How Can Parents Be So Clueless?

[rockydek]

I came out of the grocery store today and parked in front of my car was a high end car (not that it really matters what kind of car it was) RUNNING, wipers going, with a little girl and a small dog in the front seat. I was stunned. As luck would have it there was a local police cruiser in the parking lot. He approached the girl, found out her name, age, 5, and the fact that her mother was in the store. So we waited and waited. Roughly 15-20 minutes later out walks the mother. She wasn't even concerned that the police were at her car. To make a long story short, I had some not so kind words for her. She in turn told me to mind my own business numerous times, waving her hand in my face and so on. I guess I was a little stunned. I am sure nothing will happen to her, but the woman really needs some parenting tips.

To top it off, also today in a separate town, a car was stolen with a sleeping child in it. Apparently, the carjacker had second thoughts because that child is fine.

Okay, let me have it. Should I have gone on my merry way without contacting the police? Who else would have stuck their nose in the situation?
Any men out there who would have done the same?

I live in Mass and saw the news when the car was stolen with a child in it...When the father was questioned ,by the reporter, the father became sarcastic to him....Some people try to redirect a wrong doing by becoming rude and defensive...You could of saved that little girl from harm by sticking around...Good for you.

 

[kt_mom]

I live in Mass and saw the news when the car was stolen with a child in it...When the father was questioned ,by the reporter, he became sarcastic to him....Some people try to redirect a wrong doing by becoming rude and defensive...You could of saved that little girl from harm by sticking around...Good for you.

No, the police were already there. There was no reason for the OP to wait around for the child's parent to return. Like she said the policeman was there and waited for the parent. It only benefited the OP ego to stick around and tell the parent off. She should have left it in the hands of the officer at that point.

 

[rockydek]

 

[rockydek]

No, the police were already there. There was no reason for the OP to wait around for the child's parent to return. Like she said the policeman was there and waited for the parent. It only benefited the OP ego to stick around and tell the parent off. She should have left it in the hands of the officer at that point.

Why all the bashing for this OP...I can only see the tragedy that might have been avoided. More people need to get involved...Maybe a lambasting from another parent may get an irresponsible parent thinking.

 

[kt_mom]

I give her credit... for stepping up...The OP took time out of her day to make sure this child was okay...Maybe just Maybe she was justified in being angry at the woman. Its like doing someone elses job for free. Just saying

I disagree. I don't think she was in the right at all. She alerted the police officer who came over and waited at the car. Anything beyond that is just being a busy body, especially starting an altercation with the woman.

The only job she was doing was the police officers. Its absolutely ridiculous behavior for a grown adult to stick around with the sole purpose of telling the other parent off.

 

[Wadecool]

Save your breath. I've had this debate with Wade earlier this year. Not only will he call the police no matter what, BUT he will wait around until they get there so he can give the police the parents license plate number. Even if the horrible parent has gotten back in the car and safely left with the children. I haven't gone back and looked at that thread, but I'm fairly certain I've got the right poster.

No need to go back and look up the other thread, you've got the right poster.

 

[kt_mom]

Why all the bashing for this OP...I can only see the tragedy that might have been avoided. More people need to get involved...Maybe a lambasting from another parent may get an irresponsible parent thinking.

I find that approach usually does not accomplish what the person is aiming for. And most likely only serves to boost the ego of the person doing the lambasting.

If someone feels it necessary to call the police because of a child in a car, that's fine. That's their right. But sticking around to tell the parents off is not something to be praised.

 

[rockydek]

Lesson over

 

[Glennie5]

I disagree. I don't think she was in the right at all. She alerted the police officer who came over and waited at the car. Anything beyond that is just being a busy body, especially starting an altercation with the woman.

The only job she was doing was the police officers. Its absolutely ridiculous behavior for a grown adult to stick around with the sole purpose of telling the other parent off.

Really - ridiculous? You were there then to decide that her reason for getting involved was just to be a busy body and not to make sure that the child was safe? I think coming here to bash the OP and to try and re fight something with Wade that happened in a previous post may just make you the busy body!

 

[mjkacmom]

Really - ridiculous? You were there then to decide that her reason for getting involved was just to be a busy body and not to make sure that the child was safe? I think coming here to bash the OP and to try and re fight something with Wade that happened in a previous post may just make you the busy body!

Alerting the police is not being a busy body - hanging around and verbally assaulting the women, to the point that the cops asked the OP to leave the scene, did more harm than good. Putting people on the defense will not make them realize the error of their ways - probably has the opposite effect.

 

[jodifla]

Really - ridiculous? You were there then to decide that her reason for getting involved was just to be a busy body and not to make sure that the child was safe? I think coming here to bash the OP and to try and re fight something with Wade that happened in a previous post may just make you the busy body!

Absolutely a busybody! She waited around just to harass and lecture the woman. Completely not her place.

Actually, vigilante might be a better term than busybody.

 

[kt_mom]

Wade and I are not fighting. At least not that I'm aware of. I did point out to another poster that she was not going to change his mind that I had already been through this with him. I didn't seek him out though. I just happened on a thread that he was also on that covered a topic that we had discussed before.

 

[Glennie5]

Wade and I are not fighting. At least not that I'm aware of. I did point out to another poster that she was not going to change his mind that I had already been through this with him. I didn't seek him out though. I just happened on a thread that he was also on that covered a topic that we had discussed before.

Then I must apologize to you! It just seems like Wade and others have had a lot of heat on this post for sharing their opinion. I should not have jumped to that conclusion.

 

[Wadecool]

Wade and I are not fighting. At least not that I'm aware of. I did point out to another poster that she was not going to change his mind that I had already been through this with him. I didn't seek him out though. I just happened on a thread that he was also on that covered a topic that we had discussed before.

We are definitely not fighting! Nothing but love for you kt!

 

[Wadecool]

It just seems like Wade and others have had a lot of heat on this post for sharing their opinion.

It's all good! Besides, it's easy to take the heat when you're right.

 

[kt_mom]

Then I must apologize to you! It just seems like Wade and others have had a lot of heat on this post for sharing their opinion. I should not have jumped to that conclusion.

No problem. There's a little history between the two of us on this topic. My intention was not to be nasty to Wade at all. I think we sort of came to an agreement of sorts that neither of us was going to change our view on this topic.

 

[Stitch76]

I am amazed at the amount of carelessness some people use with their children. I may be overprotective of my kids, but better that than being on the TV crying and begging for my kids to be returned, or crying at their funeral because of something I did.
Parents will leave their child alone, or unsupervised in a dangerous situation, and when something happens the first words out of their mouths are "I was only gone a minute" or "I don't know how that happened", well "it happened", because they were too busy with THEIR life, to take care of their kids.
I have always thought that you should have to have a licence to breed! You have to have a licence to marry, drive, hunt, run a business, but just anybody can raise a baby????? I'm sorry, just because you can pop out a kid, doesn't mean you can PARENT a kid.

 

[kt_mom]

I am amazed at the amount of carelessness some people use with their children. I may be overprotective of my kids, but better that than being on the TV crying and begging for my kids to be returned, or crying at their funeral because of something I did.
Parents will leave their child alone, or unsupervised in a dangerous situation, and when something happens the first words out of their mouths are "I was only gone a minute" or "I don't know how that happened", well "it happened", because they were too busy with THEIR life, to take care of their kids.
I have always thought that you should have to have a licence to breed! You have to have a licence to marry, drive, hunt, run a business, but just anybody can raise a baby????? I'm sorry, just because you can pop out a kid, doesn't mean you can PARENT a kid.

Its impossible to protect our children from every danger out there. As parents its our job to assess the situations we are in and decide what is best for our children. Its just not a one size fits all thing.

 

[pacrosby]

Save your breath. I've had this debate with Wade earlier this year. Not only will he call the police no matter what, BUT he will wait around until they get there so he can give the police the parents license plate number. Even if the horrible parent has gotten back in the car and safely left with the children. I haven't gone back and looked at that thread, but I'm fairly certain I've got the right poster.

thanx much for tryng to save me from myself but I was out of the conversation at that point anyway. And not because he 'won'. Rather because, as I pointed out, I made my point. You simpy can't argue with logic. The inconstencies in his argument were loud and clear. And as soon as someone starts saying "but we're talking about X not Y", ignoring the very obvious similarities between scenario X and scenario Y...................they lose


It is very interesting how many people refuse to acknowledge the inconsistencies in this argument. An unsupervised 5/6/7/8 yo is no more (perhaps less) in danger in a locked car in a parking lot than they are any where else. Yet few people would call the police if they saw such a young child playing at a nieghborhood park unsupervised, in a front yard or driveway unsupervised, walking to school unsupervised etc. If you are truly only concerned about the safety of the young child, I figure you should at least be consistent and be concerned about the safety of all young children, everywhere, not just the ones left in the car in the parking lot

 

[Stitch76]

Its impossible to protect our children from every danger out there. As parents its our job to assess the situations we are in and decide what is best for our children. Its just not a one size fits all thing.

I'm not saying you can protect them from EVERYTHING, but A LOT of dangers can be avoided by some common sense and actual PARENTING.

I try not to judge another parent, because who knows what's going on, like if they are yelling at their kids, or you can tell they are just having a bad day, while their kid runs like a screaming demon in the toy dept. (been there done that, especially with DS who is autistic), that's one thing. But, when the child is put into a dangerous situation because a parent is being nothing more than lazy, that's another story. I have seen some things and just thought WTH! are they thinking.
I agree with what the OP did as far as letting the police know of the situation. I wouldn't have confronted the mother with the cop there, but I would have waited in my car to see what her reaction was. If she appeared upset I would have felt good about what I did, and hope she learned her lesson and wouldn't do this again, and I would feel like I accomplished something and drove away giving myself a pat on the back. If she was nonchalant about is, like OP said the mother was, I would have shook my head and drove off, and said a prayer for the child.