Anonymous wrote:Never. The walk to return the grocery carts with me, into Starbucks where ever. A poster above said it and it was drilled into me and my parents in the carjacking ‘90’s: your kids are the last thing you load into the car and the first thing out Never leave a child in the car except when you’re stepping back to unhook his car seat or get back into your seat after hooking them in.

As noted, it’s also illegal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s illegal where I live.

And I don’t get the rational that makes it okay. If you wouldn’t leave a four-year-old home alone, why would you leave them in a car alone?

While I push the grocery cart to the collection area 3 spaces away? Or put gas in the car? I don't do it because people around here are nuts and would call that in. Maybe your kids aren't well behaved, but mine sit there nicely for 5 seconds. Windows part way down, car locked, in full sight and within a few feet of the adult.

People are ridiculous around here. Much more likely that my kid will get hit by a car in the parking lot while I return the cart than someone car jacking my locked car.

Do you really think that’s what we’re referring to? Putting gas in the car? Five seconds with your hands on the car?

I carry my toddler and hold hands with my five year old to return the grocery cart because it’s a distance. It’s not hard.

Why would you do that though? Making it hard on yourself when it's much easier to buckle them in, and quickly return the cart.

I mean it's not hard to park by the cart line either.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s illegal where I live.

And I don’t get the rational that makes it okay. If you wouldn’t leave a four-year-old home alone, why would you leave them in a car alone?

While I push the grocery cart to the collection area 3 spaces away? Or put gas in the car? I don't do it because people around here are nuts and would call that in. Maybe your kids aren't well behaved, but mine sit there nicely for 5 seconds. Windows part way down, car locked, in full sight and within a few feet of the adult.

People are ridiculous around here. Much more likely that my kid will get hit by a car in the parking lot while I return the cart than someone car jacking my locked car.

Do you really think that’s what we’re referring to? Putting gas in the car? Five seconds with your hands on the car?

I carry my toddler and hold hands with my five year old to return the grocery cart because it’s a distance. It’s not hard.

Anonymous wrote:Most of the people on this thread justifying leaving their kids in the car are the same ones who let their kids ride their bikes without a helmet “because he’s only going to his friend’s house 2 blocks down!” If you’re okay with that level of risk, here’s a Darwin Award.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll do what I want thank you very much.

I’m not unloading my 3 kids from my Escalade so I can walk 20 steps into Starbucks to pick up my mobile order.

D@mn. This thread did not disappoint.

Anonymous wrote:Most of the people on this thread justifying leaving their kids in the car are the same ones who let their kids ride their bikes without a helmet “because he’s only going to his friend’s house 2 blocks down!” If you’re okay with that level of risk, here’s a Darwin Award.

Anonymous wrote:I’ll do what I want thank you very much.

I’m not unloading my 3 kids so I can walk 20 steps into Starbucks to pick up my mobile order.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh good grief. My parents left me alone in the car all the time as a kid when I asked to stay and read. It was FINE. Crime has only gone DOWN since then, not up. And I wasn't defenseless - I could get out of the car and go into wherever my parents were. My kids have stayed in the car numerous times also, with no problem. Nothing will happen in the store or restaurant to prevent me from just turning and walking out if I need to. It's fine.

Settle down, Susan.

Your parents probably didn’t bother to put a seatbelt on you and raised you on a diet of Mountain Dew and Lays given your IQ level. Do you do the same for your kids?

Actually my parents were the “the car won’t turn on if everyone isn’t buckled “ types. I’ve never had Mountain Dew and we mostly only ate chips when we grilled. My IQ is fine. I’m capable of critical thinking and knowing what my kids are likely to do.

NP here. I was born in 1965 (yeah, wow) and was even put in a car seat until age 2. Seatbelts at all times. No soda. (Not American). How about that? Oh, and they did leave me in the car. Even in a stroller in front of the store from time-to-time. In a very large city. Hunh. Not in the US though. Crazy crime ridden place, according to them.

Anonymous wrote:I mean, I agree with you, but this sort of random soapboxing makes you sound a little nuts.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh good grief. My parents left me alone in the car all the time as a kid when I asked to stay and read. It was FINE. Crime has only gone DOWN since then, not up. And I wasn't defenseless - I could get out of the car and go into wherever my parents were. My kids have stayed in the car numerous times also, with no problem. Nothing will happen in the store or restaurant to prevent me from just turning and walking out if I need to. It's fine.

Settle down, Susan.

Your parents probably didn’t bother to put a seatbelt on you and raised you on a diet of Mountain Dew and Lays given your IQ level. Do you do the same for your kids?

Actually my parents were the “the car won’t turn on if everyone isn’t buckled “ types. I’ve never had Mountain Dew and we mostly only ate chips when we grilled. My IQ is fine. I’m capable of critical thinking and knowing what my kids are likely to do.