Where Is Your Focus?

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by having too many tasks to complete? Have you ever accidentally put your children in danger because you were too absorbed in those tasks? Do you want to know how to regain control of the situation? These are vital questions that all employees—especially working parents—need to understand.

An overwhelmed parent is like a tragedy waiting to happen. Many innocent children have lost their lives because of this. They are left alone at home or in cars because their parents have too many things on their minds. So, what can we do to avoid becoming the next statistic?

The first step is to admit that this can happen to anyone, including ourselves. I have personally experienced several moments of panic when I diverted my attention from my children to settle other matters.

I also know a friend who once drove away from a rest area without realizing their children were still in the restroom. Fortunately, no serious incident occurred, even though it only takes a split second of distraction. It can happen to you, and it can happen to me. Therefore, we must remain vigilant and take precautions to prevent tragedy.

The second step is to slow down the pace of life and focus on one thing at a time. In a recent case, Hazwa Abdul Rahim, a school teacher, was reportedly overwhelmed with various tasks on the day of the incident. She was in a rush and deviated from her daily routine. Her mind was cluttered and distracted.

As a result, she left her daughter in the car for several hours, which ultimately led to the child’s death. I believe there is a direct link between an overpacked schedule and being forgetful about certain things. This is not just a local issue; it is a global phenomenon.

Last year, Brenda Slaby, an assistant principal and mother of two from Ohio, experienced a similar tragedy. She left her daughter in the school parking lot while she rushed to finish her work. Eight hours later, her child was found deceased in the backseat of the car. She had forgotten to drop her child off at the babysitter. Following the incident, she was dubbed "the most hated mother in America."

Unlike computers, humans are generally not skilled at multitasking. That is why we should not drive while answering calls or texting. The lesson to be learned is that we must slow down and focus on one task at a time.

Finally, if we are no longer able to handle everything, seek help. Do not wait until something undesirable happens. When there are too many things to do, do not try to solve them all at once. Instead, cooperate with your spouse, and even involve your children to share the load.

However, start by "helping" yourself first. Take time for a brief rest—the rest you so desperately need. A stressed parent is not a good parent. Fill your days with positive thoughts and actions.

Then, involve the whole family. Encourage teamwork by asking them to help around the house. Ask politely and provide plenty of encouragement. Do not expect perfection; let them do it their own way as long as the task gets done. Delegate tasks or hire others if necessary. Hopefully, our burden will become lighter. Without intending to be pessimistic, incidents like this are likely to continue happening. So, let us pray that it does not happen to us.

The good news is, tragedies like this are preventable. We just need to remain vigilant, remind one another of the dangers, and slow down. Hopefully, we will no longer feel too overwhelmed to focus on what matters most—our family.

 

Source Reference: Leaderonomics.com

Date of Input: 09/02/2026 | Updated: 09/02/2026 | syafiqahfirdaus