By Calvin Palmer
A time-honored empty threat issued by parents to children squabbling in a car turned into reality for two young girls when their New York mother stopped the car, told them to get out and then drove off.
But turning the threat into reality landed Madlyn Primoff, 45, of Scarsdale, in court. Yesterday she pleaded not guilty to endangering a child.
A temporary order of protection was issued, barring the partner in a Manhattan law firm from contact with the children.
White Plains police said Primoff ordered her two arguing daughters, aged 10 and 12, out of the car as they were driving home on Sunday. She left them in downtown White Plains about three miles from their home.
The 12-year-old managed to catch up with the car and she was allowed back inside.
The 10-year-old was found by a passer-by on the street, upset and emotional about losing her mother. The passer-by bought her an ice-cream and contacted the police.
The girl told them she lived in Scarsdale and White Plains police contacted police in Scarsdale.
A short time later, Primoff called Scarsdale police to report her 10-year-old daughter as missing and was told the girl was safe at White Plains police headquarters.
Primoff, accompanied by her husband and older daughter, showed up at the police headquarters later that evening and was immediately arrested.
Dr. Richard Gersh, director of psychiatric services at the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services in Manhattan, said Primoff’s behavior was not appropriate.
“It is a traumatic situation for a child to be abandoned by a parent like that. You can imagine what emotional issues might arise,” he said.
Apparently, the good doctor has given the girl a Get Out of Jail Free card. Any future anti-social behavior or criminal activity can now be traced back to the time when her mother threw her out of the car and left her behind.
On the other hand it might teach the young lady that her mother is not just a cash cow to indulge her every whim but is, in fact, in charge.
And Primoff’s action may well leave both daughters with the lasting impression that their mother says what she means and means what she says, Child Protection Services permitting, of course.
[Based on reports by the Associated Press and Lower Hudson Journal.]
My mother told me the story about how she left my sister on the side of the road and drove off because my sister was doing something that annoyed her, I don’t remember what her reason was.
My mother would laugh and tell us how when she finally drove back to pick her up her face was all red and she worried that she had been sunburnt but in fact she’d been playing with her lipstic.
I never really questioned the story, my mother described many such things to us growing up with a little chuckle and oh isn’t this cute type sentiment.
But then when I thought about it years later, I thought what kind of a mother leaves a two year old child on the side of a road?
I don’t have contact with her anymore in case you are wondering.
In the case of this woman, I don’t know how I feel. I think it was wrong but after years of experiencing this kind of abuse being trivialized I don’t know what I feel. I think it was wrong.