Did Madeleine McCann's Disappearance Change Your Parenting Methods? | Loose Women

This week marks sixteen years since the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. Her parents, Kate and Gerry, have marked the anniversary by thanking well-wishers and stating their daughter is “still missing… still very much missed.” For the first time we heard Madeleine's younger sister Amelie speak too. But, how has Madeleine's disappearance affected parenting methods?
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From series 27, broadcast on 04/05/23
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[@adavis7043]

No, they didn't. I always used my common sense and I never left my children alone overnight, even if we were at the neighbours. A child must be supervised all the time until they are 12. Then slowly, slowly we can leave them home for a couple of hours during the day and we build up on this.

[@saxophone2481]

I agree

[@christinegreen7475]

I'm excatly like you no reason on earth would I have left my child on its own let alone 3 ...people call me pesemisstic good 8m glad I'm always thinking of the negatives and bad things ,it keeps me tuned in .i could find danger at a teddy bears picnic with no adults ..im always on alert .and I can tell when others are not

[@totallyxtaurus]

Literally. My mum has only just started leaving my brother home alone at 13. And this is only for an hour or two to go to the local supermarket etc.

[@eveoakley6270]

It is not for you to dictate what age a child should be left alone. The law in the UK does not state any age when you can leave a child alone. How mature your child is is for you to judge and no one else. I NEVER left my youngest alone ANYWHERE at the age of 12. I certainly do not agree with what the McCann’s did as our two children came everywhere with us on holiday.

[@Glamrockqueen]

Ben Needham vanished in 1991 while on holiday on Kos. I wish his Mum Kerry had received the attention that Maddies parents have.

[@greenonline5469]

I do agree but you have to remember we didn't have the same resources back in the early 90s to publicise a case like this like we did in 2007. Although I would never wish this on Ben Needham's Mum, I do find it funny how they never got the same abuse Maddie's parents did considering Ben's grandparents left him alone outside to play knowing the area wasn't secure from him wandering off, like if anything to me that's even more irresponsible than what Maddie's parents did since at least it was in their apartment. Yes I know it wasn't locked, but a 3 year old who could probably only just reach the patio door handles wouldn't be able to leverage the weight of those doors in Portugal to be able to open them. Just to be clear, I'm no hater, I just think people need to realise that both Ben & Maddie's parents already live with the consequences of the mistakes that were made and there is no reason for the community to keep holding this against them. Especially if all the suspicious behaviour in the days prior is linked, then it's likely someone was really desperate to kidnap Maddie. If their determination was high enough, they would have succeeded no matter what.

[@greenonline5469]

It's not because they're Doctors, if you look back carefully at the first few years of the disappearance, you would know the McCanns paid private investigators to investigate the case up until 2013 when Scotland Yard took over after the McCanns put a lot of pressure on PM David Cameron to intervene in the case. This didn't come lightly because they're doctors, in fact the case WAS dropped between 2008 and 2011 in both the UK and Portugal until they fought hard to have it re-opened. When did Ben Needham's mother go out of her way to get the funding for private investigators? When did she make a direct appeal to the UK government at the time to intervene in the case and fight hard for it? Please find a reliable news source demonstrating she did these things and you've got a fair point on the Doctor thing, but until then you don't. (Appealing over the media doesn't count) Not saying she hasn't done her bit or critising her in any way, because honestly this is a horrific ordeal to have to go through and it shouldn't be the families jobs to instigate this kind of attention, but unfortunately nothing comes truly free in this world. If you're not personally paying for it, you're most likely fighting for it.

[@sleepycat8887]

Never ever ever I would leave any of my children alone while away or even at home. Never ever! We catered our holidays as a family holiday, where we went….the children went with us, we wouldn’t have even dreamt to leave the kids in any babysitting or club away from home. I can’t understand how the parents thought that the kids were safe enough in a different country. Just takes a second for a tragedy to happen.

[@P.S002]

It's culture! Here, even children are left to sleep outside alone.

[@saxophone2481]

Doctors think they got it

[@sleepycat8887]

@@P.S002 but why ran the risk, culture or not?

[@faydean3391]

Having just got back from holiday with my 4 year old, I couldn't help but think of poor Maddie. There was no way on that holiday I would've left my child. A holiday with your kids isn't the time to be wanting adult time eating tapas

[@hazelrussell6449]

It hasn't changed my parenting. I would never leave my children unattended then nor now. The blame lies with them as cruel as that may sound. Had they used a babysitting service or not left there children madeleine would not have been taken. I don't understand how the presenters found sympathy for the parents? Had this been a single mum on benefits that went to her local pub the same distance away from her house as the tapas bar was from the mccains room she would have been persecuted and probably charged with neglect!

[@kimcarroll9666]

I’m with Colleen I couldn’t leave my children alone.

[@Mayaxxxxxx]

Maddie’s parents must have an excellent PR team. Her story has been in the news for 16 years now. You think about the number of kids have disappeared and the little media attention they get…🤷🏼‍♀️ It’s such a tragedy that sooo many kids disappear…why can’t the authorities do more to help?😔 What stops them??

[@georgia8592]

They have close connections with very influential people that's another reason they never faced any charges for leaving their children night after night to go out drinking

[@ruthbashford3176]

The McCann's PR was so good it convinced many people that Madeleine had actually been abducted.

[@Zenocius]

Prince Andrew got to them

[@ruthbashford3176]

Is leaving your children alone when they're under 4 something the middles classes do? I'm working-class and nobody I know would dream of leaving small children alone.

[@irenemorley75]

Middle class/working class ? it shouldn't enter anyone's head to do this, it's common sense🙄

[@Sandy-zr5hs]

Our kids never left our side on holiday, we had three under five, where we went they went, even if it was a later night, I actually don’t know how the McCanns or their pals could ever justify leaving those very young kids alone, shocking

[@saxophone2481]

Tenerife uncovered

[@irenemorley75]

We didn't leave our daughter on her own on holiday when she was 13, why on earth would any one leave babies on their own, very neglectful.

[@stephenHolloway88]

I stand by what I have always said which is that the parents should have been charged with child neglect. You never leave your children alone unattended. The fact that they did and this happened and the parents weren't held partly responsible I will never understand. Any other parent would have got into trouble had this happened to them.

[@eveoakley6270]

No they wouldn’t. Look up the legalities of leaving children alone, shocking I know, but you’d be shocked.

[@lisajrable]

No !!!! There lack of responsibility was and is shocking and selfish don't go on holiday if you want to relax leave three children alone whilst you go out for dinner !!! They are as guilty as sin for her disappearance!!!! Why they have never been charged is beyond me!!!

[@saxophone2481]

Great to see someone saying 3 children most say leaving a child alone. .they left 3 babies alone..they should have been jailed

[@ko0974]

Nope no change...if going on family hoilday with kids/babies ..you are not going to leave 3 under 3 or any age alone at night whilst you go out for dinner and drinks.....and they all did it everysingle night ..yet babysitting service on site but tbh i would not use that either....why bother bring them with you? Never ever understood it..poor maddie and all the ither children

[@blondie4]

How the McCanns were never charged with neglect I do not know. Completely outrageous that they left their children alone while they went to dinner.

[@Melanie_Star]

Are you a parent? Haven't you ever made a mistake? Don't be so judgmental & try to have some compassion. The McCann's will be punishing themselves enough, every minute of every single day, until they pass. It's a tragedy & the only person to truly blame is the evil, peado b@stard who took her.

[@mr.balloffur]

Very true, this whole "the parents have suffered enough" needs to stop.

[@shirleyvalentine2794]

You can bet had it happened to a single parent or a working class family they would have been charged with neglect. They certainly would not have had millions of pounds at their disposal either.

[@bilana289]

@@shirleyvalentine2794 And also their twins would’ve been taken away

[@hramsden1697]

@@mr.balloffur THIS!

[@mr.balloffur]

I don't know any parent who would have left their child in a room alone

[@saxophone2481]

They left 3!!!! Its weird

[@Swansong321]

AND I'm sick of msm narrative trying to gaslight us all that it's the norm!🙄it's really not acceptable..neglect at best..something sinister at worse..I think they were drugged to keep quiet and had accidentally killed Maddie

[@shirleyvalentine2794]

Never in a million years would I have left my child on her own asleep. Don’t care how many listening monitors might have been available or babysitting services. The Moore woman is pathetic.If they hadn’t left her alone they wouldn’t be in this situation would they.I don’t wish them any harm as some have done.Their punishment is literally waking every day knowing they let their child down.

[@georgia8592]

Totally agree

[@eveh6708]

Her parents should be jailed for child neglect. Not only for madeleline her siblings too . Not get shoved millions of pounds into one "missing child case "

[@MissJensk1]

They have made most if thise millions from suing people. Gerry brags about it.

[@faye6864]

Those parents were neglectful. They should have been prosecuted.

[@kirstywilkins3321]

They know exactly what happened to her! They got off purely because of who their connected to! They should be in prison

[@starsigngirl9789]

There only doctors not the mafia 😂

[@Mayaxxxxxx]

Yes, hopefully their connections to THAT organisation will be exposed soon. 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

[@noreenoshea968]

I can't understand for the life of me, why the parents weren't prosecuted, no one, I mean no one in their right mind would go out to dinner and leave their children unsupervised at home or abroad. Just because they have good jobs, doesn't excuse their bad parenting parenting, God help us, their other children have lived in madline 's shadow all their lives and if a single parent did this, it would be a different story and everyone would be on the band wagon criticising single parents, Double Standards, 😡😡😡😡

[@starsigngirl9789]

Think they’ve been punished enough

[@hemapatel7166]

@@starsigngirl9789not as much as Maddie

[@BA17Hel]

No evidence of an abduction, the parents know where she is, IMO.

[@jonathanlawrie244]

Having worked in a hotel, I can confirm that even after this horrific incident there are MANY parents who think nothing of leaving their children in a hotel room without taking advantage of our monitors/baby sitting services. Some I noticed would go back to the room every 1hr and some just once in every 3/4hrs! I think some people are not 100% honest with themselves, I recall as a child going abroad pre Madeline McCann, and this kind of thing was common. Equally there are the net mums who declare that their children are always with them, well….. I’m sorry but letting your child run around the resort with their friends is equally as dangerous if not MORE dangerous than leaving them in a room! I only make this point because I think the McCanns always get grief and abuse about this, and tbh they were doing what MANY others were doing back in the day! Just very very unfortunate that this had to happen for people to waken up and smell the coffee!

[@saxophone2481]

I never left mine in àny clubs or day play pens .. pics of us at night babies with us asleep in buggys beside us...the thought of leaving my kids alone in a bedroom while I go off drinking makes me sick. SO don't knw who these parents are who doing this.i wouldn't even trust the hotel any creep has a key... just bewilderes me

[@anneferguson5201]

No, never would I leave children alone overnight. All children should be supervised at all times . They should of been charged with neglect of a child. Appalling behaviour from those two as professionals in NHS. Hoping she's alive and been looked after properly as children should be, as they didn't want to know about her once night fell, all they wanted was a child free holiday. when on holiday only to enjoy themselves.

[@nq6508]

I wouldnt be able to leave my child. Even if on vacation. All i would be able to think about is my kids waking up in a strange place scared and alone.

[@eg6349]

Error no would never have left 3 very young children alone in an apartment!

[@susanthompson3563]

Don’t make excuses for them loose women they should not of left their children on there own

[@sandrarose7912]

I would never ever leave my children alone it’s there own fault anyone else would of been done for neglect it’s all wrong I don’t feel sorry for them just for poor Madeline x

[@Winterwonder55]

I agree with every comment on here . This was pure neglect on parents part leaving 3 kids alone under age of 5 alone. The twins were only babies then. If this happened here in uk with a family on council estate police and social service would of removed all the kids and parents be in jail. But these 2 because they were drs they seem to got away with it. Wat about all the other kids that have gone missing but no one helping them like poor Ben need ham his mum got no support and police gave up on that case quickly. The police seem to keep throwing money in to maddies case when really we know that if they hadn’t been left alone she would never have gone missing. There is no way maddies alive and I always believe the parents know more than their letting on. I always wonder who ever took her why did they not take the twins instead as it would of been easier to disguised the kids identity then taking a 3 year old .

[@marysmith3761]

I never understood why they left the hotel door unlocked, and it was never discussed during media interviews.

[@sugarbabylove1000]

Nice to see the Loose ladies to discuss it with some empathy. Something several posters seem to lack

[@Darkangel-hy8ev]

I think a lot of people have run out of empathy after 16 years!!

[@sugarbabylove1000]

Guess its not 16 years for us Brits

[@Swansong321]

They're just part of the msm narrative...I'm glad people questioning that narrative given how it's been pushed..common sense shows that these people shouldn't have left 3 VERY young babies alone to go out drinking..ok they were on holiday but after your kids!..dodgy all round

[@MissJensk1]

Empathy for whom?

[@MissJensk1]

​@@sugarbabylove1000Isn't it? Why?

[@jenileach6915]

Had my children well before this happened but never had them to leave any of them alone anywhere. They only place they ever went to without me was school, even if they wanted to do a sleep over it was always under my own roof and not at a friends

[@colettesargeant6581]

It's obvious the parents killed her

[@fatimasousa1178]

Estou precisando de saber se a Júlia como está menina em sofrendo estou priocupada não me sai da cabeça se Júlia já encontrou os pais por favor que se passa com Júlia

[@sandrabattle770]

Loose women darnt say what they really think so for me they are hypocritical.

[@MissJensk1]

No, my parenting didn't change, because I never left my child alone. The McCanns should have been prosecuted.. Terrible parents.

[@natashakershaw4222]

Other girls being mistaken for Madeleine would be less confusing if people remembered that she was getting older over the years. They should have remembered that she would not be a toddler forever, when mistaking younger girls for her, if that was the case.

[@bernardmclarnon6613]

I'm convinced Maddy is in Eire

[@DavidDamen-ve7br]

if she is alive they could easily have changed her face and got plastic surgery the only way to now its her is by a dna test or finger print

[@aoifecomerford4652]

She is dide they killed her rip madelin mccann

[@MissJensk1]

Fyi Jane Moore, it isn't "fascinating", its horrific. And Amelie doesn't look just like Madeleine, she looks like Gerry while Madeleine looked like Kate.

[@brettjayne7188]

Should be in prison 💯

[@louiseleo5574]

And after offering did you sit in the room with that child? The person in the wrong here was the one who took the little girl.

[@jonmills5097]

But they wouldn’t have been able to take the little girl if the little girl wasn’t left alone

[@MissJensk1]

IF anyone took her, & its a big if, it was only possible because she had been abandoning.

[@bamz9067]

I think they trafficked her

[@neildisley7779]

They should've definitely been charged with child neglect, working class parents wouldn't have got off with it.