this was one long article but did read it. I have to confess my mental model was mainly a continued neglect and “the kid will be fine in the car alone for five minutes” and then forgetting the kid kind of situations. But a memory lapse without intentional leaving is apparently quite possible.

“I was that guy, before. I’d read the stories, and I’d go, ‘What were those parents thinking?’ “

Yea I am this guy, luckily I am not planning to make kids so I hopefully will never have to find myself in his shoes (and can keep making blatant generalizations :p)