Am I in the wrong here?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, I've skimmed through the comments and have a few to add:
The horror stories are based on accidents. But it always starts with leaving a child (or pet) in a car. What would happen if you went to the newspaper box and came back to find that you had locked your keys in the car?

I would call 911 and break a window, if necessary. Next!

That's awfully smug. The day I accidentally locked my keys in the car with my toddler, my cellphone was in the car also. It was one of the last 90+ degree days of fall and every minute of the ordeal was another razorblade in my gut. This happened because the key fell out of my pocket while I was buckling my dc in the carseat and I did not realize the doors were locked until I slammed the rear door shut and went to get in the driver's side. I have still never figured out how all the doors locked while one was open. That is not supposed to be able to happen in my car. The only time I stepped away from the car was to go into a store to yell for someone to call 911. It took about 10 minutes for the fire dept to arrive and break into the vehicle. I stood there the entire time making funny faces to keep my child calm, trying not to show how much I was shaking.

Breaking a window if necessary is not an answer. There is no window in a car that can be broken without raining glass onto your child. And by time you determine that it is necessary, your child is already in distress. How can any errand be worth risking the child for, but not worth carrying the child with you?

Well, first of all, car windows are designed to break into pieces that don't cut.

I'm not being smug (at least, not intentionally). But I'll be damned if I spend my motherhood in constant fear of what might happen. Not only will that suck balls for me, but it will seep unpleasantly into my child. And it's useless, to boot. You can't prevent every possible horrific scenario from occurring. I'd rather know that, in an emergency, I will keep my head and do whatever it takes to get my child to safety. I will make educated risk determinations, and I will live my life, dammit. Otherwise, how will I teach my son to live his?

Better your kid than mine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Breaking a window if necessary is not an answer. There is no window in a car that can be broken without raining glass onto your child. And by time you determine that it is necessary, your child is already in distress. How can any errand be worth risking the child for, but not worth carrying the child with you?

I guess you've never had your car broken into or been in an accident, because car windows are designed to shatter. They only way it would "rain glass onto your child" is if you broke the window right next to her, which would be pretty dumb. Honestly, I'm surprised the fire department spent time trying to break into your car-- it takes about one second to break a window.

And as we found out when DH's car got broken into, it's cheaper to replace a windshield than the tiny window in the back seat. Strange but true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Breaking a window if necessary is not an answer. There is no window in a car that can be broken without raining glass onto your child. And by time you determine that it is necessary, your child is already in distress. How can any errand be worth risking the child for, but not worth carrying the child with you?

I guess you've never had your car broken into or been in an accident, because car windows are designed to shatter. They only way it would "rain glass onto your child" is if you broke the window right next to her, which would be pretty dumb. Honestly, I'm surprised the fire department spent time trying to break into your car-- it takes about one second to break a window.

And as we found out when DH's car got broken into, it's cheaper to replace a windshield than the tiny window in the back seat. Strange but true.

It only took about a minute to break in, but dc was calm and not in distress, so that is what they did.

[Anonymous]

don't mean to keep this going, as it seems everyone said their piece... but just want to say that there are countless things that some of us would never do with their child (considering it too risky) that others do without worry. Some of you freaking out at what the OP did surely do other things with your children that the OP would never consider. So let's stop leaping to judgment. (ie, do you step out of the room with your four year old in the tub? Do you take the trash to the curb with the kids in the house? Do you leave the kids with a 14-year-old sitter? Do you drive with the kids in the car? Just read that 75% of parents have their car seats incorrectly installed or the kids incorrectly buckled. Surely some outraged posters are some of those parents, and that to me seems more dangerous than what the OP did. (Given that there are many more car accidents than cases of people getting waylaid when walking 30 feet from the car) I am betting every parent on this thread is a conscientious one doing his or her best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, I've skimmed through the comments and have a few to add:
The horror stories are based on accidents. But it always starts with leaving a child (or pet) in a car. What would happen if you went to the newspaper box and came back to find that you had locked your keys in the car?

I would call 911 and break a window, if necessary. Next!

That's awfully smug. The day I accidentally locked my keys in the car with my toddler, my cellphone was in the car also. It was one of the last 90+ degree days of fall and every minute of the ordeal was another razorblade in my gut. This happened because the key fell out of my pocket while I was buckling my dc in the carseat and I did not realize the doors were locked until I slammed the rear door shut and went to get in the driver's side. I have still never figured out how all the doors locked while one was open. That is not supposed to be able to happen in my car. The only time I stepped away from the car was to go into a store to yell for someone to call 911. It took about 10 minutes for the fire dept to arrive and break into the vehicle. I stood there the entire time making funny faces to keep my child calm, trying not to show how much I was shaking.

Breaking a window if necessary is not an answer. There is no window in a car that can be broken without raining glass onto your child. And by time you determine that it is necessary, your child is already in distress. How can any errand be worth risking the child for, but not worth carrying the child with you?

The ironic thing is that your habit of NOT leaving your child in the car while you left briefly (for less than a minute) to return something through the outdoor drop off or to mail a letter or whatever, probably put your child MORE in danger of being accidentally locked in the car.

I routinely left my children in the car (within eyesight, as in legal in the state of MD) and because I did it routinely, I always had a mental checklist, number one was "Are my keys in my hand?" before slamming ANY door, EVER. (I did this even when putting a child into a car seat and then closing the door of the backseat.)

This is an excellent habit for everyone to get into, and would solve all cases of accidentally locking a child into a car.

As for how can any errand be "worth risking" -- well many of us believe that if you take proper precuations including developing SENSIBLE habits and routines, any risk is extremely low.

[Anonymous]

don't mean to keep this going, as it seems everyone said their piece... but just want to say that there are countless things that some of us would never do with their child (considering it too risky) that others do without worry. Some of you freaking out at what the OP did surely do other things with your children that the OP would never consider. So let's stop leaping to judgment. (ie, do you step out of the room with your four year old in the tub? Do you take the trash to the curb with the kids in the house? Do you leave the kids with a 14-year-old sitter? Do you drive with the kids in the car? Just read that 75% of parents have their car seats incorrectly installed or the kids incorrectly buckled. Surely some outraged posters are some of those parents, and that to me seems more dangerous than what the OP did. (Given that there are many more car accidents than cases of people getting waylaid when walking 30 feet from the car) I am betting every parent on this thread is a conscientious one doing his or her best.

Wait, a reasonable person posting? Why didn't you show up before we got to page 8?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: The ironic thing is that your habit of NOT leaving your child in the car while you left briefly (for less than a minute) to return something through the outdoor drop off or to mail a letter or whatever, probably put your child MORE in danger of being accidentally locked in the car.

I routinely left my children in the car (within eyesight, as in legal in the state of MD) and because I did it routinely, I always had a mental checklist, number one was "Are my keys in my hand?" before slamming ANY door, EVER. (I did this even when putting a child into a car seat and then closing the door of the backseat.)

This is an excellent habit for everyone to get into, and would solve all cases of accidentally locking a child into a car.

As for how can any errand be "worth risking" -- well many of us believe that if you take proper precuations including developing SENSIBLE habits and routines, any risk is extremely low.

No, it isn't. It is a terrible habit! Just never leave your kids in the car. Period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, I've skimmed through the comments and have a few to add:
The horror stories are based on accidents. But it always starts with leaving a child (or pet) in a car. What would happen if you went to the newspaper box and came back to find that you had locked your keys in the car?

I would call 911 and break a window, if necessary. Next!

That's awfully smug. The day I accidentally locked my keys in the car with my toddler, my cellphone was in the car also. It was one of the last 90+ degree days of fall and every minute of the ordeal was another razorblade in my gut. This happened because the key fell out of my pocket while I was buckling my dc in the carseat and I did not realize the doors were locked until I slammed the rear door shut and went to get in the driver's side. I have still never figured out how all the doors locked while one was open. That is not supposed to be able to happen in my car. The only time I stepped away from the car was to go into a store to yell for someone to call 911. It took about 10 minutes for the fire dept to arrive and break into the vehicle. I stood there the entire time making funny faces to keep my child calm, trying not to show how much I was shaking.

Breaking a window if necessary is not an answer. There is no window in a car that can be broken without raining glass onto your child. And by time you determine that it is necessary, your child is already in distress. How can any errand be worth risking the child for, but not worth carrying the child with you?

The ironic thing is that your habit of NOT leaving your child in the car while you left briefly (for less than a minute) to return something through the outdoor drop off or to mail a letter or whatever, probably put your child MORE in danger of being accidentally locked in the car.

I routinely left my children in the car (within eyesight, as in legal in the state of MD) and because I did it routinely, I always had a mental checklist, number one was "Are my keys in my hand?" before slamming ANY door, EVER. (I did this even when putting a child into a car seat and then closing the door of the backseat.)

This is an excellent habit for everyone to get into, and would solve all cases of accidentally locking a child into a car.

As for how can any errand be "worth risking" -- well many of us believe that if you take proper precuations including developing SENSIBLE habits and routines, any risk is extremely low.

Well, since I don't drive from the back seat, the amazing thing is: I do this, too! And yet, I also make it a habit not to leave my kid in the car alone, which I consider a sensible and reasonable precaution that is low cost and minimizes risks. People are capable of doing a risk-benefit analysis and arriving at a different conclusion that your own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:don't mean to keep this going, as it seems everyone said their piece... but just want to say that there are countless things that some of us would never do with their child (considering it too risky) that others do without worry. Some of you freaking out at what the OP did surely do other things with your children that the OP would never consider. So let's stop leaping to judgment. (ie, do you step out of the room with your four year old in the tub? Do you take the trash to the curb with the kids in the house? Do you leave the kids with a 14-year-old sitter? Do you drive with the kids in the car? Just read that 75% of parents have their car seats incorrectly installed or the kids incorrectly buckled. Surely some outraged posters are some of those parents, and that to me seems more dangerous than what the OP did. (Given that there are many more car accidents than cases of people getting waylaid when walking 30 feet from the car) I am betting every parent on this thread is a conscientious one doing his or her best.

The point is - it's against the law in Maryland. You can call it acceptable risk, but if I see you leave your kid in the car to go in to the pay the gas, as a law enforcement officer I will notify you that you've broken to law. We'll go from there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:don't mean to keep this going, as it seems everyone said their piece... but just want to say that there are countless things that some of us would never do with their child (considering it too risky) that others do without worry. Some of you freaking out at what the OP did surely do other things with your children that the OP would never consider. So let's stop leaping to judgment. (ie, do you step out of the room with your four year old in the tub? Do you take the trash to the curb with the kids in the house? Do you leave the kids with a 14-year-old sitter? Do you drive with the kids in the car? Just read that 75% of parents have their car seats incorrectly installed or the kids incorrectly buckled. Surely some outraged posters are some of those parents, and that to me seems more dangerous than what the OP did. (Given that there are many more car accidents than cases of people getting waylaid when walking 30 feet from the car) I am betting every parent on this thread is a conscientious one doing his or her best.

The point is - it's against the law in Maryland. You can call it acceptable risk, but if I see you leave your kid in the car to go in to the pay the gas, as a law enforcement officer I will notify you that you've broken to law. We'll go from there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:don't mean to keep this going, as it seems everyone said their piece... but just want to say that there are countless things that some of us would never do with their child (considering it too risky) that others do without worry. Some of you freaking out at what the OP did surely do other things with your children that the OP would never consider. So let's stop leaping to judgment. (ie, do you step out of the room with your four year old in the tub? Do you take the trash to the curb with the kids in the house? Do you leave the kids with a 14-year-old sitter? Do you drive with the kids in the car? Just read that 75% of parents have their car seats incorrectly installed or the kids incorrectly buckled. Surely some outraged posters are some of those parents, and that to me seems more dangerous than what the OP did. (Given that there are many more car accidents than cases of people getting waylaid when walking 30 feet from the car) I am betting every parent on this thread is a conscientious one doing his or her best.

The point is - it's against the law in Maryland. You can call it acceptable risk, but if I see you leave your kid in the car to go in to the pay the gas, as a law enforcement officer I will notify you that you've broken to law. We'll go from there.

And I'd pull out the Maryland statue that a previous poster put on here stating that if you can see the car, you aren't breaking the law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:don't mean to keep this going, as it seems everyone said their piece... but just want to say that there are countless things that some of us would never do with their child (considering it too risky) that others do without worry. Some of you freaking out at what the OP did surely do other things with your children that the OP would never consider. So let's stop leaping to judgment. (ie, do you step out of the room with your four year old in the tub? Do you take the trash to the curb with the kids in the house? Do you leave the kids with a 14-year-old sitter? Do you drive with the kids in the car? Just read that 75% of parents have their car seats incorrectly installed or the kids incorrectly buckled. Surely some outraged posters are some of those parents, and that to me seems more dangerous than what the OP did. (Given that there are many more car accidents than cases of people getting waylaid when walking 30 feet from the car) I am betting every parent on this thread is a conscientious one doing his or her best.

The point is - it's against the law in Maryland. You can call it acceptable risk, but if I see you leave your kid in the car to go in to the pay the gas, as a law enforcement officer I will notify you that you've broken to law. We'll go from there.

And I'd pull out the Maryland statue that a previous poster put on here stating that if you can see the car, you aren't breaking the law.

MAYBE it's a law for a reason? Perhaps it's because we've had to comfort one to many stupid parents like you after their kids died in the back of car...

But hey - you're probably right. It could never happen to someone like. YOU'VE probably never forgotten anything. YOU are perfect!

[Anonymous]

As has been pointed out multiple times, it's NOT against the law if you can see teh car, which OP clearly could. She didn't go inside to pay for her gas she was 5 car widths away! I'm a prosecutor, and if a stupid cop tried to get me to charge someone with anything in a case like this, I would read the cop the statute and send him or her on her way.

[Anonymous]

MAYBE it's a law for a reason? Perhaps it's because we've had to comfort one to many stupid parents like you after their kids died in the back of car...

How many kids have died in the back of the car while a parent was within eyesight buying a newspaper or paying for gas?

This is a serious question because I would like to know what the risk is here.

I have always thought that the cases of kids dying in overheated cars were kids who - tragically - were accidentally FORGOTTEN in the car, such as when a parent forgets to drop the child at daycare, not cases where the parent is aware the child is in the car but makes the decision to leave the child while they step away from the car for just a few moments, like what the OP did.

It's hard to have a discussion when people keep acting like your child may die if you pull up at the fire lane in front of the library and hop out to drop your books in the slot. Does this ever actually happen in real life?

Perhaps it's because we've had to comfort one to many stupid parents like you after their kids died in the back of car...

Have you actually had cases where parents CHOSE to leave a child in the car (as opposed to forgetting or some other type of accident), thinking it was safe, and the child died? Again, serious question.

[Anonymous]

oops, did not mean to quote the same text twice. Anyway, I think you get my question.