" If the parking brake had been engaged, like the manual recommends...in any case, this must have been a lot older car, if it could be taken out of Park without pusing the brake pedal (there again, the parking brake would have given good service). "

" About 35 years ago when I was three I did this. Back then it was still safe to leave your kids in the car while you ran inside the grocery store for a minute. Mom left me and the sister in the car, parked in front of the store on a slope. I put it in gear while messing around with the buttons, but we were saved from disaster by an observant and fast store clerk who saw the car start rolling backwards into the lane.

These days there's no way I'd let my young child out of my sight. Too many ways for them to come to harm, especially at that age. Mom needs to rethink her child-watching decisions, apparently. "

" she should have been ticketed because she left her 2 yr old to play with other kids! "

" Not to mention the folly of allowing a 2-year-old to play outside without a responsible person watching - he could have easily run into the path of a car. Toddlers this age have no fear, and must be watched. If an older sibling (of an age deemed to be responsible) was in charge, he/she should have a severe warning, if not, Mom should have the lecture by someone who will make an impression. "

" For one thing, who regularly engages their parking brake? And another, the mother was doing laundry-not something neglectful. Toddlers are quick and obviously some of you haven't taken of small children. I'm not making excuses but try walking in her shoes. I'm glad the kid was OK and I"m sure the mother was plenty terrified when she realized what happened. Maybe one of you should offer to babysit for an hour instead of critical. "

" FINGERPOINTER- Well said!

Hey maybe we should pass a law requiring all children under the age of 4 to be leashed and connected to their parent. Then again a twelve year old could have done the same thing.
This is an unfortunate situation but let's be thankful that nothing worse happened. A lesson learned. "

" Yeah, yeah,yeah, shoulda woulda coulda. Bet it doesn't happen with this young mother again. My niece did the same thing when she was 4, took out their own gas lamp in the front yard, never happened again. Too bad that's what it takes sometimes, just glad no one was hurt. "

" Was the car running outside? It says the toddler put it in gear, now, if it was a manual transmission, then the kid would have had to put it in neutral and it would have rolled. That part is a little fuzzy, regardless, I'd say mom is responsible and should've gotten a ticket. How dangerous for the kid and everyone around. "

" Actually yes, "Fingerpointer," the mom was being neglectful bc she was not watching her kids at all times. What was her 2 yr doing playing with other kids & not a responsible adult or teen there with them? And yes, "KBD," having children on leashes at all times is not a bad idea. I plan on having my children wear the "kiddie harnesses/leashes" that I've seen parents use at them parks & zoos. If Omaha's anything like Lincoln, I'm sure the laundramat wasn't in a great section of town. Shame on you mom! The sad thing is, she probably won't learn her lesson as the cops weren't allowed to ticket her. "

" Why does this have to be a YOUNG mother nemo?? A mother of any age could have been that careless. That is very scary considering all the sick people around, thank goodness everyone was ok. The mother is lucky and hope that she takes this lesson with her. "

" To W:

I take it you dont have any kids? So many people do not realize that having a child is not just telling them "ok son, now you sit here and dont move until moms done". They are kids, one minute they're with you the next they are running around and going where ever they can. if you want to have your children leashed up like animals, that is up to you. But like the rest of us are saying, I am sure it wont happen to that mother again, i think the scare was bad enough for any parent. For all of you that dont have a 2 year old, try taking care of just one for a day or two and then you will see how it is! Kids dont need to be leashed up! No matter how great of a parent you think you may be, things will happen, whether it is this or a child breaking something or doing any number of things that we do not approve of. "

" Okay, kids on leashes? really, now how well do you think your kid is going to grow up. Kids don't learn because we tell them that the stove is hot, kids learn because they touch the hot stove and realize we weren't lying, growing up is a learning experience, children are curious so yea, you may have to keep an eye on them at ALL times, but this is reality, I wouldn't believe some one if they told me that they kept their on their child at ALL times. At least she is responsible and washes her children's clothes! I grew up with kids whose parents didn't even do that! She wasn't being neglectful, she might want to get a different car :) but not being neglectful, hell what about that commercial where they show the little boy getting in the family car, putting it in reverse and running into another car? no one got in an uproar about that? "

" I'm surprised no one mentioned something quite obvious--why wasn't the car locked in the first place?? In this day and age, who leaves their car unlocked when parked in a public place, particularly for the length of time it takes to do laundry? "

" I can promis you that there are always and I mean always two sides to a story..period..end of story..no other way around it. I can see how some think the mother was at fault and I can see how some think she was not. Technically speaking, she was at fault (providing the child was under her care at that time). If she was watching her child and her child made it into the car and then put the car in N, who's fault was it then? Not the child's, he/she is too young to be responsible for thier own actions. If this were not the case, we would have a prison full of toddlers. Point is, someone is too blame and there is only a problem when everyone involved points fingers at everyone else but themselves. The mom could have and probably did say, you know what, I should have been paying attention, I am too blame. She already learned from this lesson and given the situation, it was hardly neglect so what is the big deal. Accidents happen, people are to blame but that does not mean there have to be consequences. I am curious how a 2 year old made it into the car by himself. If it was an older car, I would assume he had trouble with the handle unless he is a super man two year old. "

" Two year olds have the ability to get into cars, new or old, two door or four, or an SUV for that matter, and when they do, they try every conceivable switch, button and handle they can find. If you don't believe me, take a two-year old to a car dealership and turn them loose. Any door that will open, they will open and get into the car.
Put them on a leash? No. Parent them properly? Yes. Take responsibility for them at that age? Yes. Glad the child and others escaped serious injury. "

" No way my 3 year old daughter is going outside to play without supervision...period. I'm glad there was no harm to the child and hope that mom learned her lesson. If I can do laundry as a single parent without having my child run loose, so can she! Kids are a gift, treat them like it! "

" To the Mother of this child: I'm so happy your child wasn't hurt. All of us have children who have done something potentially dangerous, and it
wasn't because they weren't being watched. We don't have eyes in the backs of our heads and we all do the best we can. "

" I'm prety sure that my mom had eyes on the back of her head! Letting kids play in cars is just downright dangerous... Let us be glad that they weren't in the trunk! "

" Are you serious!!??? Ticketing the woman for letting her kid go out and play with other kids...!!??? "

" I am at a loss for words... A two year old playing in or near a parking lot? I wish I could say I can protect my toddler from everything, but that's not realistic. OUT in public, you better believe that he doesn't leave my site. I hope she learned her lesson, LUCKY MOM. "

" This 2 year old should have his license suspended until he`s 16 "

" Yes, why don't we get ticket happy? Maybe we should take her kids away so we can support more kids in the system! Get a grip, this was an accident and it could happen to anyone. Kids are sneaky and you can't watch them every minute or you'd go crazy. When you read all the ticket happy people's comments on here you can tell they either don't have kids, forgotten the things their kids have done, or just it hasn't happened YET!

Our society has gotten out of hand with the blame game and making sure someone is always responsible. We all need to remember that Accidents do happen, that is why they are called Accidents! "

" As a mother if two young boys, all I have to say is, I'm glad everyone is okay!
(Ticket the mother! For crying out loud!) "

" i have a baby and im 17 i don't see anywhere in this story were it says the mother is a teen or even young my daughter is with someone at all times me or my boyfriend and if e are not able to be there wee take her to daycare i would like it if everyone would stop suggesting that teen mothers are negligent "

" I did the same thing when I was 4 or so (about 35 years ago). I was playing in the car. Lucky it was in our driveway and I just rolled in to a grass area at the end of the driveway. My Mom and Grandma yelling banging on the windows as I rolled down the driveway is one of my few memories from thoes years. "