Mom on Trial - Leaves child in Car for minutes

[Mrs. Bee]

If your child is in your sight, they are not unattended, first of all.

Also, should you be arrested for letting your 8 year old go outside and play?

THESE ARE RIDICULOUS LAWS! SHAME ON THE POLICE OFFICER!'

A few pages back (page 4) I posted something I witnessed. Basically parents left their sleeping children (baby and toddler) in their carseats in the car while they sat inside a restaurant and had lunch. But they "can see them from the window." Do you think that's okay? (If you want the full story it's on the 4th page of this thread at the very top.)

 

[NYBlue1]

Then you're leaving your child "unattended" to go out to your mailbox. Or you're leaving your child unattended when you walk into a different room. Because you can not leave your children unattended at home either.

Silly

 

[mickeyboat]

A few pages back (page 4) I posted something I witnessed. Basically parents left their sleeping children (baby and toddler) in their carseats in the car while they sat inside a restaurant and had lunch. But they "can see them from the window." Do you think that's okay? (If you want the full story it's on the 4th page of this thread at the very top.)

There is no hard and fast rule. It depends on all the circumstances.

Denae

 

[Mrs. Bee]

Oh, please. Then EVERY 2-year-old is "unattended" while you go to the bathroom, vacuum your house, wash your dishes, etc.


LET"S ROUND UP THOSE HOUSE-CLEANING MOMS AND PUT THEM IN THE POKEY!

as it's been stated many times in this thread....your own house is not comparable to a car in a public parking lot.

 

[jodifla]

A few pages back (page 4) I posted something I witnessed. Basically parents left their sleeping children (baby and toddler) in their carseats in the car while they sat inside a restaurant and had lunch. But they "can see them from the window." Do you think that's okay? (If you want the full story it's on the 4th page of this thread at the very top.)

Depends on the circumstance

If you're camping, and you arrive at your destination but your kids are asleep, should it be illegal to sit at a picnic table and have your lunch while they finish their nap?

Or should you have to shake them awake and drag them to the picnic table.
For what purpose?

 

[Mrs. Bee]

Back to another poster's comments. So we can't EVER leave the room our child is in because he might choke?

Reports are that the mother was gone 2-3 minutes. "Within sight" is different than looking at the car the entire time. As long as her view is not obstructed, the car was still within sight. And 30 feet is nothing!

Denae

I few posts up...I asked someone else the same thing. I'd like to hear your opinion on it too.

A few pages back (page 4) I posted something I witnessed. Basically parents left their sleeping children (baby and toddler) in their carseats in the car while they sat inside a restaurant and had lunch. But they "can see them from the window." Do you think that's okay? (If you want the full story it's on the 4th page of this thread at the very top.)

 

[happygirl]

My hubby and myself are in the small minority my kids aren't ever out of our sight not even for a second, unless they are in bed asleep, I can only speak for our kids but I know what kind of trouble they can get into even in a few seconds I'm not saying this is what works for everyone but it works for us

 

[mickeyboat]

I few posts up...I asked someone else the same thing. I'd like to hear your opinion on it too.

A few pages back (page 4) I posted something I witnessed. Basically parents left their sleeping children (baby and toddler) in their carseats in the car while they sat inside a restaurant and had lunch. But they "can see them from the window." Do you think that's okay? (If you want the full story it's on the 4th page of this thread at the very top.)

I responded above - I think I would have to know more about the circumstances. I think a lot would depend on how easily I could get to them if I needed to. So if I was in a restaurant and could see them through the window, but had to weave back through the restaurant and across the parking lot to get to them, no go. If I was in an open-air kind of thing and they were parked right next to me, yes.

Denae

 

[HelenePA]

as it's been stated many times in this thread....your own house is not comparable to a car in a public parking lot.

why isn't it? people break into cars, people break in to houses, kids can get out of cars, they can get out of houses, why is it not the same??
cars can catch on fire, so can houses, hell I went on to my roof a a kid (13) and FELL off breaking both arms. I think I would have been safer locked sleeping in a car that day.

 

[dcgrumpy]

My hubby and myself are in the small minority my kids aren't ever out of our sight not even for a second, unless they are in bed asleep, I can only speak for our kids but I know what kind of trouble they can get into even in a few seconds

So they never get to play in their rooms or anything?

 

[mickeyboat]

My hubby and myself are in the small minority my kids aren't ever out of our sight not even for a second, unless they are in bed asleep, I can only speak for our kids but I know what kind of trouble they can get into even in a few seconds

I respect that. We all need to do what we feel is appropriate and comfortable as parents. At what point do you let that go? I mean you can't be with them every second for their entire lives. (And I completely understand that it might be impossible for you to delineate that at this point).

And on a more logistical level, how do you go to the bathroom?

 

[HelenePA]

And on a more logistical level, how do you go to the bathroom?

apparently not alone

 

[Mrs. Bee]

Every tried to go places with 3 kids in the car?? do you know how hard it is to get out with 3 kids sometimes and in the cold yet?? mommy mommy I'm cold I'm cold.. but then ya have one screaming but MOMMMYYYYYYY you said we could give the money today.. there is no winning with 3 kids screaming at you each pulling you in a different direction. Its best just to keep the crying to as less as possible. Do you even have children?

I'm sorry...but as a parent...you are the one that decides WHEN to do things like donate money. If the kid whines...too bad! You're the parent. Don't give into the whining. Couldn't she have donated the money with the older children at a later time when her husband had the little one? I still don't' understand how it could be so important to do it at that time...whining or no whining.

What does me having children have to do with anything? I can have opinions on this stuff without having children. I have nieces and nephews that I've watched. I've worked with many children...in a daycare setting and with adolescents in a group home. And I have a degree is SOCIAL WORK. So yeah....I have some strong opinions on this stuff.

 

[Mrs. Bee]

For real? At 2, my son was ALWAYS asleep in the car. Like the minute we pulled out of the driveway.


You can't stop living life when you have kids.

I meant do it LATER when her husband was watching the young child.

 

[mickeyboat]

I'm sorry...but as a parent...you are the one that decides WHEN to do things like donate money. If the kid whines...too bad! You're the parent. Don't give into the whining. Couldn't she have donated the money with the older children at a later time when her husband had the little one? I still don't' understand how it could be so important to do it at that time...whining or no whining.

What does me having children have to do with anything? I can have opinions on this stuff without having children. I have nieces and nephews that I've watched. I've worked with many children...in a daycare setting and with adolescents in a group home. And I have a degree is SOCIAL WORK. So yeah....I have some strong opinions on this stuff.

Those of us with kids often times have a different perspective on everything than we did before we had kids. I thought that was a load of bunk, too, before I had kids and understood what it meant.

Denae

 

[jodifla]

I meant do it LATER when her husband was watching the young child.

Sorry, this isn't very realistic. There are days my DH works from 9 in the morning until midnight.

You make a zillion little decisions every day as a parent. Some of them are more risky than others. Anyone who thinks they make NO risky decisions with their kids either has them in a crate or is kidding themselves.

 

[happygirl]

I know alot of you think it weird that our kids don't have any alone time, but my kids are to high strung and to be left to there own devices lol they tear up the house if they were left to there own devices lol I really hope as they get older they will be more calm

as far as them playing in there bedrooms.my kids are on the go way to much to ever stay in one place for to long

 

[jodifla]

I'm sorry...but as a parent...you are the one that decides WHEN to do things like donate money. If the kid whines...too bad! You're the parent. Don't give into the whining. Couldn't she have donated the money with the older children at a later time when her husband had the little one? I still don't' understand how it could be so important to do it at that time...whining or no whining.

What does me having children have to do with anything? I can have opinions on this stuff without having children. I have nieces and nephews that I've watched. I've worked with many children...in a daycare setting and with adolescents in a group home. And I have a degree is SOCIAL WORK. So yeah....I have some strong opinions on this stuff.

But if you haven't lived with a kid 24/7. then you don't really know what it's like.

You can't put off EVERYTHING until there's childcare. You sometimes have to soldier through on your own.

If you have three kids, you CAN"T tend to all of them at once....carrying all of them in from the car, for example. Someone WILL BE LEFT SLEEPING IN THE CAR ALONE while you carry them in one at a time.

Theories are one thing, real life another.

 

[HelenePA]

Those of us with kids often times have a different perspective on everything than we did before we had kids. I thought that was a load of bunk, too, before I had kids and understood what it meant.

Denae

I have a dear old aunt (I mean she's like 80) who knows EVERYTHING about raising children but funny thing is she's never had em. I love getting advice from her Things are SO different when your a parent, not just watching a child for a few hours maybe 3 times a month.

and the mom did decide when to give the money she chose THEN. You may not like it but you aren't that parent. Maybe the dad works alot maybe they have one car. Later isn't always an option!!

 

[Mrs. Bee]

There is no hard and fast rule. It depends on all the circumstances.

Denae

The story is on page 4 of this thread.

Depends on the circumstance

If you're camping, and you arrive at your destination but your kids are asleep, should it be illegal to sit at a picnic table and have your lunch while they finish their nap?

Or should you have to shake them awake and drag them to the picnic table.
For what purpose?

it was a restaurant. not a picnic area.

I responded above - I think I would have to know more about the circumstances. I think a lot would depend on how easily I could get to them if I needed to. So if I was in a restaurant and could see them through the window, but had to weave back through the restaurant and across the parking lot to get to them, no go. If I was in an open-air kind of thing and they were parked right next to me, yes.

Denae

They were a few tables into the restaurant...not sure exactly how far. The car was parked in street parking at a meter.

My hubby and myself are in the small minority my kids aren't ever out of our sight not even for a second, unless they are in bed asleep, I can only speak for our kids but I know what kind of trouble they can get into even in a few seconds I'm not saying this is what works for everyone but it works for us

I'm happy to hear there are people like you out there! This thread was beginning to worry me...haha.

I mean, I don't think I'll be quite as extreme (depending on my kids' ages and stuff.) I'll leave my baby alone in a crib or pack n play while I use the bathroom and do laundry (but if I had pets, like cats and dogs I would NOT. That is a huge no-no.) While they are toddlers, I'll prefer to be in the same room as them....luckily our houses layout allows for this pretty easily. A little bit older...I'll be okay with them playing in their rooms and in the basement without me. but again...that's just me. People can do whatever they feel works best for them. But I am happy to hear that you are able to be around your children. Some people just have different priorities I guess. Kids are number 1. In the story I told about the parents eating in the restaurant, it seemed like their priorites were a bit odd (is lunch with friends more important than kids?? you couldn't wait until after the kids' nap to have lunch? maybe just drive around a while and let them sleep? hmm...)