You’re putting your kid’s life in a security guard’s hands? The same security guard who is probably told to stand down and not pursue criminals? Hardened criminals won’t be deterred by a toothless rent a cop. |
It’s not a job! It’s a child living their life in a public space. It’s perfectly safe. But I won’t do it. Because of people like you. And it adds to the stress of parenting. The birth rate will continue to decline. The high costs combined with the intense expectations are just unbearable. |
I did my part. I had 3 kids. And I made them come with me to run errands and into the store and carried my tantrum prone daughter like a football to drop her older brother off in preschool because we weren’t allowed to leave them in the car. My daughter wanted to stay and play too, so dragging her in for drop off was a nightmare but i had no choice. Everyone gets through it. Luckily my kids are legit old enough to stay at home. I don’t leave them in the car because they will for sure fight. Mostly I just plan my errands for when the kids aren’t with me. Your 7 yr olds aren’t old enough yet but will be soon. |
And how many kids have been hit by a car in a parking lot? Or the kid stabbed to death in the grocery cart while his mom loaded the trunk with groceries? Or random shootings inside shopping centers? (Like the grandma and toddler shot at a Publix in FL). I think it’s weird to *only* weigh the risk of car jackings and not the risk of a car reversing out without seeing you, running through a crosswalk, etc. https://www.carabinshaw.com/news/110-children-hit-by-cars-in-parking-lots-and-driveways-in-the-u-s-every-week/ This stat obviously includes driveways and not just parking lots, but even if 25% of these are kids hit in a parking lot then that is a much bigger risk than a car jacking (especially in a low crime area). I swear some of you on here are horrible at assessing risk. |
Where were the security guards when all these instances happened? I thought it was their job to deter crime? |
Okay but when I’m in that shopping center I’m also putting my own life in the hands of the rent a cop. I’m a 5’0 100 lb female who could not fight off a car jacker. Neither could most 75 year old ladies. Why is it ok for him to supposedly be there to protect adults but not kids? |
He’s there to protect merchandise, not you our your kid. He’s not a bodyguard. |
Your tantruming kid could have slipped from your arms and ran in front of a car. Or fallen and hit her head. Like you do realize there’s a small risk of something bad happening in either scenario. You’re not morally superior for dragging a screaming kid out of the car. Also I too have 3 kids (ages 10, 7, and 3) and none of my kids scream at having to run an errand. Soooo I can one up you there if you want to play that game. |
Okay then he doesn’t have to protect the kid. If the car isn’t running the odds of a carjacking are not significantly higher than the odds of any other horrible random thing that can happen outside of the car. |
Well, my tantrumming kid also has special needs, but yay you for not having that extra burden! She has a developmental disability, are we still playing the game? |
There are so many unrealistic and difficult expectations that do really make parenting stressful unnecessarily. This really isn’t one of them |
What? The security guard has nothing to do with it. A security guard won’t stop an elderly man from accidentally hitting the gas instead of brake and mowing your kid over in the parking lot. The point is there’s a small risk of something going bad if you leave your kid in the car but also a small risk if you take them out of the car. It’s nonsensical to harp one one potential risk while ignoring the others. |
np. Rent-a-cops won't protect you if there is a danger. Retail security guards aren't paid enough to put their own life in danger, nor does the store want to deal with potential assault claims. The fact that a security guard could detain someone committing a crime will deter most people. The security guard is also, as pp stated, mostly there to stop theft. |
Oooh I knew you were going to say that and I almost my mentioned in my prior post I have a kid with SNs (AuDHD). I know how to avoid taking him places when he may get dysregulated. |
Every time you take a little kid through a busy parking lot you are putting them at greater risk of bodily harm than just leaving them in the car for a few minutes. Idiots. |