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AIBU?

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Original poster

DH left kids in car

185 replies

eatsleepeatrepeat · 17/04/2023 20:41

DH was driving back from kids club with DC1&2 (7mo & 2yrs) and stopped at the petrol station for a couple of microwave meals & wine for our dinner tonight, leaving both the kids in the locked car. When he came home I presumed he'd taken them in with him, but then I realised he didn't have the double buggy, so he eventually admitted he left them in the car briefly. He said he had eyes on the car the whole time he was in the shop.

We didn't really have an argument over it but I would just never have left them and was horrified he did, if only for a few mins. Am I overreacting?

OP posts:
WonderingWanda · 17/04/2023 21:14

Oh dear, this again. Where are the usual but what if the car bursts into flames crew?

They were fine, and he could see them.

bloodywhitecat · 17/04/2023 21:19

There is no way on this earth I am getting my little one's (2 year old) wheelchair out of the car, assemble it, get them into it, wheel them across the forecourt then reverse the process once I am done. No. Way. Ours is a fuel station with an M&S attached and I sometimes stop for wine supplies, the little one waits in the car while I do. He made a very sensible choice IMO.

00100001 · 17/04/2023 21:19

What do imagine will happen in a.locked parked switched off car?

00100001 · 17/04/2023 21:19

WonderingWanda · 17/04/2023 21:14

Oh dear, this again. Where are the usual but what if the car bursts into flames crew?

They were fine, and he could see them.

Yes. All those fires that spontaneously occur in cars with engines switched off in UK forecourts. They're all over the news....

00100001 · 17/04/2023 21:21

Rumplestrumpet · 17/04/2023 20:46

I didn't leave my kids in the car at that age, I opted for pay at pump instead. I just wasn't comfortable, and you can't genuinely keep your eyes on them the whole time.

But I don't think it's a big deal if your husband did, assuming he was quick and locked the car, it is probably safer.

Lots of stations don't have pay at pump.

Why do you even need to keep your eyes on them at all times when paying for petrol?

00100001 · 17/04/2023 21:21

moonspiral · 17/04/2023 21:14

Sorry but both options are crap. Did you really need a microwave meal and wine? Did you not have any other food in?

They can eat and drink whatever the fuck they want.

Zanatdy · 17/04/2023 21:22

I used to take mine in with me but to be honest if you can see the car and are very quick it’s safe enough. Probably safer than trying to get 2 kids safely across a forecourt. You wouldn’t put them both in a pushchair to pay for fuel

nomoredriving · 17/04/2023 21:23

moonspiral · 17/04/2023 21:14

Sorry but both options are crap. Did you really need a microwave meal and wine? Did you not have any other food in?

Yes they did! They wanted a quick micro dinner, bottle of wine, then off to fe early for a good shag!

Who could plan a better evening?

Grimeduster · 17/04/2023 21:24

moonspiral · 17/04/2023 21:14

Sorry but both options are crap. Did you really need a microwave meal and wine? Did you not have any other food in?

Shame on you op. You should have eaten your 6 day old chicken.

WonderingWanda · 17/04/2023 21:24

I do honestly think if anyone was desperate / stupid enough to break into my car and steal it with my kids in, they wouldn't get more than 5 minutes down the road before they'd be begging me to take the kids back.

orangedalmatian · 17/04/2023 21:26

You are overreacting. Controlling a toddler with a baby in his arms would be far more dangerous than the ... what precisely?

nomoredriving · 17/04/2023 21:26

WonderingWanda · 17/04/2023 21:24

I do honestly think if anyone was desperate / stupid enough to break into my car and steal it with my kids in, they wouldn't get more than 5 minutes down the road before they'd be begging me to take the kids back.

5 minutes! How did you get your kids to be so well behaved?? I hate people that brag!

WonderingWanda · 17/04/2023 21:29

@nomoredriving I think it's more wishful thinking than bragging. I would totally go and hide round the back of the car wash if it happened just to get 5 more mins 😂

24KaratCucumber · 17/04/2023 21:30

I've seen too many near misses on a forecourt between cars and people, I decided when my kid was young that it was likely safer to leave her in a locked car than taking her out and crossing a forecourt.
I was very glad if that decision one day when I slipped on something spilt on the floor, landed on my ass, if I'd been carrying my daughter she could have got quite hurt and covered in oil or whatever.

Growlybear83 · 17/04/2023 21:30

I never left my daughter in the car when I paid for petrol or popped into a shop when she was little, whether or not I could see her all the time. It's just not worth the risk.

qpmz · 17/04/2023 21:31

I'd do the same. It's 2minutes of freedom to grab what you can and pay.

WonderingWanda · 17/04/2023 21:31

I have never seen anyone get a pushchair out in a petrol station, in fact the only place I ever see people get their kids out is those obvious services type petrol stations when the kids need a wee. Normally local ones everyone just locks their kids/toddlers/babies in the car.

DrMarciaFieldstone · 17/04/2023 21:32

I’ve always left DC in the car at petrol stations.

nomoredriving · 17/04/2023 21:32

Growlybear83 · 17/04/2023 21:30

I never left my daughter in the car when I paid for petrol or popped into a shop when she was little, whether or not I could see her all the time. It's just not worth the risk.

What did you do when you had two under two?

So you risked carrying her across a bust petrol forecourt?

How neglectful and risky!

moonspiral · 17/04/2023 21:32

00100001 · 17/04/2023 21:21

They can eat and drink whatever the fuck they want.

Show quote history

They can but they shouldn't be taking the kids and leaving them in the car or taking them across the forecourt.

moonspiral · 17/04/2023 21:33

nomoredriving · 17/04/2023 21:23

Yes they did! They wanted a quick micro dinner, bottle of wine, then off to fe early for a good shag!

Who could plan a better evening?

Show quote history

That's fine but it leads to this sort of oh no what if the car blows up or they get hit on the forecourt dilemma. Easier to get take out or go to another shop.

nomoredriving · 17/04/2023 21:34

@moonspiral you cannot be serious!

Nothingisblackandwhite · 17/04/2023 21:34

I leave the kids in the car if I go to the petrol station too

Clytemnestra21 · 17/04/2023 21:34

A few years back in our area a car was pinched from a patrol station forecourt and a little girl was in the back. The thieves stopped a couple of miles up the road just let her out by the side of the road and eventually she was found. It was reported in the local press. Obviously a very exceptional situation but the child must have been terrified.

nomoredriving · 17/04/2023 21:34

@moonspiral give over, how can anyone be that highly strung!!

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