jaggednib ([info]jaggednib) wrote in [info]parenting101,
2010-03-02 18:52:00
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A "Bad Parent Moment" Question...

I had to pick something up at the pharmacy and it was my last stop after running errands all day. I had my then 5-year-old and then 4-month-old daughters in the car with me. It was December and it was snowing.
I pulled up in front of the pharmacy and decided that I didn't really feel like lugging out both kids AGAIN just to pick up the one item that I needed.
I left the car running right outside the pharmacy (so I could see the car while I was paying), but I locked the doors and ran in. I was in there for LITERALLY less than 5 minutes.
By the time I came outside, there was a van behind my car and this lady was like, "I was just writing you a note! I can't believe you left your kids unattended in the car! That's so dangerous! How could you leave them there? You're lucky I didn't call the police!"
As I'm sure many of you know what it feels like to be at the end of a long day running errands with kids, I told the lady that I was gone for less than 5 minutes and it wasn't a big deal.
"You're an irresponsible parent, don't you know that someone could take them?"
To which I told her I doubt anyone could break into my car AND unbuckle the kids from their seats in the amount of time it took me to get in and out of the pharmacy.

Anyway, bad parent moment? Or bitch needs to mind her own business?

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[info]focus_melanie

March 2 2010, 23:53:51 UTC 2 years ago

bad parent moment, dude. you never leave your kids in the car. its a badddd idea.

[info]chesterismyhero

March 2 2010, 23:55:38 UTC 2 years ago

I agree with the bad parent moment.

Just because someone breaks into your car, doesn't mean they'll leave the kids behind.

[info]maideleh

March 2 2010, 23:56:02 UTC 2 years ago

I feel the need to warn you that this post may blow right up and you might want to turn off your comment notifications.

[info]shechoselove

March 2 2010, 23:56:30 UTC 2 years ago

If you're going to make a post in which you seek validation, try not to make it so blatantly obvious that that's what you're doing.

[info]maideleh

March 2 2010, 23:59:09 UTC 2 years ago

I wish [info]validate_me_lj would take off and these posts would go there. So much potential...

[info]ohhvelocitygirl

March 2 2010, 23:59:05 UTC 2 years ago

I only do that if I'm paying for gas, or walking up to the mail box (which is about ten feet from the street). I think 5 minutes is way too long. I have a less than a minute limit.

[info]alicia_beth

March 3 2010, 00:02:19 UTC 2 years ago

When you're paying for gas don't you still need to go inside and wait to be rung up? Maybe it's different here but when I go pay for gas it takes much longer then a minute.

[info]sherbearlove

2 years ago

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[info]alicia_beth

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[info]rochelle

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[info]ohhvelocitygirl

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[info]ohhvelocitygirl

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[info]cschick

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[info]srs_breakfast

March 2 2010, 23:59:12 UTC 2 years ago

Not a good idea to leave kids in the car.

Also not a good idea to meddle, so even though she was technically right, she was morally wrong in my book.

[info]livii

March 3 2010, 00:06:12 UTC 2 years ago

Not morally right? That's a really weird thing to say. It's not meddling if kids are left locked in a running car, dude, it's called being socially - even morally - responsible. Fucked up.

[info]syanorra

2 years ago

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[info]srs_breakfast

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[info]alicia_beth

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[info]mellybrelly

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[info]alacrity_danger

March 3 2010, 00:00:33 UTC 2 years ago

Bad and very illegal here. There have been cases of people stealing cars with the kids in them.

[info]alicia_beth

March 3 2010, 00:01:18 UTC 2 years ago

Yea...no that's bad parenting and you are damn lucky she didn't call the police..

[info]karebear82

March 3 2010, 00:01:23 UTC 2 years ago

Bad parent moment. Youre lucky it was some lady and not a cop.

[info]schmooops

March 3 2010, 00:02:53 UTC 2 years ago

You left your kids in the car, you left the car running, and you're really asking if that's okay?

I call troll. Either that, or ... wow.

[info]livii

March 3 2010, 00:03:03 UTC 2 years ago

Anytime I do 2+ stops I want to just leave my son in the car, rather than lugging out the stroller or getting him into a carrier. Doesn't mean I do it.

I'm kinda hoping you're trolling. Srs bad parent moment. You are lucky she didn't call the cops.

[info]spiderbabyx

March 3 2010, 00:04:32 UTC 2 years ago

It depends on where you are, really. If you could see the car the entire time and you were there briefly, probably not a big deal unless you were in a bad neighborhood or something.

[info]focus_melanie

March 3 2010, 00:07:13 UTC 2 years ago

really?

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[info]rainshowers

2 years ago

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[info]syanorra

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[info]livii

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[info]rainshowers

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[info]livii

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[info]ninaf

March 3 2010, 00:05:05 UTC 2 years ago

A mother left her kids in the car while she ran a quick errand in Seattle. Someone stole her car... and kids.

A bad idea.

[info]thiscantbesoy

March 3 2010, 00:34:40 UTC 2 years ago

:( Did she ever get her kids back?

[info]queencrckt

2 years ago

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[info]krysteena

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[info]rainshowers

March 3 2010, 00:06:44 UTC 2 years ago

Um how was she supposed to know how long you'd been gone or were planning to be gone?

I agree that lugging kids around is a pain in the ass, so schedule all your errands at once or have someone come along to help you. Even if I'm just going into the gas station to pay, my kid comes with me. I can't imagine leaving him alone in the car for any amount of time.

Bad parenting moment for sure.

[info]brokenpretzel

March 6 2010, 13:47:59 UTC 2 years ago

Same here. My daughter always gets unbuckled and comes inside with me for the 30 seconds it takes to hand cash to the teller. I also remind her father whenever I know he is going to get gas while she is in the car, he has to take her out. I'd rather deal with a one year old's temper tantrum about having to get back into the seat right away than something horrible happen. Thousands of possibilities exist at every moment.

[info]syanorra

March 3 2010, 00:07:21 UTC 2 years ago

Even though I hate meddlers, that woman was right. I'd have done the same thing she did. How ridiculously irresponsible.

[info]alocin

March 3 2010, 00:07:51 UTC 2 years ago

I'd do it. I've done it. But. BUT.. I NEVER EVER EVER leave the car running. If it's going to be too hot or too cold, then i pile them all out (or invite a friend to car/baby sit :p But if it's a run in/run out kinda deal, I leave them in the car.

With the car running there's too much potential for opportunistic thieves to take off with it. It's happened a few times in Australia, even one woman just putting the stroller into the boot at the shopping centre! :O :O

[info]nothingmuch

March 3 2010, 00:09:19 UTC 2 years ago

:(

[info]thiscantbesoy

March 3 2010, 00:10:25 UTC 2 years ago

It doesn't matter how inconvenient it is. You never leave your kids alone in the car. Think of what COULD happen. Yes, someone COULD break into the car and drive it away and kidnap your kids (you left the car RUNNING? with the KEYS INSIDE? are you CRAZY?). I would be terrified someone would take my kids. Or, the car could roll away down a hill if there was one. They could choke on something in the car. And on and on. I mean, maybe these are unlikely, but they are POSSIBLE, and would you ever forgive yourself? Is it ever worth it to take even the slimmest chance? No way in hell.

BAD PARENT MOMENT. Bad.

[info]sxdx

March 3 2010, 00:11:12 UTC 2 years ago

I would have called the police on you.

[info]perchedoutside

March 3 2010, 00:11:32 UTC 2 years ago

I would have called the police on you to be honest.

[info]anaralia

March 3 2010, 00:15:04 UTC 2 years ago

Goddammit I hate meddlers and I want to take your side here just on principle, but I can't. Sorry.

[info]mercury47

March 3 2010, 00:16:34 UTC 2 years ago

Depending on what state you live in, it's illegal and you could have been arrested. Seriously bad move.

[info]shechoselove

March 3 2010, 00:17:27 UTC 2 years ago

Why assume the OP is American?

[info]aerynmoo

2 years ago

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[info]shechoselove

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[info]aerynmoo

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[info]deadchickens

March 3 2010, 00:23:09 UTC 2 years ago

Kids are so damn inconvenient.

[info]flockofgulls

March 3 2010, 01:00:42 UTC 2 years ago Edited:  March 3 2010, 01:03:51 UTC

THIS.

Sarcasm aside...I guess I'm just too paranoid and too schooled on all the bad things that CAN and have happened to ever take the chance.

[info]__knifefights_

2 years ago

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[info]faithandworks

2 years ago

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[info]bluejupiter

March 3 2010, 00:24:37 UTC 2 years ago

I'm gonna have to go on the side of a LITTLE BIT of a bad parent moment. I hate dragging my kid out of the car too, but I always look at it this way: My child is the most important thing in the world to me. I wouldn't leave my PURSE in my car, so why would I leave my kid?

But I don't think you're a bad mom by any stretch. I think you were a stressed out, overwhelmed mom. :)

[info]inkprincess

March 3 2010, 00:26:42 UTC 2 years ago

Bad parent. Sorry.
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