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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

She called security on me for toddler in car.... WTF??

249 replies

JustWantedPetrol · 11/05/2017 16:10

Left my toddler in the car to pay for petrol - I could see him while paying - and a stupid woman called security cause my 3yo was crying and shouldn't be left in car...... Eh??
WTAF? She's never seen parents leave kids in the car to pay for petrol? WTF is that about?

OP posts:
cheval · 12/05/2017 20:16

Go to Asda. It has a drive-through payment window. Well one in Watford does.

TotallyPaninied · 12/05/2017 20:28

I can't stop laughing at this.

What kind of children are being raised that they can't be apart from mummy for two seconds whilst she pays for petrol? Absurd.

What kind of numpty would report this poor woman to security? I'm sure the child was clean, fed, watered and dry. It won't melt from crying for two minutes. Everyone cries for silly things. When I'm that way out I'll cry if my sock feels weird and I'm in my 30s!

There's leaving your child in the car outside the Trafford centre while you spend a day on a shopping spree and there's this. A little bit of common sense can be used!

woodhill · 12/05/2017 20:30

It's brilliant isn't it Cheval

Scotland32 · 12/05/2017 20:34

Once again, MN is madness! I'm sure some people come on solely to be vindictive and equally sure some people are very economical with the truth about their own lives.
Splinters talks the most sense on here.
There are, without any doubt, occasions where it is far safer (and therefore more responsible) to leave your kids in the car for a couple of minutes than take them out. And IMO a petrol station forecourt is one of those places. You can see them the entire time! I would put money on the fact that more children have been run down in a forecourt than been trapped inside a burning car.

sassyannie · 12/05/2017 21:04

When I have my grandchild in the car and need to pay for petrol (rarely) I take her in... but then I have to buy her a Kinder Egg. What the hell did I do when I had three kids under the age of four and needed to pay? That period of my life is a fog!

leighb23 · 12/05/2017 21:07

Monstie - what UTTER TWADDLE!! ffs lock the car?? Is it really that mentally challenging?? I'd far rather lock my little one in the car (all brain conditioned up btw so likely to run off/lay on the floor/scream blue murder... ) than AT BEST risk him going like a piece of sheet metal that I can't re-strap into his car seat on my return, all of two minutes later!! That's beside the risk of anyone doing their stupid wheel spin off the blocks and frightening the shit out of him or running him over!! I, like many before me, haven't ever noticed kiddies in the kiosk.
Deal with it, people!!

moosechops · 12/05/2017 21:12

I cannot believe people take their kids out the car at petrol stations. I have a 2 yo and 2 month old.. imagine getting both kids out the car then carrying both + purse + keys into shop and carrying back out and putting back in seats. 15 min job atleast! It would cause chaos if every parent did that!

Plus it's the only time I can grab a choccy bar and drink Wink

Poor OP

myusernamewastaken · 12/05/2017 21:18

Too many do gooders with too much time on their hands !!!

Doris65 · 12/05/2017 21:23

Always took my kids topay with me, after I saw a horrific drama on

TV where a parked car at a petrol station was hit (with kids in it) ....May seem daft, but you can't un see what has been seen..

Writermom22 · 12/05/2017 21:27

Go to the "pay at the pump" section or get your petrol at night while hubs is with the kids.

L666TTY · 12/05/2017 21:32

A car was stolen from a petrol forecourt near me with a child in the back when the thieves realised they abandoned the car and told the police where they hadn't left it!!!

libbyb · 12/05/2017 21:52

All the petrol stations I use FORBID children on the forecourt or to touch pumps/equipment etc. These outlets rely on fast transactions from fill up to exiting their premises. Had you taken your 3 yo out of the car you would have breached the garages terms of supply. I don't know if this implies that you have to have a further adult to accompany your child while you purchase petrol (I have never done that - but I park fill and go!!)

StrangeLookingParasite · 12/05/2017 22:25

She was absolutely right, whereas you were totally wrong. You should have taken your toddler in with you

Nope.

Twinkle8516 · 12/05/2017 22:31

I always take my 2yr old in with me when I pay, I always have a fear that if a car crashed into the pumps and there was an explosion, then at least my baby would be with me. But I wouldnt tattle on someone who left their child alone in the car for a few minutes when they pay for fuel, it's a bit petty.

hibbledobble · 12/05/2017 22:35

Fwiw very recently I went into a petrol station, and it was on fire. Due to the nature of the flammable materials, the fire progressed very quickly, before the fire brigade could arrive. Cars were parked at the pumps. For the reason of fire alone, yabu.

Blimey01 · 12/05/2017 22:35

hibbledobble...so you cart 3 kids into the petrol station to pay? Bit OTT don't you think?

hibbledobble · 12/05/2017 22:36

No, I fill the car when out without them, or fill the car when there is another adult in the car, or pay at pump. There are plenty of options.

SoupDragon · 12/05/2017 22:49

There are plenty of options.

Not always.

SoupDragon · 12/05/2017 22:52

I went into a petrol station, and it was on fire.

That seems a very silly thing to do.

SoupDragon · 12/05/2017 22:59

There is, in fact, no right or wrong answer to this, only an opinion based on your own personal risk assessment. Some people judge leaving them more risky than shepherding them across the forecourt, some see it the other way. Some see both options as intolerable.

The only thing that is wrong is when people state their personal choice as fact and as being the only correct way.

coconuttella · 12/05/2017 23:01

I know someone who left their child in the car for a minute while she got a newspaper. The car caught fire with him inside. Don't ever leave your child in the car. it's not worth it - what if someone stole the car with your child in it?

What if your child got run over when you walked across the forecourt? What if your child was snatched from your grasp whilst you were paying, and kidnapped? What if your child walked past a car just as it exploded as the person filling up the engine stupidly lit a cigarette? It's not worth it! Hmm

Do you know how many children die in cars on the roads each year? If you're content to take that 'risk', leaving them on the forecourt is nothing.... It's a bit like eating a whole chocolate cake and then being worried that the splash of semi-skimmed milk in your tea will make you fat.

Deathstarevicki · 12/05/2017 23:07

Laughing at what @littleducks said Grin

hibbledobble · 12/05/2017 23:20

soup As soon as I noticed the fire we turned around and I called the fire brigade. The rate the fire progresses was alarming, which I could see as we drove off. I think people are rather naive about the risk of fire in this thread.

hibbledobble · 12/05/2017 23:21

If anyone is interested /desperately wants verification I do have a photo of said fire station. I wasn't driving before someone makes a comment about phone usage while driving.

hibbledobble · 12/05/2017 23:21

Ugh typos: petrol station!