I feel like it almost happened to us
mavs_girl07
member
I always hear people say they'd never leave a child in the car on a hot day. This could never happen to them, they just don't understand. I feel like we were almost those parents earlier today 
I was inside vacuuming and DH was outside with DS. I saw DH get the riding lawnmower out and sat DS in his lap to give him a ride around the yard. So I continue my vacuuming, not even paying attention because I knew DH was out front with DS. About 20mins later I notice DH riding the lawnmower in the backyard and DS is no longer with him. So I think "Well crap, DH, where is Jackson??" So I go out front looking for him. Start to feel panicky as I look out front and around the outside of the house. All of a sudden I came around the garage and I hear him moaning and crying. I can't figure out where he is so I really start to panic. That's when I see him IN THE EFFING CAR. He was sitting in the driver's seat, crying and sweating, and I flipped out. I guess he had climbed in the car to play, shut the door, and locked himself in. I got him out, made sure he was okay, calmed him down and gave him some water, then immediately gave DH an earful.
Like WTH???? If you're going to put him down by himself while you go mow the yard, you might want to let me know so I know it's now my turn to watch him. I'm so livid right now. I cannot even bring myself to think about what I would've found if it had taken me longer to get to him.
Re: I feel like it almost happened to us
Poor baby.
Glad he's ok!
He climbed into the car on his own so it's not like you drove to the store, went shopping and just forgot he was in there. As soon as LO could reach and open the garage door, we locked the door and the cars so things like that can't happen. I am kind of side-eyeing your H though for first putting him on a lawn mower, then leaving him unattended. Soooo much could have happened to him. You got really lucky.
I just can't believe he did it. I mean I'm really speechless still. What if I didn't notice? What if I just continued vacuuming the whole upstairs and downstairs, then decided to hop in the shower or something?? It just terrifies me to think about it right now. Starting today the cars will always be locked.
I still wouldn't do it. It's still heavy machinery.
Exactly, thank you. This is common practice around here. Everyone has riding mowers since we have very large yards, and everyone lets their kids ride when the blades are off. One guy even hitches a wagon to the back of his and tows his kids around. Jump on me all you want, it's not something I'm that concerned over. I was scared to death over what happened earlier and came here to let others know that communication between spouses plus keeping car doors locked is super important this time of year. No idea I'd end up having to defend myself. But continue jumping on me for it if you'd like.
I know I personally felt the need to point out the dangers of the riding lawnmower because the OP made it seem like a toddler riding around a on a mower was not an issue and didn't clarify if it was just a ride or while mowing. It's unclear if she does know the hazards of toddlers around lawnmowers and locking the car doors from now on only addresses one of the near misses that happened today.
ETA: OP has since clarified about the blade. Less of a side-eye but I still want to know what H said.
I grew up like that. I used to drive the lawn mower with my cousins in the cart all the time. The only difference was that we were much much older. Like I was a teen and knew the dangers. My cousins were all school aged or older, not toddlers. We wouldn't have been allowed near the mowers as a little kid. Even for a rde in the wagon.
Online Photo Editor
That article scared the living sh!t out of me, because I realized that we all have ocassional moments of forgetfulness, and the only thing that saves us from those parents' fate is pure dumb luck and circumstances.
It was incredibly eye-opening...and I don't judge a single one of the parents featured in that article.