Grocery Cart issue....

You know, I never thought about that! My kids are long grown and gone and I raised them in a small, rural, safe community. But now I live in a big city and am always complaining about people not putting their carts back. But I will temper my criticism now that I see there may be good reason for not returning a cart. I'll just complain about the people who are able to do it but don't! :-) I really don't think you should leave the children when it isn't safe to do so. Your child's safety comes first. It is good that you put the cart the cart up in front of the car rather than just leave it between parking spaces where it might get bumped into someone's car. It won't be long until your children are big enough to be left alone for two minutes while you return the cart. So just be extra thoughtful when you can and not feel guilty when you are taking care of the children's safety. I applaud you for getting through the shopping ordeal with two small children! I remember what that was like. Occassionally I see a mother with three or more children trying to do her shopping. I think SHE deserves a medal.

I do the same as you. Don't feel guilty, what would really make you feel bad is if you went to put the cart back, and something bad happened to your kids right? SO don't worry about it. That's what they pay the employees for. If the hubby is with me, then one of us will take the cart, otherwise I find somewhere to ditch it w/out having to leave the kids.

I am lucky here as I always have one of the older children with me when I go for groceries so either I take the cart back or they do and the other stays with the younger one's . I don't feel comfortable leaving my little one's alone even for a minute either , the only other option when you have little one's with you and no one else is to take them with you to put the cart away and then go back to your vechile .

True, they are paying their employees to get the carts but you have to remember the employees have nothing to do with if the cart you left behind hit and dents another car. I always put my cart back and if need be I empty it first then take my child with. It's just curtious to others. Remember you would be very unhappy if another person left the cart in the parking lot unsecured and it hit your car.

Wow, some of the responses I'm amazed by. First off I'll say I don't have kids. But here are my thoughts anyways. Every parking lot I have ever gone to has about 20 cart corrals. There's no reason you can't park within a 10 second trip to one. THen you can put the cart back in there after you load the kids in the car and lock the doors (with the keys still in your hands.) That 20-30 seconds total is not going to cause any harm to your kids. From what I see on here, I hope none that just leave the carts anywhere complain EVER if their car gets hit by one. Yes, a cart can do a good amount of damage. I had one that was about 5 spots away from me roll into my car once and scratch it (a good 2 foot long visible scratch). That ultimately pissed me off.

Don't feel guilty anyone with children know what your talking about.I do it I arefuse to leave my child alone for any amount of time....have you watched the news latly my goodness.....leave the cart they have people that put them away. You have no reason to feel giulty about putting your childs saftey first. an ai would like to say ( good on you) that to me is great parenting

first of all bring the cart next to the door and let the children get inside and set properly then closed the door bside them and then unload your groceries at the back after unloading your stuff closed the car lock it but open the window a little and bring back the cart near the door of the grocery store then your done, always take time to secure your kids before anythings else. takecare..

lol your not the only one. i have to i will not leave my kids for one second in the car alone. so i do the same thing if i am by my self with the kids. if it is nice and i am not to far away i will take it back and carry the baby in his seat and my other walks. its hard and some people think nothing of leaving their kids there car. i do feel so bad leaving the cart there i walk away from it like i have just robbed the store and some ones gonna catch me.lol

I have 2 small children too. I try to park next to a corral when I can, then I empty my cart and put it back. But if there isn't a parking spot next to a corral, I do what you do. I am always sure to "park" the cart so it can't roll off and hit someone's car. I woul never leave my kids alone just to park a cart!

I leave the cart right in front of the car most of the time as well or my bf takes the cart to the corral. I have 3 month old kid so I can't leave her alone for a second.

Honestly, I never had this problem even though I had three kids lol, because I couldn't drive, and so I always went shopping with a friend. We shared a cart and always made sure that one of us stayed with the kids whilst the other one took the cart back. Nowadays it's a little different. Most grocery stores have carts where you have to deposit a coin into it in order to use it, and then you get that back when you return the cart. if I need to go shopping in the week, I go while the kids are in school, but more often than not, we all go together on the weekend. Again, same thing, one of us stays with the kids while the other takes the cart back. If I was in your shoes though, I'd do the same thing. I do NOT feel safe leaving my children in a car on their own, even if the doors are locked and even if it's just 2 minutes. A lot of things could happen in those 2 minutes.

If I can't park close to a cart return, I do exactly what you do. I make sure as best as possible that it can't roll into any cars, and that it doesn't block any spaces.

I put my kids in the car first and just like you, I dont like the thought of leaving them alone in there so my cart goes anywhere near my car that is the most safe.

Hi, It's good to see that the majority agree with what you're doing. It's sad, but it is just too unsafe to leave your kids for even a second. I am a mum of 3 and totally understand your dilemma! As someone else mentioned, I try to park next to a trolley return, but this is not always possible. As an alternative, I take the kids with me to the return and then put them into the car. Of course this depends on circumstance and on a wet day or if the kids are playing up I tend to put them in the car, unload the shopping and park the trolley in a spot where it won't inconvenence anyone (and always feel guilty in the process!). As a mum, you do what you have to do!

I would do the same thing- I wouldn't leave my kids unattended either-- If you feel funny about it- Why not try parking next to the cart corral? If there is a spot open- That way you can unload the cart and put the cart in without leaving the kids. Otherwise if you can't get a spot there-- Noone would fault you for leaving the cart there.

Around here we have to put a quarter or loonie to get the cart, and when we return it we get it back. There is always someone wandering around that takes the cart back just to get the deposit. Everyone wins.

I always just try to find a parking spot right next to a corral. It's usually not hard. That way I don't have to walk away from my vehicle or drag my little ones all over the parking lot just to put the cart away. If I can't park next to one and the weather is too bad to bring the children with me, I just leave in the most convenient spot next to where I'm parked. I don't feel guilty about it. If the stores have a problem with carts being left out, it's their responsibility to make it more convenient to put them away. They know that many of their customers are parents with small children. They should make sure we have a way to put the cart back without endangering our children.

Thats what i do too. Thats what they pay bag boys for .Dont feel quilty if you didnt do that then someone wouldnt have a job.