Woman telling me to open my car windows

[Youknowitsnotthesameasitwas]

The other day I went to the petrol station with my 6 year old in the car. She’s currently off school as isn’t feeling well and we stopped to get petrol before heading to the Drs.
It’s our local petrol station, a small one. I always park at the pump closest to the large front window where the cashier is, it’s about the same distance as sitting on the sofa and watching tv.
Dd didn’t want to go in as she doesn’t feel well, it was a warm day but because Dd wasn’t feeling well she didn’t want the air con on or windows open. I parked outside and nipped in, being able to see her the whole time. I was behind one man in the queue paying and a woman came in and started asking if it was my child in the car and saying how the car windows should be open. I said to her, it literally takes me less than a minute to come in here and pay. She was still going on about it, at this point I started to feel pissed off and said ‘It’s ok, it’s my daughter, I know what I’m doing, she’s not very well and didn’t want the windows open and I’m just nipping in and out and can see her the whole time, ok?’

Was I in the wrong or was she?

Yes this would be the gracious response.

No words. 🙄

Someone went mental at me the other day for leaving the dog in the car whilst I paid for the parking ticket, two car spaces away. (They didn't mention the child in the back 😂)

It seems her talking to you prolonged you being in the petrol station and your daughter in the sealed car.

Yes. And when people try to help/intervene they get a slagging.

This! Yes she's getting in someone else's business but honestly I think it's better to all watch out for each other's children!

The thread probably should have ended with this first post. What more is there to say?
(and, yes, I appreciate I am adding to it)

Of course, if you pay on the app, you don’t have to leave the child in the car at all.

Only works if it’s a branch of one of the bigger companies, and not all smaller / rural stations accept app payments. But when it does work, it’s brilliant.

Misses point of thread entirely…

Asking to make certain her parent was inside and wouldn't be leaving her alone long? Fine. Keeping going on about it when the child wasn't in any immediate danger? Busybody. She should save it for times when there's more cause for concern (ie hotter weather, child unattended with no obvious parent watching, child looking either upset or unwell).

She was right to remind you. Lots of children have died in this way. Be glad for pp like her op.

'Mind your own business', then walk away.

A six year old can open the window (if it is manual) or the door if they feel it is too warm. It's ridiculous to be concerned that they're at risk. They are not helpless.

And that's the top and tail of it. Forget it. She doesn't matter

Some people just want to butt in when they think they know best, without having considered that you actually know what you’re doing. My children have very light blonde hair (think Elsa from Frozen) and one summer when they were little when we were indoors a woman told me that I needed to make sure they wore sunhats because of their hair colour. Wow, what a revelation.
Just roll your eyes, think “interfering busybody” to yourself then don’t worry about it any more.

YANBU. Unsolicited advice like that always really irritates me.

Neither of you were in the wrong-she was justifiably concerned, you justifiably said there was nothing to worry about. Unless either of you were rude?

I'd rather be a busybody and apologise that a keep myself to myselfer and a child suffers.

yabu for taking it so personally and being so combatitive. the world doesn't revolve around you.

be grateful that the woman is looking out for the welfare of children.

if this is all you have to be bothered about, you should try to do a customer facing role in this Country.

Allowed? Who on earth is going to stop you.

They heard too many stories of dogs dying in cars in the heat.

I presume you weren't on a slope/hill as well?

Otherwise they would have freaked out about you leaving your kid in the car being able to press the handbrake.

Yeah she was a busy body. But as you can see from this thread op… the world is full of them. Mothers are constantly in fear of being judged by ‘do gooders’ who more often than not (I’ve noticed) dont even have kids themselves.

😂

I’m in the north of England. I haven’t felt heat in 2024.

It's because stuff like this is all over social media so some people then feel emboldened to have a go about it in person.

Your DD would have been sat in the car longer with the windows up whilst you filled up than the time spent in the kiosk. Where was the concern then?

Agree!