Just got yelled at for leaving my kid alone in in the car while I went to the pharmacy

[Anonymous]

So, my kid is 7 years old. I left him inside the car with it running while I went to go pick up my medication from the pharmacy. He asked me to, since he didn’t want to come in with me. I tried to tempt him but he wasn’t into it, so I told him he could stay in the car. I come out and a security guard started yelling at me, questioning me about where I was and saying I can’t leave my kid alone in the car until he is a teenager. He also went to my car and questioned my child. My kid is responsible because he has a special needs brother. For example, he is responsible in the morning for making sure his brother gets to his classroom because we aren’t allowed in (the school suggested this to us). Thoughts? Is it really a crime to leave a 7 year old in the car for 10 minutes?

[Anonymous]

The security guard should have GUARDED and just made sure nobody bothered your kid. THAT would have been actually helpful. A responsible 7 yr old would be fine in a car for ten minutes.

[Anonymous]

Wouldn’t leave the car running because of highjackers, but otherwise you are fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, my kid is 7 years old. I left him inside the car with it running while I went to go pick up my medication from the pharmacy. He asked me to, since he didn’t want to come in with me. I tried to tempt him but he wasn’t into it, so I told him he could stay in the car. I come out and a security guard started yelling at me, questioning me about where I was and saying I can’t leave my kid alone in the car until he is a teenager. He also went to my car and questioned my child. My kid is responsible because he has a special needs brother. For example, he is responsible in the morning for making sure his brother gets to his classroom because we aren’t allowed in (the school suggested this to us). Thoughts? Is it really a crime to leave a 7 year old in the car for 10 minutes?

Yes and you are a horrible parent

Lazy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The security guard should have GUARDED and just made sure nobody bothered your kid. THAT would have been actually helpful. A responsible 7 yr old would be fine in a car for ten minutes.

Except op has no idea that it will take ten or twenty or longer .

No leaving a seven year old unattended in a car is unacceptable period

Lazy parenting

I don’t over react my kids road public buses and the metro at early ages by themselves however nope not in a car and not at 7

[Anonymous]

YES, it is a crime here.

The guard did an excellent job. Good for him.

[Anonymous]

Illegal to leave kids under 8 in a car alone (in MD). Guard was right.

[Anonymous]

Yes. A child that young alone in a car would be a concern. In this case, leaving the car running is an even greater concern — both because of carjackers and because of the potential dangers that could be created by an unsupervised child.

Keep in mind that you might view your child as “responsible “ and you might know that you’ll be back in 10 minutes, but a security guard or someone else who is a mandated reporter for suspected child abuse and neglect won’t know those things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn’t leave the car running because of highjackers, but otherwise you are fine.

Agreed

[Anonymous]

That's not parenting. It's safetyism and it's ruining parents lives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn’t leave the car running because of highjackers, but otherwise you are fine.

Agree

[Anonymous]

It's against the law where I am but I do it occasionally. My toddler was sick, fell asleep in the car, older siblings had an outdoor swim lesson. I double parked where I shouldn't have and kept checking on him for drop off/pick up. Sue me!

[Anonymous]

Would never leave the car running. That’s a terrible choice, between theft, or the child bumping the car out of park, that’s super dangerous. That said, I leave my kid in the car too with windows cracked a bit.

[Anonymous]

If your car got carjacked…… !!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's against the law where I am but I do it occasionally. My toddler was sick, fell asleep in the car, older siblings had an outdoor swim lesson. I double parked where I shouldn't have and kept checking on him for drop off/pick up. Sue me!

Wow CPS may be watching you.