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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

They were right. You don't leave the car running with a child inside. That was poor judgement. No kid at 7 is responsbile like that.

+1 It is illegal to leave a minor child unattended with motor running and that is separate from leaving child alone in car. The 7 yo maybe responsible but OP is definitely not.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, I don’t care if you leave your kid in the car. It’s not my kid so why would I care? I mean, I also wouldn’t care if he drove off and crashed into the building killing you and himself. Again, not my kid. What I do find unbelievable, is that you, as an adult, a parent, does not have a child that listens to you. I am not bribing my kid to get out of the damn car. I said get out, you get out. I just can’t wrap my head around it….

[Anonymous]

I would never leave a 7yo in the car alone. Just too risky in this day and age.

[Anonymous]

Why does leaving the car on help?

[Anonymous]

I do this with my 8 yo but roll the windows down and take my keys with me to avoid car hijacker situation.

[Anonymous]

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

Highjackers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why does leaving the car on help?

Probably wanted to leave the AC on.

[Anonymous]

Can’t believe you left the car running do yig live in some suburban fantasy world

[Anonymous]

I am not an uptight parent but this sounds potentially dangerous. I wouldn’t do it

[Anonymous]

OP here. This took place in Virginia. I already looked it up. It is not against the law, so I was wondering exactly why the cops would be called in this situation. (The security guard was telling me he would call the cops.) It seems like a waste of taxpayers resources to me. Interesting that is against the law in DC and MD.

The car is on for AC.

I mean, I spent a lot of my childhood reading in the car while my mother ran errands. It doesn’t really feel like a big deal to me. But I suppose the expectation is now that we watch our children like hawks until, what? 13? 20? Then we expect them to be functioning adults? Got it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. This took place in Virginia. I already looked it up. It is not against the law, so I was wondering exactly why the cops would be called in this situation. (The security guard was telling me he would call the cops.) It seems like a waste of taxpayers resources to me. Interesting that is against the law in DC and MD.

The car is on for AC.

I mean, I spent a lot of my childhood reading in the car while my mother ran errands. It doesn’t really feel like a big deal to me. But I suppose the expectation is now that we watch our children like hawks until, what? 13? 20? Then we expect them to be functioning adults? Got it.

Did you just become a parent yesterday? You already know how this works.

[Anonymous]

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

It’s a huge deal
And could destroy your life. Don’t ever do it again!! I’ll find the article

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't even leave my dog in the car under those circumstances. Someone would probably break a window and they would take my dog away for neglect. Doesn't matter what my opinion of my dog's level of behavior and maturity is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. This took place in Virginia. I already looked it up. It is not against the law, so I was wondering exactly why the cops would be called in this situation. (The security guard was telling me he would call the cops.) It seems like a waste of taxpayers resources to me. Interesting that is against the law in DC and MD.

The car is on for AC.

I mean, I spent a lot of my childhood reading in the car while my mother ran errands. It doesn’t really feel like a big deal to me. But I suppose the expectation is now that we watch our children like hawks until, what? 13? 20? Then we expect them to be functioning adults? Got it.

Is it illegal to leave a minor child in a car with the engine running in Virginia?

Nevermind. It doesn’t matter. Leaving the engine running with the kid in the car was stupid. You did a stupid thing.

If the kid says they will get hot without the AC, roll down the windows.

Stupid.

[Anonymous]

Let’s remember there’s not some magical thing that happens upon midnight on a child’s 8th birthday. They are not sprinkled with fairy dust and determined to be safe at that time.