topic Re: You're NOT Serious!!! in Community Chat

You're NOT Serious!!!

ECBG — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 03:16:15 GMT

I can't believe in this day and age with all that happens in communities actually happened at work tonight about 8pm in 45 degrees in the dark!

A young mother, in her twenties came to file her taxes. She had to leave to get her driver's license (yes, she drove there without them!). When she came back, she left her car, locked with an eight year old child responsible for an eight month old baby! The office where we were had no visability of the car at all! There were open vacacancies all around us and no other activity.

The only thing between her and her babies was a window! Again, in the cold, and dark in a deserted parking lot.

I made her go get them!

What would you have done?

Re: You're NOT Serious!!!

Pandalady — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 03:21:25 GMT

@ECBG You absolutely did the right thing.You were a hero to those children today.

Re: You're NOT Serious!!!

NicksmomESQ — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 03:25:15 GMT

@ECBG you definitely did the right thing!!

Re: You're NOT Serious!!!

NativeJax — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 03:25:36 GMT

I would have insisted she get them as well. I would have observed her with the children to see if she appeared to be s loving mother. If I thought it was a teachable moment I might work a story in about myself as a young mother and leaving my infant son in the car while I ran into pay for gas....when I came out an elderly man on the other side of the gas pump told me never to leave my baby like that. He said, I could have taken your baby! This is a true story and I never ever did that again! It was only for two minutes to pay for gas, he was right though and I learned my lesson.

If I thought that child services needed to be called, I would call.

Re: You're NOT Serious!!!

Shanus — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 03:25:44 GMT

@ECBG. I probably would have called Child Services. If a "mother" could leave children alone in the car...day or night, summer or winter....someone needs to take better care of the children. They need protection and assurance they'll be safe. I would not let her leave the office with the children.

Re: You're NOT Serious!!!

jaxs mom — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 03:29:10 GMT

I'd have made her go get them too.

Re: You're NOT Serious!!!

GCR18 — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 03:29:14 GMT

That is a tough one. Bringing them in is the right thing to do. My mind wonders to how often this happens. It seems to me if it was the first and only time, she would have brought them in and apologized. Just thinking out loud.

Re: You're NOT Serious!!!

MacDUFF — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 03:29:39 GMT

You did the right thing! That's what I would have done...plus, I would have given her "the look!" I don't care how overtaxed she may have been (pun intended), you just do not leave your babies unattended! Sheesh! What is wrong with some people!??

Re: You're NOT Serious!!!

Annabellethecat66 — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 03:30:28 GMT

She's probably done this many times before. You did the right thing.

You have her name and number. If I were you I'd ask the supervisor what you should do about having child welfare services check up on her. It's hard to know what to do because maybe they just need to put a scare in her.

Re: You're NOT Serious!!!

cherry — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 03:41:30 GMT

I had a neighbor that left her baby locked in the car and went in a restaurant to eat. She didn't give it a thought. Her husband did and went to sit with the baby.He had a conscience

She wasn't some poor frazzled mother, either. She did stuff like leaving her baby in the tub to play ,with a1/2 inch of water in the tub. An older neighbor finally had heard enough , when Margo said she left the baby in the crib ,all alone, while she made a quick run to the store, to pick up a few items. She said if you ever do that again, I will report you,

She didn't come from a poor home, either. Her dad was athletic director for West Point. Her mother was good friends with President Ike's dil, Barbara, I think her name was.

You did the right thing.

Re: You're NOT Serious!!!

mousiegirl — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 03:45:33 GMT

@ECBG wrote:
I can't believe in this day and age with all that happens in communities actually happened at work tonight about 8pm in 45 degrees in the dark!

A young mother, in her twenties came to file her taxes. She had to leave to get her driver's license (yes, she drove there without them!). When she came back, she left her car, locked with an eight year old child responsible for an eight month old baby! The office where we were had no visability of the car at all! There were open vacacancies all around us and no other activity.

The only thing between her and her babies was a window! Again, in the cold, and dark in a deserted parking lot.

I made her go get them!

What would you have done?

@ECBG this generation is probably the most educated about the dangers in life, etc., yet young people still do make mistakes and make dumb decisions.

I would have told the girl to get her kids also, and then informed her of just what can happen to children unsupervised.

Re: You're NOT Serious!!!

ECBG — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 04:06:59 GMT

@mousiegirl wrote:
@ECBG wrote:
I can't believe in this day and age with all that happens in communities actually happened at work tonight about 8pm in 45 degrees in the dark!

A young mother, in her twenties came to file her taxes. She had to leave to get her driver's license (yes, she drove there without them!). When she came back, she left her car, locked with an eight year old child responsible for an eight month old baby! The office where we were had no visability of the car at all! There were open vacacancies all around us and no other activity.

The only thing between her and her babies was a window! Again, in the cold, and dark in a deserted parking lot.

I made her go get them!

What would you have done?

@ECBG this generation is probably the most educated about the dangers in life, etc., yet young people still do make mistakes and make dumb decisions.

I would have told the girl to get her kids also, and then informed her of just what can happen to children unsupervised.

@mousiegirlTechnically, I shouldn't have, but having taught SO many deputies and High Patrolmen, I did. I could have lost that position, but I , as a former teacher have always been a champion of all children.

Re: You're NOT Serious!!!

ECBG — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 04:12:11 GMT

@MacDUFF wrote:
You did the right thing! That's what I would have done...plus, I would have given her "the look!" I don't care how overtaxed she may have been (pun intended), you just do not leave your babies unattended! Sheesh! What is wrong with some people!??

@MacDUFF,The reason I didn't give her "the look" was that I was trying to, yet again, make it a teachable moment. Hopefully, she'll think again. The children were beautiful, and that 8 yr old little boy was SO sweet and innocent I could have cried.

I talked to him about school and told him how important it was while she got her taxes done.

Re: You're NOT Serious!!!

blueluna — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 04:21:43 GMT

You did the right thing @ECBG.❤

I don't know about calling Child Services. In another thread a couple of posters who work in social services said we need to think carefully before we do that because it can put the family in trouble they didn't deserve........ but at the same time I worry about the kids.

Re: You're NOT Serious!!!

Irshgrl31201 — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 04:23:44 GMT

I think I would have called the police on her. I am glad you had her go get them but her poor judgement would have made me want to get the police involved so they could have gotten in touch with CPS and had a case opened on her. If she did that what in the heck else is she doing? She needs to be monitored at the very least.

I am guessing she told you that the kids were in the car and that is how you knew since they couldn't be seen from the office?

Re: You're NOT Serious!!!

makena — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 04:46:40 GMT

@ECBG of course you did the right thing. I would not have called the police or child protection services; instead I would not have taken the opportunity to talk to her in a caring way about the dangers of her actions and how those sweet babies are dependent on her to protect them. I might have also told her someone else might have reported her and maybe ask her to promise never to do such a thing again.

Re: You're NOT Serious!!!

hckynut — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 07:46:11 GMT

@ECBG

You did a good thing. Me? I would have called law enforcement and let them take it as far as they thought necessary. I doubt this was the 1st time, and may not be the last.

My concern would be the children's safety, long term. Too many nowadays have children, but in my opinion, are not parents.

hckynut(john)

You're NOT Serious!!!

Pook — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 17:10:57 GMT

Where I worked there was mandatory reporting and that is definitely something that needed reporting. That would be a teaching moment not just giving her the look or making her bring them in!! Common sense says you just do not do that and she needs a wakeup call!! I would never even leave my pets in a car!! Aside from making her bring them in, reporting was necessary. In this case there was no doubt whatsoever that this was neglect whether just one time or many!! Where children and pets are involved there is no mind your own business and not up to you to worry about this person getting in trouble. Even if this was the first and only time she did it (if she did it once she's probably done it before and even once is neglect), it's serious enough to report!! How would you feel if the news reported something happened to those children because of her neglect???

Re: You're NOT Serious!!!

Plaid Pants2 — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 09:27:42 GMT

True story.

About ten years ago, I was in Virginia visiting a friend, and I was staying with her and her husband.

One night she and I decided to go out to a night club. She didn't drive, and I was unfamiliar with the area, so her husband drove us. They also had an infant at the time.

As we were leaving, I asked, "Aren't you going to bring the baby?"

They said no, that she was in her crib, sleeping, and that she would be fine.

Now, remember, I was a guest in their home, so I said nothing more.

Did I call the cops on them or CPS?

No, that would have been going overboard.

Since the woman brought the kids in, and were fine, I wouldn't have gotten law enforcement involved, or CPS.

I would talk with the supervisor about how to proceed after that.

Re: You're NOT Serious!!!

Nataliesgramma — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 10:48:30 GMT

I would have reported her.....she came to FILE HER TAXES....not something you couldn't reschedule if you don't have a babysitter!!