California mom leaves food, bedtime instructions for 4-year-old; goes out with friends for 7 hrs

[Liberal_in_LA]

California mom abandoned her 4-year-old daughter at home for at least seven hours while she went out with friends, authorities said.

Bing Chen, 28, later told police the girl was fine because she’d left food and instructions telling her when to eat and go to bed, cops said.

Neighbors told investigators they’d heard a child crying since about 3 p.m. on Monday and finally called the manager of the Rancho Cucamonga apartment complex about 8:25 p.m.

A San Bernardino Sheriff’s deputy responded and found the girl alone. The child’s father was in Taiwan on business and told investigators the mother was supposed to be watching the toddler, cops said.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/california-mom-abandons-4-year-old-food-instructions-article-1.2188535

[niyad]

1. I wouldn't have waited 5 hours to call management.

[hedda_foil]

2. That poor baby.

What could have been wrong with the mother to expect a four year old to stay alone for hours, much less to understand the instructions a parent might give a babysitter?