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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to have done what I did today?

94 replies

superbagpuss · 18/01/2014 20:19

OK I'm ready for a flaming as I feel guilty about this

normally I always check the petrol in my car so I have enough

however dh drove my car and he always drives the mpg down ( a personal bugbear of mine) and so I find myself with DC in their PJ in the car with barely enough petrol to get home

so I stop at a petrol station, but there are no pay at pumps so I have to go in the shop and leave DC in the car

they are 4 and were very tired and sleepy, and had been good up to that point

of course there was a queue so I was away from the car for 5 mins, had to leave the car unlocked so the alarm didn't go off but could see the car at all times

all was OK but I hated doing it, DC where very well behaved

if I did the wrong thing what should I have done?

and yes I should have checked petrol level when dh was in the car earlier in the day - that's not a helpful thought

OP posts:

KeatsiePie · 18/01/2014 21:50

picnic I didn't think you were serious.

picnicbasketcase · 18/01/2014 22:02

Phew. Trying to preempt mad hysterical comments doesn't really work on a thread where everyone has turned out to be sensible, sadly

KeatsiePie · 18/01/2014 22:11

Hahahaha! I know what you mean.

But your post prompted Bohemian's and that's still the best laugh I had today so I feel like it worked out well

WhereIsMyHat · 18/01/2014 23:06

I left 2 of my 3 on Thursday as the pay at the pump card reader wasn't working. I flit between locking and unlocking. You can just use your keys to stop the alarm btw, just click one of the lock/ unlock buttons from inside the petrol station.

KatOD · 18/01/2014 23:17

Errr... I do actually take my DD in with me if she's awake an always have done. If she's in a deep sleep I might leave her. Not from a risk PoV necessarily, but because she'd get upset at being left for a few mins (phase I hope!).

That said, I'd never think others that don't do this we're being unreasonable at all, it just works better for us.

MissDuke · 18/01/2014 23:22

As above, my dd gets upset, actually she cries as soon as I pull up at the pump. Perhaps she senses the danger we are in by being there? I have to open the door and talk to her whilst filling the tank then I lift her out and carry her in. She is 2 :-/

I bet she read on here about all the dangers, and that's why my back is bloody broke when I have to carry her in :-O

Pigsmummy · 18/01/2014 23:23

Always lock the car.

Dromedary · 18/01/2014 23:24

This is a really barking post - I didn't even understand what it meant until I read other people's comments!!
My issue with the OP is that if you can't leave your car locked because of the car alarm you should be disabling the car alarm. I've left my children in the car about a million times, but it is certainly reassuring to be able to lock them in.

Dromedary · 18/01/2014 23:26

NB it was in the paper the other day that there has been NOT ONE SINGLE report of a fire at a petrol station being caused by a mobile phone. But that you are more likely to spill petrol if you fill up your car while using your mobile!!

FortyDoorsToNowhere · 18/01/2014 23:26

My logic is that if a car did combust the whole place will go up any way.

Always lock mine in when getting petrol, to stop them escaping

SuzanneUK · 18/01/2014 23:28

Only on MN do people allegedly take children, of any age, out of the car when paying for petrol.

That's because only on MN are so many people so absolutely and utterly effing perfect.

lougle · 18/01/2014 23:34

There is no way on this earth that my children would get out of the car when I was paying for petrol. No way at all. The most dangerous place for children. I leave all 3 of mine in the car, always have done.

lougle · 18/01/2014 23:35

And I've never seen a petrol forecourt where the shop does not have a full window across the length of the forecourt, either.

RandyRudolf · 18/01/2014 23:37

I did a poll on this in the office last week. Everyone said they'd take the kids out of the car. That's my RL for ya!

DalmationDots · 18/01/2014 23:39

I think I left my children on a weekly basis in the car unlocked while I got petrol (we did a 45 min each way school run in the car every weekday) from the age of 4 onwards.
They are now 21 and 23 and very much alive, safe and un-kidnapped. Do not worry!!
It would probably be more risky taking them across the forecourt with you and back again.
It has never even crossed my mind there is anything wrong with leaving them or that it is a risk. Obviously I watched them pretty much constantly but just to check they weren't messing about rather than to check for kidnappers.

topknob · 18/01/2014 23:41

I always leave my kids in the car at petrol stations.

hippo123 · 18/01/2014 23:41

When was the last forecourt fire? I have always left mine in the car from newborn. Much safer than taking them in IMO. Yes pay at the pump is ideal, but they aren't always available. Relax.

IneedAsockamnesty · 18/01/2014 23:50

I've been driving for 25 years and have only ever seen one person ever get a child out of the car at a petrol station,

She had that I'm so tired I don't know where I am I've lost the ability to think straight,in my head I'm fast akip in a hotel in Paris look on her face.

I was tempted to walk very close behind her so I could catch when she crashed out in the que but thought she may think I was strange.

ChippingInWadesIn · 18/01/2014 23:51

I don't 'pay at the pump' in the UK - very well known for ripping card numbers!

formerbabe · 19/01/2014 13:19

I leave my kids in the car unless the queue is massive. I always lock the doors though...sorry but you are crazy to not lock them! So what iuf the alarm goes off...I just press the button on my fob through the petrol station window.

SummerRain · 19/01/2014 13:25

It's far more dangerous and irresponsible to drag tiny children across the forecourt with you than to leave them safely in the car imo.

I've never seen anyone in rl take children out of the car to pay and I'd never consider doing it myself. They're far safer in the car and you can pay a lot quicker.

SquinkiesRule · 19/01/2014 13:57

All these kids left in cars is complete opposite to what I had to do where I raised my kids until now (we were in California) it's actually illegal to leave anyone under 7 or it may even be 8 alone in the car to go in and pay, so everyone pays at the pump or drags the kids in with them.
There were also signs on the pumps about using cell phones while using the pumps due to fire hazard too.

Spermysextowel · 19/01/2014 14:16

Both if mine tag along after me so that they can denude the BP/M&S of anything resembling cake. Can't wait til DS1 is old enough to fill up whilst I stake my place in the queue.

Caitlin17 · 19/01/2014 14:18

I'd have locked the doors.

Re not using phone I got a terrible ticking off from a forecourt assistant at Sainsburys once. I was driving OH's car and couldn't work out how the lock on the petrol cap worked. She bombed out of the shop and yelled at me to stop.

SadAndWorried1 · 19/01/2014 14:22

I have left my PFB in the car whilst paying for petrol twice and both times I felt uneasy and had visions of explosions and abductions (I am neurotic). Now I always just go to Tesco where they have Pay at Pump. Much easier

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