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AIBU?

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Original poster

to leave kids in car to go get a parking ticket?!

33 replies

pjmama · 01/06/2009 16:02

Earlier today I parked up in a car park, locked the car with the DC (2x 2 yr olds) and walked about 20 feet to get a ticket from the parking meter. DD was making alot of noise, mostly temper/too hot/tired related stuff. As I walked back to the car I could see an older couple at the other side of the canal stood looking at my car with hands on hips. Due to the racket, they were obviously worried someone had gone off and left a crying child in a hot car alone - fair enough, I'd have probably wondered too. But when they saw me returning to the car, opening the door and putting the ticket in, I would have thought it was obvious there was no problem. However, they continued to stand and glare at me as I got DC out of the car, eventually walking away tutting and shaking heads disapprovingly?!

Does everyone else take their kids with them to get a ticket? I didn't think there was any issue with what I did and am not sure why I was apparently villifed for it? I was away from the car for less than a minute?! Should I have thrown my shoe at them?

OP posts:
gemmummy · 01/06/2009 16:04

i'd have done that too. tell them to poke off next time. what else are you going to do, get the kids out and carry them to the meter?

GypsyMoth · 01/06/2009 16:05

No, it would've gone in the canal!!

TheDevilWearsPenneys · 01/06/2009 16:05

Surely if you are in a hot car and the meter is only 20 feet away you could take the children with you?

Hulababy · 01/06/2009 16:06

I'd have done the same. The older couple were daft to think it'd be better to take two 2yo out and across the car park to get the ticket. Far safer in the car, well within your sights, etc.

HeadFairy · 01/06/2009 16:07

No I never take ds with me to get a ticket so long as the machine is within sight of my car. Interferring old biddies should be made to do community service with tearaway teens if they're so good at child rearing.

PMSLBrokeMN · 01/06/2009 16:07

Interfering old ginks, tell them to get a life next time! Although maybe they didn't see you'd only been gone for a minute, and that's why they were worried.

Don't let it bother you, you know YANBU, I've done the same in the past.

FabulousBakerGirl · 01/06/2009 16:07

Be happy they cared enough to check and forget about it.

I usually leave mine in the car when getting a ticket unless I can't always see the car. I figure backwards and forwards across the car park can be more dangerous than one minute being left in the car.

Having said that, if there is only one child with me and they want to come, they do.

Hulababy · 01/06/2009 16:07

Maybe leave a window open a little bit though if car is hot.

However we have air con so DD would be fine for a few minutes it takes to get a ticket sat int he car as it takes a while to get hot again.

LadyPinkofPinkerton · 01/06/2009 16:07

I would have done the same as you. No way would I have hoiked two two year olds across a car park, far too dangerous

RubberDuck · 01/06/2009 16:08

No, always leave the kids in the car. I'm gone less than a minute and can see the car. Far safer than having them out and dragging them across the carpark.

cat64 · 01/06/2009 16:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

cluckyagain · 01/06/2009 16:11

I would have left the kids in the car as it's more dangerous to take them next to a canal! However, I would have opened the windows. If you were only 20 feet away and they were strapped in, I would have made sure they weren't yelling because they were immensely hot (which is probably what the couple were tutting at)

PinkTulips · 01/06/2009 16:11

nope, in most of these situations i sincerly belive it's more dangerus to take the kids with me than to leave them.

i still cringe in shame at commenting to dp when we only had dd; 'omg, that woman just left her kids in the car to put the trolly back, how lazy of her not to bring them' [twats pfb self across the back of the head with a shoe]

TheDevilWearsPenneys · 01/06/2009 16:12

Interfering old ginks Interfering old biddies.

Lovely attitude.

DamonBradleylovesPippi · 01/06/2009 16:12

Of course I leave them in the car!
Much safer. Like somebody else has said if there's only one with me and wants to come and I'm not in a hurry I let her.
I'd only leave these ones that you know are not going to touch anything in the car though, I have seen friend's horrible child releasing hand brake and almost crashing the car.

Ineedmorechocolatenow · 01/06/2009 16:13

Interfering old biddies....

I'd have done exactly the same. If the meter is in sight.. no probs. We have air con and it wouldn't have become an oven in the 30 secs it took to get the ticket.

I'd have thrown my shoe at them.... or flicked them them some 'v's....

TheDevilWearsPenneys · 01/06/2009 16:13

Plus, surely you were parking the car to take them somewhere, so how is it more dangerous to get them out and take them with you for the ticket than it is to take them out of the car once you've put the ticket in the window?

TheDevilWearsPenneys · 01/06/2009 16:15

Plus, how is an already upset 2 year old to know they are not being left there for longer? No wonder she was making such a racket.

PMSLBrokeMN · 01/06/2009 16:15

I've been called the same, and indeed worse TheDevilWearsPenneys, it's meant with real affection I even call my mum that.

TheDevilWearsPenneys · 01/06/2009 16:17

I'll stop with my 'plus' ing now.

Not sure why I'm bothered, I don't drive, have no idea. Blame the heat.

wishingchair · 01/06/2009 16:21

I prob wouldn't have done that but not due to any 'omg fancy leaving kids in car' reason. Just because 2x2 year olds would surely go in buggy so would get them in buggy first then go and get ticket. As cat64 says, that potentially gets you another 5 mins of parking!

HerBeatitudeLittleBella · 01/06/2009 16:21

They were interfering old biddies because when it was obvious that the OP had only gone for a ticket, they continued to point and judge.

v poor behaviour

Nancy66 · 01/06/2009 16:21

yes, I'd have done same ...but you can bet your life there will be a case or two of babies dying after being left in cars for longs spells this summer. There always are. And don't we all think 'if only somebody did something/noticed.'

this old couple misjudged the situation but be thankful there are people that care.

SparklyGothKat · 01/06/2009 16:22

I left my kids in the car the other day to run into the local shop (I can see the car from the shop) and grab some milk.. I left the car running so air con was still on and got Dd2 to lock the car from inside with the button, was gone 1 min max...

atworknotworking · 01/06/2009 16:24

we never leave our dd in the car (she's 9) unless theres an adult with her, wether its parking tickets or petrol stations. We are hyper about safety think it comes from being CM although I was before then as well .

I think that the couple were being a bit OTT though, as it was obvious that you had just popped for a ticket, however I think it's good that people take notice as maybee just ocassionally someone might of needed help.

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