When kids run off, nothing worse for parents

[zakelwe]

Just went to the local supermarket and asked my 7 year old daughter whether she wanted to come around or stay in the car. Stay in the car she said. So I left the doors open (not much likely hood of their being a fire but not point taking risks) and did my shopping. Got back to the car and put my shopping in and no daughter. Arrgh.

Went back to the supermarket in case she had gone to the toilet and no, and no sign on any aisle. I wondered whether she might have wandered off to McDonalds or the pet store as we had to go to both. I was in that petrified mood coupled with "I was going to give her a bloody hard smack" for doing this, felt totally helpless.

Went back to the car not sure whether to have the store put out an ACB (All Checkouts Bulletin) but there she was, talking to granny who had decided she would suffocate unless one of the windows was opened. Phew !

Turns out that she had been hiding in the boot to give me a surprise when I tried to put the shopping in and instead I had put it on the back seat. So, if anyone tells you a Toyota Aygo is ok but you can't fit much in the boot I can tell you the opposite, it's big enough for a mischievous child. No smack and a McDonalds meal, I am such a big softy.

Regards
Mr I've learnt a lesson here.

Edited by zakelwe on Tuesday 1st September 12:59

Edited by zakelwe on Tuesday 1st September 13:36

[MitchT]

Leaving a seven year old girl in an unlocked car and not worrying that she might be abducted

[buggalugs]

MitchT said:

Leaving a seven year old girl in an unlocked car and not worrying that she might be abducted

Yeah cause that happens all the time doesn't it, lets all be afraid of that.

[OnTheOverrun]

Dammit, where's my popcorn smiley?








It's OK - found it!

[madala]

zakelwe said:

Just went to the local supermarket and asked my 7 year old daughter whether she wanted to come around or stay in the car. Stay in the car she said. So I left the doors open (not much likely hood of their being a fire but not point taking risks) and did my shopping. Got back to the car and put my shopping in and no daughter. Arrgh.

Went back to the supermarket in case she had gone to the toilet and no, and no sign on any aisle. I wondered whether she might have wandered off to McDonalds or the pet store as we had to go to both. I was in that petrified mood coupled with "I was going to give her a bloody hard smack" for doing this, felt totally helpless.

Went back to the car not sure whether to have the store put out an ACB (All Checkouts Bulletin) but there she was, talking to granny who had decided she would suffocate unless one of the winders was opened. Phew !

Turns out that she had been hiding in the boot to give me a surprise when I tried to put the shopping in and instead I had put it on the back seat. So, if anyone tells you a Toyota Aygo is ok but you can't fit much in the boot I can tell you the opposite, it's big enough for a mischievous child. No smack and a McDonalds meal, I am such a big softy.

Regards
Mr I've learnt a lesson here.

Edited by zakelwe on Tuesday 1st September 12:59

....a seven year old child!!!!!!!.....are totally and utterly friggen insane....or is this just a wind-up.....if not....parent....my arse....jesus h krist.

[Silver993tt]

MitchT said:

Leaving a seven year old girl in an unlocked car and not worrying that she might be abducted

You must be some kind of journalist trying to stoke up some business.

[RobCrezz]

You should have taken her inside the shop. But it would have been a good joke if you had put the shopping in the boot!

[escargot]

MitchT said:

Leaving a seven year old girl in an unlocked car and not worrying that she might be abducted

God. Really?

Why not handcuff her to the steering wheel too... you can't be too careful these days.

[Tony*T3]

When the social workers read this thread they'll be straight round your place mate.

Delete the story. Seriously. You've already confessed to abandonment of a minor.

Law Says said:

It is an offence under section 1 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 to neglect or abandon a child under the age of 16

for clarity, this was given as the answer to the exact scenario you posted, leaving a young child in an unlocked car.

[mechsympathy]

Tony*T3 said:

When the social workers read this thread they'll be straight round your place mate.

Delete the story. Seriously. You've already confessed to abandonment of a minor.

Law Says said:

It is an offence under section 1 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 to neglect or abandon a child under the age of 16

for clarity, this was given as the answer to the exact scenario you posted, leaving a young child in an unlocked car.

Have I missed the bit where he neglected or abandoned a child?

[OnTheOverrun]

mechsympathy said:

Tony*T3 said:

When the social workers read this thread they'll be straight round your place mate.

Delete the story. Seriously. You've already confessed to abandonment of a minor.

Law Says said:

It is an offence under section 1 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 to neglect or abandon a child under the age of 16

for clarity, this was given as the answer to the exact scenario you posted, leaving a young child in an unlocked car.

Have I missed the bit where he neglected or abandoned a child?

Dunno, but making the poor kid travel in an Aygo must count as abuse.

[Gargamel]

FWIW - I don't think there is anything wrong with what the OP did.

Can't have it both ways, kids learn how to be responsible in stages, you can't just push them out the door at 16 if they have never been left alone before....

[robinhood21]

My god! Am I glad I was born in a time when there was no overreacting, child-protecting and, health-and-safety to spoil my childhood..

[Dick_Phallus]

You want to thank your lucky stars a bear didn't come along and try and get into the car.

[Biker's Nemesis]

Funny story.

[SimonV8ster]

OnTheOverrun said:

Dunno, but making the poor kid travel in an Aygo must count as abuse.

[Beyond Rational]

Nearly everyone gets left in a car as a youngster at some point, oddly, most survive to then exclaim what a terrible idea it is.

[Working class]

OnTheOverrun said:

mechsympathy said:

Tony*T3 said:

When the social workers read this thread they'll be straight round your place mate.

Delete the story. Seriously. You've already confessed to abandonment of a minor.

Law Says said:

It is an offence under section 1 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 to neglect or abandon a child under the age of 16

for clarity, this was given as the answer to the exact scenario you posted, leaving a young child in an unlocked car.

Have I missed the bit where he neglected or abandoned a child?

Dunno, but making the poor kid travel in an Aygo must count as abuse.

[zakelwe]

OnTheOverrun said:

Dunno, but making the poor kid travel in an Aygo must count as abuse.

She'll never forgive me when she is older no doubt.


Very amused with the neglect comments .. I'll lock her in my Austrian style dungeon next time so she is perfectly safe.

Having said that next time she will be coming in the shop, it's not worth the worry. But then again when I was 7 I used to play away from home in the fields all day away from my mum. Can't have too much cotton wool you know.

Regards

Andy

[davido140]

Dick_Phallus said:

You want to thank your lucky stars a bear didn't come along and try and get into the car.

I'd be more concerned about Dingos, or maybe "a mexican guy"

Seriously though I spent many a character building hour on the back seat of Dads Sierra whilst he was in the pub.

I did have my brother for company and a pack of Big D nuts if I had been good!

I guess I was about 7 or 8, possibly a tad older.

FWIW I dont let my son sit in the car on his own at Sainsburys, mainly because he can bloody well help with the shopping! He's 9 and is free to go to the local park and a few other places on his own.

Cant keep them in cotton wool forever.

OP, ignore the histrionics from the Daily Mail, peado around every corner crew.