Grandparents Raising Children Support Group
This community is dedicated to grandparents who are the primary caregivers of their grandchildren. In cases where the parents are not willing or able to provide adequate care for their children, grandparents may take on the role of primary caregivers. Join the support group to find support, share your experience, and get advice from other members.
I went to pick up my GD from after school sports. I pulled into the parking spot and noticed the van next to me had a 2-3 year old bouncing from front to back. It was one of AZ HOT days and saw no adult in the van. I ran out of my car and noticed the van was running and at the same time there was maybe a 7mth old in the back in a car seat. I stood there for five minutes no parent.
My GD came over to me with her friend and mother for me to meet. We stood there for an additional five minutes. I found a school supervisor to report this to and was told to take a picture of the license plate or call it into the police. As I walked back to the van the "parent" was texting on her phone, got into her van without even looking up from her phone and closed the door. I knocked on the window and of course she was startled, because she hadn't taken her eyes off the phone. She rolled down the window and I began telling her how long I stood in front of her running van with her two small children inside alone. She apologized to me. That pissed me off! I said, how dare you apologize to me when you should be apologizing to your children! I warned her to never do it again. She rolled her eyes at me.
There are sooo many things wrong with this!
My GD came over to me with her friend and mother for me to meet. We stood there for an additional five minutes. I found a school supervisor to report this to and was told to take a picture of the license plate or call it into the police. As I walked back to the van the "parent" was texting on her phone, got into her van without even looking up from her phone and closed the door. I knocked on the window and of course she was startled, because she hadn't taken her eyes off the phone. She rolled down the window and I began telling her how long I stood in front of her running van with her two small children inside alone. She apologized to me. That pissed me off! I said, how dare you apologize to me when you should be apologizing to your children! I warned her to never do it again. She rolled her eyes at me.
There are sooo many things wrong with this!
I read that if you put your purse or shoe or briefcase next to the baby you won't forget.
My new rule is I call the police immediately for children left in any temperature and wait by the car a little while before calling for pets if it's hot. Her car was running so they probably weren't hot but it's against the law to leave your young child unattended in a car.
I saw a bumper sticker that said "Warning! I break glass for children and pets left unattended in cars!"
The person at the school you reported it to who did nothing needs to be reported. Even if it is only for a minute or two it is life threatening. My niece did that at school, left the youngest in his car seat as she walked the other child into day care. The little one undid his car seat, climbed into the front seat, hit the shift and the car rolled down the hill into a pond. Luckily no one was hurt.
If it happens again do not hesitate to call the police. With a witness present open the door. If you think the child is over heating do not hesitate to bust a window.
Yes I would have broken a window if they were left in a hot van. I should have taken them out for the van running unattended. I think it takes a village to raise our children, and I don't like to call the authorities if I don't have to... She made me wonder if those days are gone the way she rolled her eyes.