn't have much to do with their kids as they were looked after by a nanny or in a creche.The holiday in Portugal wasn't a family holiday, otherwise Madeleine along with the twins would have been with their parents 24/7, then this awful thing would never of happened and I along with everyone else on here wouldn't constantly be discussing the McCanns.Look at them now, they have an extended holiday free of charge, and I bet not another photo or video has been taken of the twins whilst all this is going on, as the ones they did have were probably all for bloody show. I'm sorry but they have got to be the most selfish, self centred uncaring bloody parents I have ever heard of.

Answer 6

yes she seems happy and well cared for, but i can not see how you can say leaving three toddlers alone at night while they are away, in a unlocked ground floor apartment is not child neglect. Do you think if that if a fire had broken out that night and (god forbid) the children died that night that they would still be getting this wave of mass sympathy? Of course, everyone would be devastated and feel sorry for them initially, but then questions would be asked by someone and even in an inquest into it, (if it was a fire and the kids all died tragically) the coroner would at some point mention the fact that three children under 5, to be left alone was irresponsible and would the parents be around, the deaths COULD have been avioded. Fact.
I don't agree with saying what they did or did not possibly do that night, as i do not know what did actually happen, apart form the fact that they left the children alone, and by the pretending that it was ok to do that, then they (and those who refuse to admit it was wrong to do) are setting a bad example to others. I said a while back, if a single mother from a poor back ground did that, they would be slated in every way possible. These people are supposed to be pillars in the community and practice what they preach. If Mrs. Mccann knew one of her patients regulary left her 3 children, it is HER JOB to report them for child neglect to social services. (whether she agrees or not, it is her duty as a doctor, to the children- the childs welfare is paramount)
I just find it amazing how many people are quick to defend their actions that night. I know they will probably feel bad for the rest of their lives about that night, but if that is the case, why did they insist on saying it was perfectly normal to do, like having dinner in your back garden? I know something was said last week about Mrs Mccann saying she regretted that night and believed it was a massive error in judgement. ( i can not remember the actual words she said but something like that)
I just hope they find her, and she is safe and sound. That is my main thought on this whole sorry affair, and please, if anyone thinks leaving the kids alone like that is not child neglect, ring your local social services and find out from them. Find out what would happen if you did and something happened and what would happen to the other kids??? Also remember to tell them you are not doctors, just working class and a normal family and see what they say......

Answer 7

Yes, but, with the exception of Portugal (that was the creche), that care was predominantly given by her nanny. It's pretty easy to care for a child when all you have to do is give them their breakfast, pack them off with the nanny or the crech for the day, then come home in time to kiss them good night.
People are taking this "neglect" tag too far. People simply mean that they neglected them that night by leavng them on their own, I don't think anyone is meaning it to be a general every day thing.

Answer 8

I agree with Katrina, i grew up in a household where my father was violent, emotionally and mentally cruel, towards us children and my mother and in most of the photographs taken at the time we all looked happy and contented. In our case a picture paints a thousand lies, who can say its not the same for little Maddie?

Answer 9

yes she does, am against parents leaving their kids alone, but she does not look like she was neglected at all. but then most kids look happy in photos, so its impossible to tell.if the parents have no emotions when she is gone, i wonder did they have any when she was around

Answer 10

I don't understand why people keep talking about the kids being put in the creche. Kids of that age aren't going to be left in the sun all day so the parents can take them back to the apartment or put them in the creche. Nothing wrong with that at all.

Leaving the kids alone in the apartment obviously is neglect.

She recalled how happy Madeleine had been during the holiday, particularly at the children’s club where she played.

“Madeleine had a ball. They did swimming, went on a little boat, went to a beach, did lots of colouring in and face painting,” said Kate.