Today's crazy question :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2003
Today's crazy question :)
11
Tue, 02-24-2004 - 11:42am
Hey there everyone!

Here's a semi-nutty question for you all:

I know that times have changed and you can NEVER leave a child in the car unattended (remember when our parents used to leave us in the car, always?). Anyway, when I go to the grocery store with the baby, I load her in the car, strap her in, then unload the groceries. THEN (here's the part that I am always feeling weird about) I close the back of the van, lock it with the key fob and walk the cart back to the "cart station" or whatever it's called. Takes 5 seconds, but I always feel like someone would see me walk away from the car and call social services! But then, I hate carts left rolling around the parking lot and crashing into the other cars!

Seems sooooo silly, but this has been bugging me since the first day I took her to the store with me.

What does everyone do in this situation?

Thanks!

Melissa

Meldi

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-21-2003
Tue, 02-24-2004 - 11:48am
I never shop alone!!LOL No actually I would unload the groceries and take my baby with me to the cart corral. Undone him there and bring him to the car then. Or if I'm really lucky I park directly beside the corral and just shut the door and push the cart in without having to step away from the van. Shelley PS Good question- I never thought about it before. Do you remember riding in the back of station wagons on the floor or the back of pickup trucks as long as you kept sitting down?! I do. SOmetimes I wish life was still like that- carefree!!
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-10-2004
Tue, 02-24-2004 - 11:50am
Well Melissa,I do the same thing that you do.I just keep an eye on the car and I have the keys with me,so it's not like somebody could drive off with the baby!I don't think anyone would consider that neglecting my child.I wouldn't worry about it if I were you!
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2003
Tue, 02-24-2004 - 12:18pm
Yay! I am not alone! But as a loony-mommy, I worry about everything.

I remember riding in the back of my dad's pickup truck...even on the highway! My dad would just say "lie down", because, even back then, it was illegal to ride in the back on the highway!

Also, I knew a few kids who fell out of the car (you know, not strapped in "seatbelts? what's that?" and opening the door). Good thing it was all dirt roads where we lived.

I ALSO remember (now this is nuts!) we used to ride to the lake sitting on the back of my neighbors open-sided trailer! Just holding on with our hands! Man, did we have a good time!

Excuse me now, I have to go put the baby's helmet on and wrap her in her bubble-wrap suit...she is starting to walk you know!

ha ha

Melissa

Meldi
Avatar for my3girls2001
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 02-24-2004 - 12:27pm
well I too either park next to one or bring ''them'' with me to the cart thing then walk back to the van,, this actually has happened, a lady was putting the car back and a woman was watching and ran up and yes no keys were in the van but she had her own,, she grabbed the whole car seat and everything with the kid in it,, I can not remember where this was or even the end of the story,, I do beleive it was caught on wal-marts tapes and the lady was caught,, but it can happen,,
~Kim~,, mom to 3 girls~~
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2004
Tue, 02-24-2004 - 12:40pm
I always just leave the cart by the car and leave (thats why they have workes who collect the carts) or I take my child with me and do it if it close by.

I would not feel bad about leaving it there by the car. I say watching your child is more important then where the cart is left.

Mel

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2003
Tue, 02-24-2004 - 1:11pm
I must say that I make a point of parking as close as humanly possible to the cart return. I like to get her in the car as soon as possible because it is freezing and windy here in Michigan. Also, I always have the keys with me and lock the car before retuning the cart.

I knew that I had a reason to feel guilty, though. For 5 seconds I am trying to run and return a cart to be kind.... god, what a world.

Melissa
Meldi
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
Tue, 02-24-2004 - 1:13pm
I always try to park close to the doors and the cart corral. And if it is at night under the lights. I usually load my kids and purse in first. Then put my keys in my pocket. Then load up grocerys quickley. I lock the car up before I push the cart away to the corral. Usually just a few feet away. Then I don't unlock the car (remote) untill my hand is on the handle. When I am in I lock it again. I also have a constant watch on what is going on around me. Parnoide?!! Yep but I live in a city area and crime is on the rise. I watched Oprahs safety course for mom's now that really opened my eyes.

I have also instructed my ds on what to do if he see's mom being hurt by someone. He is not to get out of the car. Instead he is to honk the horn over and over again untill someone comes. It's sad that we can't trust anymore and we must be on constant alert.

lm

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2004
Wed, 02-25-2004 - 9:09am
If it's warm out I keep my baby with me as I load the car and return the cart. But in the winter I park as close to the cart return as possible and lock my baby in the car while I return the cart. If I am too far away from the cart return I leave the cart by my car. My childs safety comes first.

Tanya
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-25-2004
Wed, 02-25-2004 - 11:28am
If you would order from Melaleuca, you could actually quit shopping four aisles of the grocery store. It really is less stressful with kids. gsrobert@netzero.net
Avatar for krstwelch
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-23-2003
Wed, 02-25-2004 - 12:28pm
I always try to park either right next to or extremely close to the cart drop off.
 
 

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