What do you think of this!?

Anonymous
Really? Leaving small children in a running car while you are inside another building? Watching your kid in a DANCE CLASS? How essential to the functioning of one's life.

What an idiot this mother is. If she's this dumb in front of other people, God only knows how dumb she is in private.

I'm guessing this mother is one of those people who'd rather have to not make choices they need to make after backing themselves into a corner--namely, having more children than they can safely accommodate.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm not being snarky, but I don't understand why you would think it's OK to not say anything to her, but it is ok to call the police/CPS. I can imagine that having the police/CPS confront their mother is terrifying for kids. If the point is to help/save the children wouldn't it be safer to confront her directly rather than escalating it to CPS?


Exactly. I like this. OP, maybe if you had talked to her, asked her questions, gotten to know her a little bit, maybe you would have felt comfortable enough to ask her about the car situation. It really doesn't seem like she was being this horribly neglectful mother. I wouldn't have done what she's doing, but it really sounds like her kids were not in any immediate danger... at least not enough danger that the cops or cps should get involved.

Talking to her first, I think, would have been the best option. Instead, you and your friend come off as two meddling, judgmental women, wringing your hands in the corner and whispering about what a horrible mother she is. And then calling the cops on her?

That's definitely not what I would've done.


Completely disagree with this. Call CPS and the police. Do it anonymously if necessary.
I used to hire a babysitter to watch my younger ones when older ones had activities I didn't want to miss.
This mom sounds irresponsible, and possibly not too bright.


You are a coward.

If you feel something isn't right then speak up for yourself and the kids you think you are protecting. Otherwise, mind your own damn business. Calling CPS over some BS. Go live in a communist place if that's the first thing that comes to your mind.

Do you know how much hassle that can put in someone's life, when you could have just talked to the person to see where their head is?? But I guess you don't care. Just wait until someone does it to you because of a choice that you make. Don't think you are immune, you are not, there are many crazy cowards just like you.





I don't feel that I am a coward. Most parents in this area become extremely defensive when anyone questions their parenting choices. Considering this choice she has made to leave her babies in the car with the engine running, I am afraid she is not someone I would want to hold a parenting conversation with.
Sorry this upsets you, but it is a free country and would be my choice to call if I were concerned about the situation.


No, it's not a free country because of people like you who think it's the governments job to handle personal affairs.

Yes, let's get someone's kids taken away and possibly put with pedophiles or abusers who passed a background check. Let's get mommy arrested because I am afraid that she will be defensive. That is so helpful. Two cheers for your Miss Do Gooder.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So is there a difference between a 2 and an 11 year old?
Just the law? Both would be in harms way given a carjacking. So law aside, I am getting that none of you will ever leave a child of any age alone in a car given the remote possibility? Because as far as I can see, there are no significant difference.


Of course there is a difference - an 11 year old can get out of their seatbelt and open the door, can recognize if there's danger, could probably stop the car in the event that it was not fully in park or something...HUGE difference. But yes, in a carjacking situation, both would likely be in danger, it's just that is not the only potential issue.


1. No way would I coach my 11 year old to jump from a moving car with a carjacker or to fight him

2. If the car is in park and kids are in the car seat, how is it improperly braked? If it is a manual, the only way is to put it in neutral and brake it, or it's rolling away, and again, highly unlikely.

3. From my perspective, if you can't leave young children with a visual, then you can't leave older children either.

44. I don't think this is the best idea, but calling the police is overkill. Not cool and unwarranted.

Again, I ask all of you to consider the less obvious risks you take everyday that are far more likely to have dangerous outcomes. I am not sure many of YOU would have a leg to stand on.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm not being snarky, but I don't understand why you would think it's OK to not say anything to her, but it is ok to call the police/CPS. I can imagine that having the police/CPS confront their mother is terrifying for kids. If the point is to help/save the children wouldn't it be safer to confront her directly rather than escalating it to CPS?


Exactly. I like this. OP, maybe if you had talked to her, asked her questions, gotten to know her a little bit, maybe you would have felt comfortable enough to ask her about the car situation. It really doesn't seem like she was being this horribly neglectful mother. I wouldn't have done what she's doing, but it really sounds like her kids were not in any immediate danger... at least not enough danger that the cops or cps should get involved.

Talking to her first, I think, would have been the best option. Instead, you and your friend come off as two meddling, judgmental women, wringing your hands in the corner and whispering about what a horrible mother she is. And then calling the cops on her?

That's definitely not what I would've done.


Completely disagree with this. Call CPS and the police. Do it anonymously if necessary.
I used to hire a babysitter to watch my younger ones when older ones had activities I didn't want to miss.
This mom sounds irresponsible, and possibly not too bright.


You are a coward.

If you feel something isn't right then speak up for yourself and the kids you think you are protecting. Otherwise, mind your own damn business. Calling CPS over some BS. Go live in a communist place if that's the first thing that comes to your mind.

Do you know how much hassle that can put in someone's life, when you could have just talked to the person to see where their head is?? But I guess you don't care. Just wait until someone does it to you because of a choice that you make. Don't think you are immune, you are not, there are many crazy cowards just like you.





I don't feel that I am a coward. Most parents in this area become extremely defensive when anyone questions their parenting choices. Considering this choice she has made to leave her babies in the car with the engine running, I am afraid she is not someone I would want to hold a parenting conversation with.
Sorry this upsets you, but it is a free country and would be my choice to call if I were concerned about the situation.


No, it's not a free country because of people like you who think it's the governments job to handle personal affairs.

Yes, let's get someone's kids taken away and possibly put with pedophiles or abusers who passed a background check. Let's get mommy arrested because I am afraid that she will be defensive. That is so helpful. Two cheers for your Miss Do Gooder.


Hey Lady, it's not my job to teach this woman how to parent. If she is not able to safely manage her kids, she needs support, classes, etc. I am not in a position to provide those to her.
Anonymous

If the mom leaving the car running, then the keys are in the ignition, correct?

I don't think it's a great idea to leave any child, of any age, in a car while the keys are in the ignition.

A friend of mine left her car unlocked while she was unloading groceries, and the car was stolen while she was bringing the bags into her house!

I think leaving keys in the ignition and the car running is an open invitation to car thieves everywhere. Just break the window and drive away!

That said, the big reason it's illegal to leave your babies in the car (in MD anyhow) is because of the risk of overheating. In April, that risk is minimal.
Anonymous
OK, so let's get mom's priorities straight here according to OP's story:

She prefers to watch her older child dancing instead of hanging out in the car with her sleeping babies?

I call it post postpartum psychosis!

This woman is shit crazy! I was at the gas station in Manassas a few years ago when the guy stole the car with the sleeping toddler inside. The aunt was screaming like a mad woman. I can't imagine the amount of guilt she's dealing with right now...

Anonymous
Nanny here-- This is insane. I would call the police every week.
Anonymous
It does make one wonder exactly how dumb some people become when they are living the dc urban mom's overscheduled life.

Don't know however, why people can't just be kind and say to the mom, "It's clear you need some help here. Want me to pick your kid up and drive her to dance class? Want me to watch your kids for a few minutes in the car so you could see your little kid dance? Want help taking your kids out of the car and putting them in the double stroller to sleep?"
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:It does make one wonder exactly how dumb some people become when they are living the dc urban mom's overscheduled life.

Don't know however, why people can't just be kind and say to the mom, "It's clear you need some help here. Want me to pick your kid up and drive her to dance class? Want me to watch your kids for a few minutes in the car so you could see your little kid dance? Want help taking your kids out of the car and putting them in the double stroller to sleep?"


She might get insulted by that.
cuzimawesome
Member Offline
Anonymous wrote:Nanny here-- This is insane. I would call the police every week.


Parent here. You're an insane nanny.

Anonymous
cuzimawesome wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Nanny here-- This is insane. I would call the police every week.


Parent here. You're an insane nanny.



And you're not all there if this opinion makes you think you're awesome!
Anonymous
She might get insulted by that.

Insulted or Police??? I'd rather be insulted than arrested.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I have my DD enrolled in a dance class with a friend and her DD. One of the other mom's at DD's dance class has been leaving her two very young children asleep in the car (locked and running) outside the studio with a baby monitor so she could hear if they woke up. She will watch her DD dance and hold the monitor...usually she never gets the boys out of the car (they sleep for the whole 45 min class)


Somewhat OT: I HATE it when people go somewhere and leave their car running for ANY reason!!! The pollution and the waste of gasoline! Unless you live in Alaska, where your car will not start again due to outside temps or some similar exigent circumstances, there is NEVER a reason to do this. I WISH there would be a way these people could be charged $10/gallon for gas! Correct me if you've experienced differently, but this seems to be a North American phenomenon. I've never seen it in any countries in Europe....

As far as what OP witnessed: Amazing both of her children slept for exactly the hour they were at the studio, each time? I'm also surprised by the reaction of the police. Haven't there been a few cases where women got arrested for things like that? (oh, wait, the difference is: this woman left the car *running* - so that made it all good for the police? Or was it the baby monitor??)
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:It does make one wonder exactly how dumb some people become when they are living the dc urban mom's overscheduled life.

Don't know however, why people can't just be kind and say to the mom, "It's clear you need some help here. Want me to pick your kid up and drive her to dance class? Want me to watch your kids for a few minutes in the car so you could see your little kid dance? Want help taking your kids out of the car and putting them in the double stroller to sleep?"


This is exactly what civilized people would offer to do. Not call the police.
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