My FLAME of the day: Lazy Parents.

Halo79RN

well, my kids are 19m apart and never would I have left ds in the car while I ran into drop dd off at her mmo.  she's in a preschool now where we pull up and the teachers are there at a gazebo, they walk in as a class. they don't want parents getting out of their cars.  nice.  but for ds first 9 months, I was carrying him in in either the infant seat, the hotlsing or the bjorn.  I'd worry someone would go off with him either intentionally or unintentionally.  and I'd worry about getting arrested.  

that being said, I have locked the doors, cracked the windows with the garage door still open as I ran right inside my house door to grab the cell phone or my wallet.  but even then, I'm paranoid something would happen.  I cannot do that at all now b/c we're in a 3 story townhouse.  so now, I get them all ready and standing in the foyer and make sure we have everything before we head out to the car.  

I agree, it's lazy parenting to leave a baby in the car while you bring the other indoors out of sight. and yes, I feel the same way about it after having a second child as I did when I had just one.  

sweetie1528

rebs:

I like the fact that some moms are being pro-active and have set up a group to watch each others kids, that is great, especially since the drop off happens everyday.  However I do think some of you are being irrational about your fear to never, ever leave your kids in the car.  I have done this once or twice to run in and pay for gas when it is ridiculously cold out.  There are risks with everything.  I drive with my kids, we fly on airplanes, they swim in a lake- all carry a far greater risk of something happening than being abducted. 

I also just LOVE how people with one kid have an opinion on this...

Sorry DandR, I don't know why you have such a bee in your bonnet about this. 

it doesn't matter how many kids you have.  that's not an excuse.

Chrisy-Wyobride

My DD's school is FULL of lazy parents & I love it--LOL!  We pull up to the curb, open up the door, let our kids out & then leave so the next parent can do the same.  Our children walk the 40' into school "alone" (meaning, not holding their mommy or daddy's hand at even 3yrs old)...It's called the carpool lane & I am not worried in the least about it.  There are many other parents around walking in, talking to each other, teaching aides at the curb helping the kids out of the cars & holding the door open to the school for the kids, etc.  I used to walk my child in, but then my 2yr old started having screaming tantrum & I'd have to drag her out crying because she wanted to stay w/ her sister everyday.  Then more screaming & crying when I had to put her back in the carseat...it wasn't pretty at all.  THANK GOD for carpool lanes, that alone is worth the $5K I pay for her private school-- that's all I have to say about that!  LOL!

marrymemylove

I don't really think it is lazy I think it is stupid. There's a difference. Lazy is fine. It's human to be lazy and it harms no one. Stupid on the other hand leaves your kid unattended.

I really think if you can't cope with walking or carrying the other kids with you then you shouldn't have brought them (or possibly have HAD them). You will have to manage all the kids together sometimes, this is one of those times.

It is not just paranoia about kidnapping, there is also the risk the car will be stolen without the thief even looking to see there's a kid, or that the kid will be injured by some kind of mishap when you're not there. I've actually heard of quite a few kids hurt when a car rammed the parked car (most people in a tight spot think a parked car is the best thing to hit if you have to hit something). I've also heard of kids hurt when someone drives by and throws junk out the window, or where there is a genuine accident. Not to mention that it is airless in there and in hot places like where I am it is dangerous to leave the kid in a parked car for more than 1 minute.

Those risks may all be small but they add up. Also they are totally avoidable. Some risks are not avoidable and you live with them. If something happens at least you know you did all you could. On the other hand if you take risks you don't need to take...well, its just a matter of time until "it won't happen to me" hapoens to you.?