Since the fate of Punky's mother was never addressed on the show, this is how I would have explained it in a storyline. In Season 2, there's an episode about the citizens of Chicago being terrorized by the "Northside Stalker". As gruesome and dark and maybe outlandish as it might sound, I would have Susan Brewster become a victim of his. To me, there's no good excuse to leave your child behind or one that would not cause the child to harbor resentment or contempt. This is one of very few reasons that would absolve the mother of any fault. My theory is, back in the early -mid 80's, it wasn't that uncommon for parents to leave children in the car while running an errand. My mother who was the best mother in the world left my sister and I in the car occasionally while running into the bank etc. Not that it was a good idea but people weren't as vigilant and aware of child abductions as they are today. So Susan leaves Punky in the car while she runs into the store real quick and somehow falls into the hands of the "Northside Stalker" who is active in the Chicago area but not recognized as a serial killer until Season 2 when the common m.o. among slayings is linked. Now don't be too hard on me, its just a little seed of fan fiction. Anyone have a backstory to explain Susan's abscence?

Well you have to start with her father. He waked out fuirst I belive it was bec ause he probably had issues providing for his family. Then punkysm om becomes dispondent over her husb and walking out and feeling Punky could be raised b eter b y some else leav es her in the parking lot. I figure it is one of those senarios. I was always hoping she would c omeback on the Christmas episode. But then I guess that will kill the whole point of the show.

I figured that she either had poor finances, or had a break down from being a single parent. I dont think that she left her in a car right? She left her in the store i thought....

I actually am in favor of how they handled it on the show. It's a sad but true fact of life that children get abandoned by their parents all the time. Kids who actually were abandoned probably related a lot to Punky. I just wish in the last episode they found Punky's mom so Punky could have some type of closure. It would have been a nice series finale for the mother to appear, Punky & Henry confront her & then all agree it's best that Punky stays with Henry.

That's right. Her remaning out of sighr was never resolved at all. Too bad...

So there were never an explanation why she left Punky and what happened to her mom?

The OP brought up some good points. It was pretty common years ago for people to leave their children in cars while running errands. I wish the show did a further explantion of why Punky was abadoned. But many people who abandon their children sometimes have mental illness. That could have been another possibility.

Yeah.

There are still parents today that leaves there kids in the car when they run into a store real quick. Yeah yesterday I was down in the St.Louis area.Stopped at supermarket to get a donut and a coffee.As I was was getting into my car I scene a woman pulling in with a couple kids and parking and leaving her kids in the car while she ran into the store. Grant it the oldest kid in the car was probably in her early teens. But still theres alot of sickos out there. Hopefully those kids had the car doors locked?
Yeah its to bad they never did an episode of Puny where she found her mom. I wonder if her mom was still in Chicago some where?

Yeah, it could have been a good series final.

Yeah it would of been a good last episode of the series. But instead we got a dog wedding episode.

Yeah it would of been a good last episode of the series. But instead we got a dog wedding episode.

Yes, that is a very different ending.^^