Say What Now? Single Mom Arrested for ‘Abandoning’ Her Kids at the Food Court While Interviewing for a Job 30 ft. Away

Laura Browder, a single mother of two kids, was looking for a fresh start in Houston.

She took her 6-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son along with her to a Houston mall where she had a job interview. She didn’t have enough time to arrange for child care, so she sat her children down in the food court near a McDonald’s and went to her interview — also in the food court. The interview wasn’t for a job at the mall, but both parties agreed to meet there.

According to Browder, she wasn’t more than 30 feet away from her children at any point and they were always in her line of sight. After Browder returned to her children, a police officer walked up to where they were and arrested her just moments after she had accepted the job.

CPS officials say they’re still in the early stages of their investigation, but added they could offer services to help Browder find suitable daycare.

In a statement, Browder said:

This was very unfortunate this happened. I had a interview with a very great company with lots of career growth. I am a college student and mother of two. I would never put my name, background or children in harms way intentionally. I have a promising future ahead of me regardless of what the media tries to portray me as. A judge released my children to me knowing that I was a good mother who just made a not so smart decision. My children weren’t even 30 yards away from me, I fed them and sat there with them until it was time to meet with my interviewer. This too will pass and I am not concerned with outsiders have to say or what they think.

She appeared before a judge who released her and gave her full custody of her children.

[via KHOU]