What would you have done...?

[HLAuburn]

This am, I went to the post office. As I was getting DD out of her carseat, I noticed in the car next to me was a little girl (maybe 3) in the backseat by herself. I go into the P.O., wait in a (very short) line, drop off my package, come back out, strap DD in, and then I look over and realize there is also a baby in the backseat in a carseat (probably 8 months old). Still no adult in sight. I leave the parking lot, but still concerned, I circle back around, park, call my sister for her opinion, and as we decide I should do something, a lady walks out of the P.O. and gets in the car.

At the exit to the post office, I pull up next to her, roll down my window, and nicely said "Those babies were in the car by themselves way too long". She says something like "Yeah..." (like "yeah, you're right"). Then I said "I know how it is to get them in and out of the car everytime, it's a pain, but..." to which she says again "Yeah (nodding in agreement)...but it was only like 5 minutes".

Anyway, it was not a heated conversation at all, and I think she thought I was right (or maybe scared I was calling the police), but I tend to act on emotion in situations like these then I feel bad for being a *****.

So what would you have done? Did I do the right thing? I just hope next time she won't do the same thing, because it only takes a second for something to happen.

Oh, and I wanted to add...this is pure speculation, but I'm pretty sure that she was a nanny/sitter to at least one of them. If I left my kid in anyone elses care, I would expect that they NOT leave my child in the car unattended! I sort of feel like when they're your kids, you can make your own decisions, but if someone trusted her with their baby, I felt like I owed it to them to "call her out" on it. When I was talking to her, the little girl was leaning up in the front seat, so she wasn't strapped in at all, but that's a different story...!

Thanks for reading! Sorry so long and babbley

 

[raysnkaysmom]

I would have called the cops as soon as I got back to my car, realizing there was still no adult around

People always think nothing bad will happen, until it does. 5 minutes is an eternity to leave a child alone in a car. Someone could have snatched them out in 30 seconds, and be miles away in 5 minutes

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

It only takes 10 minutes for a dog to die in an over heated car. And I see you are in Mississippi. I would have (and have done this before) walked into the closest store or the P.O. and asked out loud "who's car is that with those children inside in this heat?!" And when they answered (or not) I would have said, "You had better get them out of there right now or I am calling the cops!" I bet that would have gotten her out there- And if she didn't come right out, I would have called 911. BTW, I tend to be a little emotional with things like this. I have no shame..

 

[Angelhalo]

I would have called the cops.

 

[ccgirl]

I have to admit, I was one of those people that have done this. I left my DD6in the car alone as I ran into CVS for a gallon of milk. It was not a hot day out at all and I locked her in the car. As I got in line, the register malfunctioned and my trip was a lot longer then expected. My poor DD started crying. A nice woman and her DD, about the same age, noticed her and tried to open the door to help her. Of course, my car alarm went off. They came in and told someone working there. They announced my alarm was going off and I left my milk and ran out. I was so glad the other woman wasn't judgemental but I was embarassed and felt so bad for my DD. I learned my lesson and have never done that again. As others have said, things can happen so quickly. I don't think I would have gone to the level of calling the police but I definitely would have gone into the post office to try to find out who it was. (I think).

 

[Jennasis]

I would have called the police. It is illegal to leave the children unattended in the car like that PLUS it's August...in Mississippi for cryin' out loud.

That woman needs a smack upside the head by CPS.

 

[sbell111]

I think that she did an incredibly stupid thing. I also think that it's not my place to scold strangers.

 

[wvjules]

I can't believe that you actually left while they were still unattended in the car and that your sister had to convince you to go back. I would never have left.

 

[HM]

I would have waited by the car for a few minutes....when I first saw them (not when I were leaving). If noone had come out, I would have called 911 and stayed at the car.

 

[Darsa]

I would have waited by the car for a few minutes....when I first saw them (not when I were leaving). If noone had come out, I would have called 911 and stayed at the car.

Yep, this is exactly what I would have done. I would never have been as brave as you, to confront someone like that.

 

[gymboqueenkaylee]

We have a law against that where I live. I would have called the police immediately. There are too many children that die from being left in hot cars to risk it.

 

[madcam]

I can't believe that you actually left while they were still unattended in the car and that your sister had to convince you to go back. I would never have left.

I read that the OP pulled out of the parking lot, circled back, parked and THEN called her sister.

OP, I am glad that you did said something to the lady. Maybe in the future she will remember your word and make a better, safer choice.

 

[TanyaLovesPooh]

I can't believe that you actually left while they were still unattended in the car and that your sister had to convince you to go back. I would never have left.

Many people would have left without giving it a second thought.

Good for you OP for showing concern and actually taking the time to do something. Perhaps this person she will think twice before leaving the kids again.

 

[HLAuburn]

I can't believe that you actually left while they were still unattended in the car and that your sister had to convince you to go back. I would never have left.

I did leave the lot, but the way it's set up, I just made a big circle and came back around, since the lot is one way for traffic. I could actually see the car the entire time, and I was back in a parking spot when I called my sister. I was watching the car, trying to decide what I needed to do. I was just trying to make the point that a good bit of time went by.

I did write down her tag number, and if I did call the police, she would have been long gone before they got there. It was a dumb thing for her to do, and the world is full of dumb people, but the poor kids would have been the ones to pay the price if something happened. Maybe next time she'll reconsider leaving them in a car in August in Mississippi for "5 minutes"...that's all I wanted to accomplish.

 

[wvjules]

I mis-read that then. I thought you left then called your sister and she told you to go back. Sorry.

 

[HLAuburn]

I read that the OP pulled out of the parking lot, circled back, parked and THEN called her sister.

OP, I am glad that you did said something to the lady. Maybe in the future she will remember your word and make a better, safer choice.

Many people would have left without giving it a second thought.

Good for you OP for showing concern and actually taking the time to do something. Perhaps this person she will think twice before leaving the kids again.

Thank you!

 

[DWGal210]

OP, thank you for saying something to that woman. Perhaps in the future it will give her pause.

Earlier this summer, our police were called to a car parked in a lot near the college campus in our town. A kind and concerned person called 911 as it was over 100 degrees outside and there was an infant in the car. No parents around, no one around at all. It was by sheer happenstance that this person came upon the car. Thankfully, the infant did not die and was saved in time by fast-acting police. They located the parents after the fact and they had left the baby in the car while they went and got something to eat.

Thank you again, OP; you were brave to step up and let her know that at least someone was watching those kids!

 

[Maddykins06]

I would have CALLED THE POLICE.
I've done it before.

 

[Scurvy]

I would have looked around for an adult when I first noticed the 3 year old alone in the car, and if I didn't see anyone I would have called the police right then. There was no way to know that they hadn't already been alone in the car for a long time before you got there. The police could have sorted out whether the parent left the kids alone for too long if they got there while the kids were still alone in the car. If the car was gone by the time the police arrived, I at least would have given the license plate number to them. I wouldn't have approached the parent, though - anyone who thinks it's okay to do something as stupid (and illegal) as leaving a small child unattended in the car (especially in the summer!) is probably not going to listen to a stranger who points out that they shouldn't be doing that. And for all you knew the person could have been crazy and could have gone after you for criticising them.

I do think it was good of you to have tried to do something, though - I just would have done it differently.

 

[disney1990]

No, ifs, ands, or buts, I would have called the police immediately.

I have been known to call the police when I am on the road and pass by cars with young children that are not in car seats, booster seats or seat belts.

Somebody needs to protect these children if their parents don't.