My bad mother moment?

[aes74]

Ok, I would appreciate your thoughts here, especially if you have ever been in this situation. I had to run to the bank. My two kids came with me, ages 6, and 2 1/2. I was exhausted because my 6 year old has been home sick for 3 days and we hadn't had much sleep. The 2 year old fell deeply asleep on the way. I had to deposit a check. We live in a small town, and the bank was empty of customers. It is in a strip-mall type setting. So, I pulled up in front of the doors, instructed my eldest to lock the doors behind me, I would be right back. The car is on with the a/c running. She did as I asked. I ran through the doors, gave the teller my deposit, she deposited it, and then I rushed out. Keep in mind my car is in front of the glass doors, not in the parking lot, and I can see my children the entire time. In my minute of being gone, I see a woman walking around my car with a cell phone. As I come out, she rips me a new one. Tells me I am horrible, she has called the sherrif's office and that was extremely dangerous. She said, "I don't even have any children, and that scared me." I just looked at her, thanked her quietly for her concern (seriously, I didn't want an argument), and left.

Now, please do not flame me. I don't want a lecture, I know it wasn't the best choice to make, I won't ever do it again, and I can see where my daughter could have climbed up front and hit a gear or something. Has anything like ever happened to anyone? And I am sure she gave them my license plate so I am probably going to be carted off to jail with my luck.

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

Give yourself a break. You're still a good Mom.

 

[mickeyboat]

Well, some people on the DIS would have you jailed for this, so watch out!

I will be the first to admit, that while I consider myself a fairly good parent, I am not a perfect one. I have left my kids in the car while I ran into the post office. I could see the car the entire time, the doors were locked, and the engine was not running. I actually discovered this weekend if the doors are locked on my van, and someone tries to open the door from the inside, the panic alarm will go off!

Don't sweat it. I wouldn't worry about the police. They have enough to worry about. You are a good mom, you made a bad decision, and you learned from it.

Denae

 

[magicmato]

Believe me, we ALL do boneheaded things as parents. It is not just the Brittany Spears of the world.

Give yourself a break. Realize you are stressed and tired and consider it a life lesson which you have learned and taken to heart. I would be more worried if you were saying: "Screw that *****! I will do it again just to spite her!"

 

[daisyduck123]

I can totally understand the lady who called the police. Sorry, but I would've done it too.

 

[TheDisneyTraveler06]

Don't worry yourself sick over it. You're still a wonderful mom!

 

[AmyJ of Ca]

If that's your worst Mom moment, your kids are lucky to have you!!!

 

[CEDmom]

I can't say I wouldn't have done what you did. Luckily I only have one child and she's light so I can carry her anywhere. Honestly, my biggest concern would have been your older one climbing and taking off the emergency brake or the gear slipping out of park. I probably would have opened the windows a little and turned the car off just to be safe.

I think that woman was out of line given the amount of time you were likely gone. I think it would have made sense to check in the bank 1st and then call the police if necessary. I like that strangers look out for kids but some really do go overboard.

My DD is very small for her age (at 7 she's 43 1/2" & 38 lbs) so a lot of people think she's much younger. I get looks a lot because of what I allow her to do which are things 7 year olds do but not 5 year olds.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Hey, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do - I've been there too, you are not a bad parent. I have a remote start for my car, and when such a situation arises such as yours, I take my keys with me, start the car with the remote so then the air/heat is on and always park where I have a COMPLETE UNOBSTRUCTED view of my car. The remote start comes in handy because 1) if the kids do decide to jump in the front seat, the car can't move (remote start has an automatic kill switch, as soon as you hit the brake, the car turns off) and 2) if a car jacker did happen to come by, there are no keys for him to take the car.

 

[Iott Family]

Personally, as a mother of four, I dont think you are a bad mother. We have all done things as parents we wish we hadnt. What seperates us from those truly bad parents is we dont repeat those poor choices and we dont habitually make bad choices! No flames from me!!!!

I hope your sick one is feeling better and you can play catch up on sleep this weekend!

 

[Gymbomom]

Don't beat yourself up over it!!! You are a great mom! You say you would never do it again, so I guess it made you feel uncomfortable, then I would never do it again.
(((HUGS)))

 

[poohluvrs]

I personally have never been able to leave my kids in the car alone, no matter how I rationalize it, I just think of the stories of parents who do this & their car gets stolen w/ the kids in it or even worse, and there is no amount of rationalization to make those few moments of leaving my kids in the car to run a quick errand solo worth it to me to risk that kind of outcome!

But I honestly feel for you, its evident from your post you're a good Mom!

 

[WDWfan36]

Give yourself a break. You're still a good Mom.

Happens to everyone once in a while, your a good mom

 

[ReggieB]

It's not something I would ever do, I wouldn't have gotten to the door without imagining the worst possible scenario and gone running back to the car. My bad parenting comes in other forms!!

I think you reacted to the woman the right way, absolutely no point getting into an argument with her. I would be a little panicked that the police are going to turn up on my doorstep...sorry that probably wasn't the reassurance you were looking for!

There are much worse choices you could make as a parent, so live and learn.

 

[NAB]

I think you know your dd and trusted that she would stay put and listen. I can say I have done this too. I have seen worse were parents are letting kids ride between there legs and steer a car for pete sake.

Smile be happy......we all make decisions that we regret later or think we should have done that differently.

 

[i<3Disney]

You showing even the slightest worry that what you did might have not been the best choice, shows that you're an excellent mother!

 

[Rella Bella]

Don't beat yourself up. You were tired and made a split second decision. But you also know your six year old, how reliable she usually is & you knew you would only be gone a minute, while they were in full view the whole time.

She said, "I don't even have any children, and that scared me." traslated that means she has no idea what it's like to have an exhausted kid wake up from a 5 minute nap and not go back to sleep. She's never held that child for the rest of a miserable day and most of the night while it is too tired to fall asleep... and she hasn't been up the last three nights with a sick child either.

Parenting is hard, do the best you can... when you stop caring -- then start worrying.

 

[MareQ]

It's not something I would ever do, I wouldn't have gotten to the door without imagining the worst possible scenario and gone running back to the car. My bad parenting comes in other forms!!

I think you reacted to the woman the right way, absolutely no point getting into an argument with her. I would be a little panicked that the police are going to turn up on my doorstep...sorry that probably wasn't the reassurance you were looking for!

There are much worse choices you could make as a parent, so live and learn.

Ditto - not something I ever would have done but I'm far from perfect so no bash from me. Kudos for handling the situation well.

I doubt the police will come to teh door - if they do - just explain youself and you'll be fine.

 

[ahutton]

You showing even the slightest worry that what you did might have not been the best choice, shows that you're an excellent mother!

That is what I was going to say! The fact you even care if it was a bad mom moment or not says that you are a good mom, who is trying hard. I have done that too, when I could see my kids. I lock the doors and have my oldest let me back in.

 

[goofinoff]

You showing even the slightest worry that what you did might have not been the best choice, shows that you're an excellent mother!

I agree! I would tell you though, that I personally wouldn't do it and I have been the one to call the police on someone who did. sorry! The situation was much much much worse, though. I was at the grocery store to pick something up really quick. When I parked I noticed the car in front of me with a baby (in an infant seat) and a toddler, probably 2-3. No parents. It concerned me but I ran into the store, got what I needed and came back out. Ihad been in the store about 5-7 minutes The car was still there. I noticed that the infant was screaming and the little boy was crying. The car was locked so there was no way for me to console these poor babies. I waited for about another 5 minutes and had had enough. I called the police and they came. At the time I didn't have children so I stuck around to see the outcome. Just as they popped the door open, up walks the father drunk as a skunk!! I guess he went into the store, bought his alcohol and went in back of the building and drank it and was then going to drive his kids home! Needless to say the father went in on cop car and the kids went in another!
In no way am I comparing you to this guy! I just want you to know that! But it is a scarey world that we live in!