It finally happened. After 6 years I have been called out. I don't do it all the time, but am definitely guilty of doing it-oh maybe once a month if that. I didn't start doing it until I had 2 kids. If I have to do it I make sure that it doesn't take me longer than 5 minutes. Sometimes it just has to be done, you know, to keep the sanity.
Yesterday as I was getting ready for my stamp club I discovered that I needed some York Peppermint Patties for a handout for my ladies. You know, I wanted to show them a cute little favor they could make in minutes. 
ahhhh, aren't they cute!
Kurt was due home any minute and if I timed it just right I could get the mints and get to my club on time. Well as luck would have it, Kurt didn't get home in time, and there was nothing I could do except pack the kids in the car and take them with me to Walgreen's to get the mints.
Once at Walgreen's, I left the kids in the car and made a mad dash to the candy isle to get the mints and b-lined it to the counter to pay. There were 2 people ahead of me with their purchases. As I was waiting in line, I noticed a lady that walked into the store. She kind of stopped as she got inside and looked around with a concerned look on her face. The second I saw her, I knew what she was thinking. Crap! Hurry up people, I thought to myself. And then in a loud voice I hear, "Sir, Sir!" (to the clerk behind the counter). It was that same lady that had just walked into the store. It was also at this time that it was my turn to purchase my mints. "Sir, there are some children outside in a car that have been left unattended. You need to call your manager right now!" CRAP! Would you shut it lady! As she finishes, and the clerk is handing me my change, I say to the clerk, "They're mine." And take off out the door.
Ok, I know I shouldn't leave my kids in the car. Not to justify my actions, but I was seriously in and out of Walgreen's in 4 minutes. One of my biggest peeve's is when I have to run to the store for a gallon of milk only, or diapers only, or for that Dr. Pepper that may save my life, and take all of my kids with me. It is such a pain in the A$$! All of you with young kids know exactly what I am talking about. Getting them all into the car, buckling up the seatbelts, getting them out of the car and into the shopping cart, listening to the crying, putting up with the grabby hands, making it through the check out line, and then back into the car, buckling everyone in, yadda, yadda, yadda....When you are pressed for time, sometimes desperate times call for desperate measures. Such as leaving your kids in the car for 4 minutes unattended.
Now, I would never do this at larger stores with huge parking lots and long lines such as Walmart, a mall, or the grocery store. After having more than one child, I have found it to be difficult at times when you have to make a quick trip to the store or the post office. Does leaving my kids in the car make me a bad mom? I don't think so. Would I feel bad if something happened? Of course I would. So I got busted. Have I learned my lesson? You know, lesson taken, but I don't think I'll do anything different. If there comes a time when I 'm in a pinch and I have to leave my kids in the car; I'm sure I'll take my chances.
12 comments:
ahhhh I am so sorry you got busted. I always had to stay in the car when I was little. I wish it was still that way. No that doesn't mean that we will be dumb enough to leave a newborn in the hot car while we shop for an hour at walmart (which I hear about on the news all the time) But a responsible 6 or 7 year old, that should be allowed if it is so quick. You have got to get super tinted windows...then no one will ever know. Haha
I know EXACTLY how you feel! HA! Someone will become very wealthy when they open a convienence store that is actually convieniet for moms. They need to open a drive through for the little runs. Soda, milk, diapers... even a chocolate binge.
Here is the upside. As the kids get older... you just stay in the car and send that resposible 8- 10 year old into the store for you. LOVE IT!
A drive thru convenient store-I KNOW!!! There is a little town, in IL....can't think of the name right now, that has a drive thru store. You just pull up, get what you want, pay and drive off.
It was packed for the 30 min. we were eating our ice cream at the DQ next door. I would totally love to do something like that in Rexburg. I think it would be a gold mine!
I think I am going to do a post on my blog about this very subject since it brought up a "busted" memory for me. It wasn't bad I just was really sensitive. My car does have the really dark tinted windows so I actually leave the girls in the car all the time when I have to run in for something real quick. Besides, Kate is eight now! She's sometimes more responsible than a few adults that I know....
I think you are a great Mom.
Ash: I actually have tinted windows in the car I drive, and I am not as self conscious. BUT I was driving Kurt's car wich doesn't have tinted windows.
The funny thing is: I was talking to my kids yesterday and asked them if they saw a lady (the lady that ratted me out). They were like YA! We saw her and we waved at her. Did she wave first? No we did. We were just being nice.
.....that's my boys.........
I totally agree with you! I want to do the same thing when I'm at a gas station and my debit card doesn't work at the pump and the screen says "see cashier". NOOOOO!!!! 2 kids in the car, just need a little gas in my car! Can't they just make their swiper machines work right?!! Sometime's all just get in my car and drive to the next gas station and get it there instead of hassling with the unbuckling, getting them out, etc routine.
GULITY...and funny enough...the time I did it, I was at Walgreen's as well. I had to pick up "early bird" prizes for Enrichment night and I was in such a hurry. I figured it would take me 2 minutes without kids or 15 minutes with kids so I opted "no kids". I parked in the spot where I could see the car from the doors and ran in to grab the stuff. Fortunately for me, my windows were tinted dark enough that I got away without without incident! :)
there was a drive through grocery store here in Orem...a brand new beautiful store. It was open maybe a month before it went out of business. I was so sad when it closed, yet I had never once been there.
Man I hate tattle tales like that. If I see children in the car I usually wait to see if they are really upset and if so wait for their parents to return. But I am totally guilty of this. I only do it on the quick stops (walgreens or convenience stores etc.) I'm all for the drive though convenience store, some times that is the only time my kids get naps and I want it to be as long as possible, so I think "what errands can I run while still in the car,hmm gas, bank.... dang it that it!) Kind of funny you got busted though!
The same thing happened to me in Seattle. I was in a paint shop with glass windows as the entire store front and my car was parked right up front. This lady just kept watching the car and me (from the sidewalk) until I came back out to the car. She said something like, "That's really smart."
I could see my car and Porter the entire 5 min. I was in the store. It just makes you feel so horrible if somebody insults you as a mother you know.
I'm sorry, but in this day and age, leaving kids in a car for even 5 minutes is a dumb idea. Nothing is more important than your kids and to even take the smallest risk with your kids is a dumb thing to do. I won't even leave my dog in the car to run in somewhere. I know I'm probably going to be very unpopular by leaving this comment, but somebody needs to say it, popular or not.
Anon: I do agree with you for the most part. It is a dumb idea and could be risky. This isn't something I do on a regular basis, but like I said in my post, If I'm ever in a pinch I'll take my chances if needs be depending on the circumstances.
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