I will only be a minute, just leave them in the car.
@Hatley (163781)
Garden Grove, California
November 10, 2009 7:29pm CST
mY discussion was spurred by the account of a nineyear old who saved his brother and his moms car from being highjacked, some mylotters felt that the mom should
not be charged just because she left them in the car for a few moments while she
went into the store.I feel strongly that that is so wrong. in a split second anything
could happen and even at nine the boy might not have been able tohandle it. they were kids for pete's sakes not teens. Never,I say,never leave little kids alone in a car, and what was worse they say she left the keys in the car. One case when I was younger where some small kids were left alone, and the keys left in the car,the five year old got the car started, it rolled forward and smashed into a store window and came to a stop pinning a clerk against a counter. one of the kids had a broken arm, and the clerk had a fractured wrist. the mom said she was only going to be in the store for five minutes. but that was evidently five minutes too long. What is your take on this,is it okay to leave small kids in a car alone?
13 people like this
41 responses
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
11 Nov 09
I feel that kids should not be left in the car too. It can really be dangerous and that was heroic for what the 9 year old did. I don't know what was the mom thinking; but in this world full of crimes, it's best to stay vigilant all the time. And there is also that thing with ventilation.
2 people like this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
12 Nov 09
hi thea and zed yes indeed a car closed up becomes really hot.also
that mom was dumber than her smart son who stopped the hijacker.
she will be more careful now or so I hope. yeah a motor cycle has'
plenty of air, but right thea it is a dangerous vehicle lol lol.
2 people like this
@Apples24 (421)
• Singapore
11 Nov 09
As a teenager, i feel that both the kids and the mother are in the wrong. Firstly, the mother should never ever leave her children alone in the car WITH the car keys. Next the children should just sit down and do nothing until their mother comes. A nine year old is mature enough to know the consequences.
2 people like this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
11 Nov 09
Are you for real? the car was being hijacked. That little nine year old saved his brother and himself as well as his mother's car. He reacted in a situation that he should not have had to have faced. Unfortunately his mother left him in charge and he did what he had to do. You really think that he should have or even should have been expected to just sit there quietly while the car was being hijacked?
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
12 Nov 09
HI APPLE you mixed up my discussion with the news about the little boy who stopped the highjacker. but no no mom should ever leave her kids in a car along as
anything could happen, at the least the kids might decide to go for a strool and mom would come back and find the kids missing.
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
11 Nov 09
In a split second anything could happen. yYu are right,very right, so I will never ever take the risk of leaving my kids inside the car alone by themselves. I think the mother did not really think ahead. And even leaving the key in the car. How careless this mother could be! I don't think I will ever do that! I've always been protective and careful concerning my kids.
2 people like this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
12 Nov 09
hi salonga yes it was worth the hassle it always made to take our kids
with us, but we knew how dangerous it can be for two little kids
alone in a car. that mom, i really think should at least have to pay
a fine so she will remember not to take chances again.
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
11 Nov 09
Leaving children alone in the car big no no!! I never used to leave my daughter and the only time she stayed in the car on her own was whenever I got gas and had to go and pay for it. I never worried about leaving her because I was usually only gone for around 60 seconds and I had my eyes on the car the whole time. Well I learned differently while watching the news one night.
A woman left her baby in his car seat while she went to pay for her gas and although she was watching her vehicle, a man managed to get in and take off with the baby in the back! The mother ran out screaming but the car was already out of sight. The Police managed to find the car and the sleeping baby abandoned a few suburbs away. The baby was missing for about two hours which would have been the longest in his mother’s life I’m sure.
The day I saw that news item I was thankful the baby was found and I never, ever left my girl in the car alone again not even for 60 seconds.
Don’t do it parents!
2 people like this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
12 Nov 09
hi paula27661 yes its just not worth taking such risks when you could just
'take your kids with you. it only takes a few seconds for something to
go wrong, and who wants to have their kids hurt or worse. not worth the
little time it takes to get them out and take them with you.
2 people like this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
11 Nov 09
Hi Hatley, I agree that young children should not be left alone in a car, in fact I've only just started leaving mine for a few minutes when he doesn't want to get out, but I wouldn't do it in town. Round here though it's so safe that it isn't really an issue, and I'm more likely to arrive back to find him chatting to someone we know. But in an area where things like you describe are possible then children shouldn't be left. It seems pointless to charge the mother though as she will probably never do it again.
2 people like this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
12 Nov 09
hi thea yes now especially as the crime rate is so much worse,its best to take
little ones with you into the store. when I was little we lived a mile from our small town and sometimes my dad would leave us inthe car but we knew everyone and they all knew us so we were in no danger.too my dad was the town doctor so Doc Clarks kids would sure be safe.worst thing ever happened was that one lady gave us ice cream cones and we were covered in chocolate stains all over our dresses.he he.
But when myown kids were little we did not dare leave them along in our car, also there were laws against that in Arizona at that time. I am sure that mom has probably learned her lesson.sure hope so.
1 person likes this
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
11 Nov 09
Hello, Hatley. I think the probem today is many parents treat their children as equals, and children seem to be so worldly these days we forget that they are young children and not responsible adults. A car is a dangerous weapon, and children should not be left unsupervised, even for a few minutes. And leaving the keys in the car is just asking for trouble. This mother needs a common sense transplant, in my opinion.
2 people like this
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
11 Nov 09
some kids are smart, some kids aren't
My mom put her car in neutral to run back in the house for a moment. In the back seat were her 2 young children.
Because she had started to pull out of the carport, it was right on the edge of the slope of the driveway - not a very steep slope I will add. The car started rolling down the slope.
My brother reached over the front seat and tried to put the shift into park. I, at all of 5 yrs old, slipped over the front seat and stepped on the brake pedal.
The 9 yr old was a very smart kid, the MORON who tried to take the car was dumb - even admitted he was dumb.
A 9 yr old is old enough to babysit for a few minutes. I think they are right not to charge the mother - leaving the keys... not the brightest thing, unless it was really cold - didn't know where this took place, but if it were August in Texas, I'd've left the engine running too.
2 people like this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
11 Nov 09
It is never, EVER alright to leave your children in a car alone. There are too many evil people around. Why do mothers and fathers put their own convenience ahead of the safety of their children?! Don't they know they are precious? No, they don't, because we no longer think of our children as treasures, they are inconveniences.
I never left my children alone in a car. I had two sons less than a year apart and carrying their car seats into a store with me was inconvenient but the thought of them being kidnapped, molested or killed was a POWERFUL INCENTIVE!! I was SO grateful when gas pumps started accepting debit cards so I wouldn't have to drag them out of the car and into the store to pay.
I don't understand the casual attitudes that parents have nowadays. I never will. I think that if we treasured our children more we would have a lot better civilization.
I read somewhere that the way a country treats their children and their old persons reflects their viability. If that's so, the United States is on a crash course to oblivion.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
12 Nov 09
hi dragon54u yes I remember when my kids were little, less than a year apart
actually, and taking out the necessities and dragging them into a store, but
I would have done anything to keep them safe, and leaving them in our car
was a no no, and also would have broken the laws in Phoenix at that time.
So yes I feel for moms with two or three very young kids but their safety'
has to come first. take them with you, its worth the hassle.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
14 Nov 09
You lived in Phoenix?! I was stuck there for almost 30 years and was so glad when I could finally escape and come home to the Midwest!! I miss my grown sons but am so relieved to be back home.
My mom says Phoenix was a beautiful place back in the 40's when she was there as a newlywed. But she nearly cried when she went back 40 years later and saw what it had become.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
19 Nov 09
hi dragon my adult son went back to Phoenix several years
ago just to find the hospital where he had been born and
he said it had changed a lot over the years when we were'
there last.for one thing that hospital was now twice or
three times as big. he he.
@nanajanet (4436)
• United States
11 Nov 09
No, never walk away and leave kids in car, under the age of 12. I cannot believe that she left the keys in the car, either! OMG!! How dumb is that. I think that it is illegal to leave kids, under the age of 12, alone anywhere... in a home, in a car, etc.
2 people like this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
12 Nov 09
nanajanet I agree take the kids under twelve with you. its the law here
'in California that you must not leave kids under twelve in a car alone
specially if its locked. I know its a hassle but their lives should
be worth the hassle to the mom. hope she gets charged so she will not
do that again.
1 person likes this
@cyrus123 (6363)
• United States
11 Nov 09
I don't think children should be left alone in the car, either. Mother used to leave me alone in the car sometimes when she went in the store if she was going to be in there for a few minutes. I knew better than to bother the ignition. However, that was a long time ago and things are so much different now. There's too much meanness going on these days. Kathy.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
12 Nov 09
hi kathy yes theres just too much crime nowdays to risk leaving kids under
twelve in a car alone. We never did that as even back then the crime rate'
was getting higher.we had already heard of small kids being stolen out of
a parked car while mom was in the store.
1 person likes this
@cyrus123 (6363)
• United States
13 Nov 09
I went to the grocery store last night after church and while I was in the checkout line, the lady behind me had very few items and I asked her if she would like to go ahead of me. She said she would and she appreciated it very much because she had a little boy in the car. She must have been worried about him. I felt good because I had done a good deed. Kathy.
@angelajoy (1825)
• Philippines
11 Nov 09
It's not OK to leave kids in a car alone even if it's only for a few minutes. A lot can happen in the few minutes that you leave them. And your story is an example of what could happen if you do that. It's better to be safe than sorry. Never gamble with your children's safety.
1 person likes this
@angelajoy (1825)
• Philippines
13 Nov 09
You're right. We should never risk children's safety just for our own convenience. If we do, we would be really selfish.
@webb_jiang (158)
• China
11 Nov 09
The boy is clever and brave.I don't think we should blame the mother.She just did't think of that.I think she would never do that if she can fortell the posibility.whatever,the story ended in a happy end.I think the mother will
learn a lesson by that.I think we can learn that too.So,let's be more thoughtful
and careful.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
12 Nov 09
hi webb jiang times have changed and no mom should leave kids under 12
in the car alone,in a lot of states it is the law and a large fine
is the penalty. I feel she should get at least a large fine so she
well rememberto take her kids with her.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
12 Nov 09
hi sucahyo yes never leave little ones alone in a car. a car was hijacked
here in California last winter with two toddlers asleep in the rear of
the car. the kids were lucky the hijacker when he found them did not kill
them. but he panicked and bailed out. the police found the two kids and the
car, and had to hospitalize the children for dehydration. The mom was charged
with felony child neglect. she left them in the car while she bought some prescriptions that had to be filled, and she was gone for a good half hour.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
12 Nov 09
yes indeed this old world has changed and you should not risk your'
kids safety,take them in the store with you, put their safety
first before your own convenience.
@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
11 Nov 09
No, NO NOOOOOOO. You never know what can happen. I also dislike seeing animals left in the car. Tonight a gal pulled up in front of Wal Mart, left her car RUNNING, and left a huge dog in the front seat. A bouncy huge dog. Looked like a Marmaduke. He could have accidentally put it in gear. Granted she was only going in to the checkstands, but it struck me as stupid and lazy.
1 person likes this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
11 Nov 09
It is an irresponsible act for parents to leave their kids in the car while they run errands. Even for a short while children can't be left on their own unaccompanied by an adult. Their curiosity can inflict them accidental injuries like what you described here. Only recently a 4 years old down syndrome boy was left inside a car with no aircon and only a small opening in the window. He was left in the car for probably more than an hour and the staff in the nearby gas station was alerted when they heard cries coming from the parked car. When they checked the car they saw the boy crying and his clothes was all wet because of the heat outside. When the man returned he was shocked to find his car attracted a large crowd including a reporter. He was infact called to the police station to have his statement taken but was released after a stern warning. The incident was in the front page of our local papers recently.
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
11 Nov 09
Not it is not ok and not even for a minute. Like you said anything can happen. I believe the law is that you can not leave them alone at all until they are 11 or 12...can't remember which. And 9 is too young to be responsible for a younger sibling. Kudos to the 9 yr old for saving his brother and his mom's car but still that was a very dangerous situation and the mom should be glad that the worst that came of it is that she will face some charges. She could have lost both her children.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
12 Nov 09
hi sid556 right on, she could have come out to find the car and the kids gone with the hijacker in control. she was so lucky that her son was as brave and
as smart too. but the mom sure was not very smart. hope she learns not to take
those chances again.
@ilyzium (1197)
• Canada
11 Nov 09
Hi hatley,
Yes the mother was completely at fault because she should have known better than to leave her kids in the car. I think as a parent you should never leave kids or animals in a car, because you just never know what might happen to them. They're at risk of being approached by predators, they could get into an accident and hit the car like what you described above. I actually hope the mother will be charged for that so it will send a message to other parents that do that or plan to.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
12 Nov 09
hi ilyzium yes I hope to that they charge that mom so she will never do
that again. accidents happen in seconds and little kids like that seldom
know what to do, so adults should realize that they must think for their'
kids a nd take them in the store with them.
@zhuhuifen46 (3483)
• China
11 Nov 09
I would never leave a little child out of my sight for however short a time, even less in a car. What if the child got out of the car, going across the street? Anything might happen, I am hesitating to spell it out. And what if he follows strangers, belongings stolen? Adults should not take the least risk to try his luck. Life is most valuable, and that of our beloved!
1 person likes this
@redthaidevil (1047)
• Thailand
11 Nov 09
I've even heard this kind of story from my mum as my mum told me when I was still very young my mum also left me in the car while she went shopping and I fell asleep. My dad was suppose to go shopping for only 10 minutes but he forget and instead he went golf shopping. Luckily, mum said that someone just warned her and she didn't feel safe without me so she went back to the car. Luckily, they both weren't gone for too long as all the windows were closed.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
12 Nov 09
hi redhaidevil yes it happens so often and kids alone in a car with
the window up on a hot day can easily die from dehydration and that
is not what any parent wants. so take the kids with you.
