I wanted to chew out another parent today.

MissLMS · February 2010

I was at the main post office trying to mail something and there was a line of about 20 people. I had been waiting for about 20 minutes when I noticed there was a little girl - probably on 3-years-old - hanging out of an open window of a small car parked in front of the post office. (the front of the post office is all windows, so she was within plain view.)

Her little face was so sad and she had tears rolling down her face while she was screaming "Daddy! Daddy!"

I was looking around to see if the child's father was in line but I couldn't tell. The man behind me was watching her out the window but wasn't doing anything about it. I figured surely if he was the father he'd go out and get his child out of the car.

Finally, another woman walked in the post office and asked if the girl's parents were in the post office, because they needed to go help their daughter. To my surprise, the guy behind me didn't say anything at first, and then said something about " oh fine" and went out to the car. I told him I would save his place in line if he would go get her and bring her back in.

Instead, he went out to the car, yelled at her for making a scene and then came back in to get back in line. My heart ached for that little girl.

Yes, I have left Kennedy in the car before, but that was when she was sleeping and ONLY when the car was in my driveway and I was unloading the car, going back and forth from the car to the house. I would never, ever leave her in the car by herself in a public place, especially the way that girl was hanging out the open window, so upset. Someone could have easily taken her from the car or kidnapped her.

So sad.

soon2Bmrs.AGEE · February 2010

Wow. Good for the lady for speaking up. That's so sad.

12106mrsmun · February 2010

I would have called the police. I think it's against the law to leave a child in ia car like that in public.....your own driveway is one thing---I do that all the time if C. is asleep (while going in and out)---but to do that in public is REALLY awful! What a jerk!!

hlw082104 · February 2010

That is so sad. It just goes to show how people's perceptions of what's ok are so different. I am like you...I feel super anxious if I have DS in his car seat in our driveway and have to run back in to grab my phone off the foyer table. And especially now, I am getting to a point where I feel like he could definitely get out of his car seat and into the front if he really wanted to so most of the time I take him back out if I have to come back in for something. She could have really been hurt!

lilcrablegs · February 2010

Kids should never be left in the car. That guy sucks.

hamillm · February 2010

I am so mad at that man right now! She could have been kidnapped like you said, or climbed out the window and ran in front of a car or something! I know my 3 year old niece doesn't pay much attention when she is in a parking lot, much less when she is upset about something. Ugh! I hope I never see anything like that. Seriously, I may have to walk outside to cool down, lol.

ETA: I don't know if I've ever left J in the car by himself...I can see unloading the car if he was asleep, etc, but most of the time Jarrett is with me so one of us gets him out while the other unloads. I would never even begin to think of leaving J (or my nieces, nephew, cousins, friends' kids) in the car out in public!

ricejl · February 2010

That man makes me mad. All she wanted was to spend time with her dad!

crollin · February 2010

WOW, some people amaze me! I feel so sorry for that child.

mrssamuels2b · February 2010

So sad...My 91 year old great grandmother likes to ride in the car but when we go to places she doesn't like to get out but rather stay in the car...we've stopped letting her do that b/c we're afraid that someone will see her and call the police on us...now she has to get out of the car (she can't walk long distances but refuses to ride in a wheel chair) or stay at home.We try to take her to places that have a waiting area or chairs in front...no way would I do a 3 year old like that.

southernbelle82 · February 2010

awww that poor little girl! I would never have left Kenley out there like that! I've done like you, left her while in our (short) driveway while I run something inside...but out in public?? No way.

Leelee06 · February 2010

That's awful and yes, very dangerous. Anyone could have just snatched her, even if he was watching through the window!

southernbelle82 · February 2010

She could have easily opened the door and gotten out and run into traffic or just run off. Too many scary scenarios for that little girl.

MissLMS · February 2010

I didn't even think about her running out into the street. The car was parked out on the (busy) street, so that could have been a very real possibility.

What an idiot.

amandabrooke81 · February 2010

12106mrsmun:
I would have called the police. I think it's against the law to leave a child in ia car like that in public

This.

That dude was NOT using good parenting skills at all. That poor little girl wasn't being properly cared for; I'd worry about when else he ignores her or leaves her alone. That's just awful!

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