WESLACO – The Weslaco Police Department says a 24-year-old mother of six didn’t report her child missing until five hours after leaving the child behind.

Marina Alvarez is a self-proclaimed proud mama bear. The mother of two said a good mother is also a good bodyguard.

“We just have to take care of them,” Alvarez said. “They don’t know better, like the dangers, so I keep her always with me. I mean we always have to look out for them.”

On Saturday, Weslaco City Park was packed with children having the time of their lives celebrating this year’s Easter holiday.

Sgt. Bernie Garza with the Weslaco Police department said later that evening something went wrong.

“The kid was obviously overlooked, which happened to be the two-year-old little girl,” he explained.

Garza explained the mother, Anissa Flores, left the toddler unattended at the park.

He said the mother of six was home for over an hour before realizing she had left one of her children at the park.

Flores is now facing charges.

“Abandonment and endangering a child, which is a state jail felony, which is the minimum of 180 days, six months in jail or up to two years maximum,” Garza told CHANNEL 5 NEWS.

Garza said thankfully, a Good Samaritan found the child and drove her to the police department.

The toddler is now in the custody of Child Protective Services.

Garza advises parents do the following before leaving a location.

“Do a roll call, so to speak. You know, call by name, ‘Is everybody here?’ And then proceed home or wherever you’re going,” he explained.

Garza also suggested dressing the entire family in the same color, family-reunion style, when visiting crowded events.

He said that way family members can be easily spotted.

Alvarez told us she’ll continue to stick to her kids like glue.

Garza explained the 2-year-old will remain in CPS custody until another family member steps forward to accept responsibility of the toddler.