After seeing the two ditches of children and adults being cremated why does Elie's father wish Elie had gone with his mother?

Elie's father wishes Elie had gone with his mother after witnessing the horrific sight of the cremation ditches because he feels immense guilt and sorrow for their situation. He believes that Elie would have been spared the trauma of such brutality and the loss of innocence if he had been with his mother. This moment highlights the despair and helplessness they face, as well as the deep bond and protective instinct of a parent in dire circumstances. Ultimately, it underscores the profound emotional toll of their experiences in the concentration camps.