To think this was not okay?

[Noobzz]

My ex recently left our 8-year-old son outside a motorway services with the dog while they went inside to get something from a café.

He was sitting on a bench and the dog was tethered to it. It was a quiet Sunday morning and they say there were very few people around. However, the café is at the back of the services, so I would say he was out of sight for at least 5 minutes.

Nothing happened, but it’s been playing on my mind. I wouldn’t feel comfortable leaving him like that, even if it was quiet.

For context, we have 50/50 custody and co-parent really well 99% of the time. They’re a good parent and I do trust their judgement, which is partly why I wasn’t even sure whether to question it — but this just didn’t sit right with me.

We do encourage independence — for example he’s allowed to play across the road at a park visible from their house, which I’m fine with.

They think it was completely reasonable and said I was being over the top for even raising it as an issue. When I did bring it up, they said they wouldn’t do it again, but it was said in a blunt, slightly sarcastic way which has left me feeling a bit unsure.

I don’t think I am, but I’d genuinely like a sense check.

AIBU to think this wasn’t appropriate, or am I being unreasonable?

I agree with you there TBH lots of random people passing through and a child sat there is ripe for the picking. I know the chances are exceptionally low but why risk it when the risk profile is higher - it's not a local place with people who tend to belong to the area and are not as anonymous, and it's definitely the type of environment weirdos target for all sorts. I'd have taken them in, but I would have left them in a similar scenario at a local shop where there would be far less people miles away from home milling about and passing through who could do something and just disappear off without trace, the opportunity is higher. It's about risk profile and whilst the activity of leaving a child that age for a few mins isn't hugely risky, the nature of the location increased that risk factor to a place where I wouldn't chance it. My law enforcement career might be speaking here.

I work at a service station in the northwest.

To all those saying it’s fine, please do NOT leave you children for one second alone in these places. They’re dangerous.

The amount of horrific things that happen in these places is a regular occurrence.

It takes seconds to put a child into a car then it’s straight on the motorway.
CCTV is not perfect, ours is completely shite.

Its nothing like letting your child go to a park alone 🙄

We actually had to put metal sheeting on every toilet cubicle siding because perverts were drilling glory holes.

Men meet for sex daily in the showers and toilets.