kids left alone in cars

[itsmecrisi]

What do you do???

I was in a very busy parking lot this.morning. I got out of my car and heard the car next to me still going but really didnt think twice about it. I went inside and bought gift cards and came back out. Same car still running at a glance I cant see anyone in the car. As I got closer, I saw a little girl no.more than two wide awake alone and calling for her.Mama. I get close to the car enough to use my soothing Mommy voice and called 911. I explained the situation. They immediately dispatched the firemen (merry.christmas to me) and the police. After 15 mins of waiting the Mom comes out of the UPS store and starts yelling at me that it was not neceasary to call anyone as her.kid was sick and her hands were full with boxes that had to be mailed out for Christmas. And that her daughter was sick with croup.

Ummm hello. No.matter what you.never leave a kid in the car. Kids die here in Texas all the time cause.of this mainly in the summer. Anyways. First of all, wait for your hubby or a friend someone to come over so you can run to the store if your child is too sick. Better yet UPS will pick up your package from home. And lastly, dont be an idiot. So the firemen couldnt do anything. The polive told the idiot that she should be thankful a nice Mommy was.concerned for her child instead.of just smashing her window and kidnapping her child. According to the officier that is the number one way a.child is abducted.
The lady did say.she was watching her car the whole time. I told the officier that had.to be a.lie as I was standing next to her car for 20 mins and she never once popped her head.out of the store. To me if I looked out the store window and someone was hanging by my car I would have been out there even if Monk wasnt in the car.


Whew. Sorry had to vent.

[Kim]

the cop should have arrested her...

[Kayline]

You did the right thing. The police should have reported her to social services.

[Kim]

yep and arrested the mom...that is what is wrong with people...Oh overlook and then stuff happens to kids..Because of things like this that cops overlook....So hey why not suzie homemaker did it so why can't we..UGH!!! OK Bad subject..

[kmath]

It was good of you to stop and try to help that little girl. I can't believe the cops didn't do anything. That is just crap.

[Kerri]

Kid was sick, her hands were full

WTFever ...she's damn lucky!

I personally have done it BUT they've been 10 or 11 or 12 ... or 8 ... and it really is only for a few seconds

[Tara]

I saw your status about this earlier. Good for you! I would have probably done the same thing. Can't stand when parents make dumb decisions like that. I can understand leaving older kids in the car....but a two year old. OMG!

[kmath]

Yeah, a 2 year old in the car only and for over 30 min?! WTH was that woman thinking? I wouldn't even leave my 7 yo alone in the car that long.

[Kayline]

Hmmm...I thought perhaps leaving a child in a car wasn't illegal in TX but, according to the TX Dept. of Family and Protective Services, it is:

Can I leave a child alone in my car for a short period of time?
Answer: No. Do not leave a child in a motor vehicle for any length of time. If children are trapped inside cars, especially in hot weather, they can suffer from heat exhaustion or heat stroke in a matter of minutes, leading to permanent disability or death.
Heat stroke, also known as hyperthermia, can cause shock, seizures, irregular heartbeat, and heart attack, as well as brain, liver, and kidney damage.
Leaving a child unattended in a car is aa crime that is punishable under the Texas Penal Code, Title 5, Chapter 22, Section 10:

Sec. 22.10. LEAVING A CHILD IN A VEHICLE. (a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly leaves a child in a motor vehicle for longer than five minutes, knowing that the child is:
(1) younger than seven years of age; and
(2) not attended by an individual in the vehicle who is 14 years of age or older.
(b) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.

Leaving a child unattended in a car is also a form of neglectful supervision that is investigated by Child Protective Services.

She definitely should have been cited at the very least.

[itsmecrisi]

Wonder why he didnt cite her then?? Hmmmm

[Kim]

didn't want to waste his time especially with all that had went on Friday... Too bad you didn't know the cops name...If you did I would turn his butt in...

[kmath]

You would think with the tragedy on Friday he would want to make sure that baby was safe.

[BabyCakes]

That is just crazy. I can't believe that she would leave her for one minute, much less for over 20. I mean what if she had gotten up front & shifted the car into gear?! It could happen!

[Darlene]

If it had been me and the cop didn't site her for leaving that kid in the car, I would've got HIS name and badge no and turned him in!

[Tara]

Yeah, a 2 year old in the car only and for over 30 min?! WTH was that woman thinking? I wouldn't even leave my 7 yo alone in the car that long.

I won't even leave my girls in the car for 10 secs to return a grocery cart...! Yes, I'm that parent but I feel like it takes just a few seconds for something crazy to happen. Things may change once they get a little older but right now...I'd rather deal with the inconvenience than see something terrible happen. I'm still trying to figure out how I'll make this work with 3 kiddos under the age of 3.

[itsmecrisi]

Tara I think you and are the same in that aspect. I imagine you will just wait to your hubby gets home.to do some things. At least until Gracie is big enough to start helping a little.more

[itsmecrisi]

And you all are right it just takes seconds. And I told that to the Mom. I told her I could have easily smashed her windows and taken her child!!! It just kills me that someone did this to a child.

I think about it this way, I chose to bring you in this world so it is my obligation to have you there with me. Regardless if you are sick or my hands are full.

PS Monk and I have a deal that when I have to have my hands full she is to hold on to my purse strap.

To think some people are so casual about their children. I wish I had thought to get the officiers name and badge. The Mom kept repeatedly making snarky comments to me that she was not a.perfect Mom like me. Ummmmm you all know enpugh about me to know I am not.perfect by far never claimed to be. But I did get to stick it to her when Monk and her friend started asking for drinks and snacks and I went to my trunk and pulled out juice boxes and goldfish boxes. Hahaha a good mom is always prepared!!!

[Kim]

I would have opened a can of whoop ass on her. I don't deal with that and that cop would have known about it. I would have got his name,badge number make and model plus plate number on the mom's car and turned their a**es in... Can't deal with child abuse and this is a form of it.. NEGLECT. I know I am not perfect no one is but damn it look it how things are now a days...unreal..

[Gissele]

That cop should of arrested her. It is illegal in Texas. It's also illegal in Fl to leave a child in the car while it's running. We have had many incidents were a child is taken along for the ride due to a car jacking. Thankfully, most if not all have been recovered safely. As the car jacker doesn't want to be arrested for kidnapping. I do leave the kids in the car but they are older and the only time I leave my 6 yr and 4 yr old in the car is in my drive way when I have to run back into the house to get something. Although, technically, that is also illegal here in Fl. They do not want you to ever leave your child unattended.

[Gissele]

BTW we did have a mother arrested because she left her kid in the car while it was running in her driveway. There was more to the story, I think the car was in the process of getting stolen or something but she was to blame as well.

[Aimee]

two is way to young to be left in the car alone. glad the baby was ok and nothing bad happened!

[Tara]

That cop should of arrested her. It is illegal in Texas. It's also illegal in Fl to leave a child in the car while it's running. We have had many incidents were a child is taken along for the ride due to a car jacking. Thankfully, most if not all have been recovered safely. As the car jacker doesn't want to be arrested for kidnapping. I do leave the kids in the car but they are older and the only time I leave my 6 yr and 4 yr old in the car is in my drive way when I have to run back into the house to get something. Although, technically, that is also illegal here in Fl. They do not want you to ever leave your child unattended.

I am guilty of this! I will leave both girls in the car, in the garage with the door closed, if I forget something in the house. I never leave the car running and *always* make sure the garage door is closed.

[Aimee]

I am guilty of this! I will leave both girls in the car, in the garage with the door closed, if I forget something in the house. I never leave the car running and *always* make sure the garage door is closed.

I think this is totally different. They are inside your garage. I have done this too. I think that's different then leaving your kid in a public parking lot for that length of time why you go into somewhere. Maybe that's just me .

[Gissele]

Guys be careful when leaving the kids in the garage. Sadly a coworker of mine lost his niece that way. They lived up in Utah. His sister got home and the baby was sleeping in the back of the car so she left her there. Went back in the house etc. Not sure how long she was gone for but she came back to find the baby dead. If I remember correctly she baby overheated because she had her jacket on and blankets covering her. We only think about this during the summer but winter is just as bad. The little girl was about two at the time. Such such heartbreak.

[kmath]

Oh wow G, that is really sad. I wouldn't even think about it in Winter but that is a good point with how bundled up some kids get.

[Kim]

sorry to hear G

[tootsie roll]

That is so sad, Gissele

Tara - could you have Graci walk alongside of you, the newborn in the carrier, and Ava in the front basket? Or for small trips, put the two smallest in a double stroller, have Graci walk, and put the items in the basket underneath the stroller. That is what I do with the twins now. When they were infants, I would only do groceries when dh or another adult was there to help. It got stressful if they both needed to nurse while out in public.

Back to the topic, I totally agree with what you did, crisi, and would have been disgusted by the reaction of the mom and police officer. I always park right next to a cart return so that I am never more than a few feet away from my kids at all times.

I have parked in our driveway with the car locked and the twins inside buckled while I ran into the house to grab something, but never for more than a minute. We also are on the end of a court, and three of our neighbors are retired and often out and about.

[Kim]

your twins are getting so big...they are beautiful

[Gissele]

Check this out guys, they were arrested yesterday.
http://www.wesh.com/news/central-flo...a/-/index.html

[kmath]

Seriously, they left the kid in the car to go to an amusement park?! WTF is wrong with people?!