Sometimes it feels like being a mom means fighting a battle you just can't win. Take the Pennsylvania mom whose baby was sitting inside her vehicle in their own driveway when she got carjacked! Living smack dab in the middle of the region that got hit with a heat wave, leaving your 1-year-old in the comfort of the air-conditioning should have been the safe bet.
These are the darned if you do, darned if you don't moments that make parenting so hard. The good news here is the jerk who took off with Jennifer Ramirez' car must have realized baby Nariya was in the backseat and gotten scared.
The carjacker abandoned the car and the baby a few miles away, and the mom who had been unloading groceries from the vehicle when the whole thing went down was reunited with her little girl in less than an hour. But here's betting she will never leave the car running with her daughter inside again.
It's a sad commentary on the state of our society when you can't leave your car running in your own driveway. But this is a perfect example of the parenting Catch 22 I'm talking about.
You sit there reading all these awful stories about kids dying because they were left in hot cars -- accidentally or on purpose. And then when a mom does the exact opposite, specifically putting her baby in the coolest spot in the heat wave because she's thinking that's the smart thing to do, it still ends up hurting her family.
I've been lucky: none of the Murphy's Law moments of parenting so far have hit me like this poor mom. But that doesn't mean I haven't fallen victim to them too. We all have.
Think about that time you were "right there" when the toddling baby fell and bumped her head. You thought "being there" was enough, right? I could go on and on with this list. I am not a big "leave the car running with kids in it" person because of all the risks and the horror stories. But in your own driveway? I've done it. Now, probably not.
Have you left your child in the air conditioning in your own driveway? What has been your biggest darned if you do/darned if you don't moment?
Image via travelsofamonkey/Flickr
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Comments 75
You really can't fault this mom for her decision. She chose to keep her child cool in a place that is considered safe, her car seat. No one would have expected to have their car stolen in their home driveway while they were right there. I'm glad she is safe and I hope people who do this will start taking their remote entrance off their key chain and lock the car door if they choose to leave the car on in any way.
ive left my kids in a running car before. to pick one or 2 up from my moms after a wic appt or if its raining out. even while taking groceries in. i have 4 kids total usually the twins go inside while im unloading and the 4 and 5 year old stay in the cool vehicle only cause if im not around there will be mayhem. thankfully the mother and infant were reunited in so little time.
I also have a dog and won't leave an unsupervised toddler in the house (with or without a dog)
You just have to make the best decisions you can - at the end of the day somepeoplejust experience bad luck and it doesn'tmatter how careful they are. Other people get away with anything and nothing ever happens - chaos theory
i can say that i haven't left my daughter in car without anyone else still being in or standing right next to car. but i almost know many people who do so not because it something they enjoy doing on or anything like that. but when they have multiply childern that under the age of 5 and all are asleep so you have to carry into the house one or two at a time cus they dont want to wake up cause it's been long day. or when they forget something that they needed like a bottle or forgot to grap more daipers then what is still in the daiper bag. it is a little easier to run and grab that something then having to take all the kids back into the house then grab whatever then take them all back out to the car.
There are some countries though they choose not to live in fear. I was with my wife, her daughter, her nieces strolling in this big city in her country, and she wanted a romantic walk in the park without the kids around. So she told them to stay put - in a crowded and busy plaza! We left them - all alone (oh my, the horrors!!)! We were gone for over three hours (call the national guard!!!)!!! And, when we return...they were completely unharmed and had stayed put like they were told to.
And in her country, I can be a man and be seen with children and they think its adorable, unlike in the USA where a man, especially if he's not hot, is seen with children they are automatically assumed a pedophile.
There are no safe places anymore. You'd think your own driveway is safe, but it obviously isn't. I think many many parents have done this based on the fact that you are already home... Sad.
Guess what? I never leave the kids in the car. Ever! Guess what else. My husband does. It's one of the biggest things we argue about. I will go so far as to even take out the stroller if I have the grandkids with me. (My youngest are now 4 & 6. Grandkids are 1-5.) Those who can walk, walk. Sleepers need to wake up. If I need help, they need to help me. Am I heartless, no. I believe in daily naps, healthy meals, and lots of love. I just don't know how anyone can not panic it if their children aren't away from public dangers first. Yes, there are dangers in the house, but playpens, bouncers, walkers, and swings exist. Oh, and put the dog out. Now I know there is going to be someone who thinks I don't understand about the heat. I do. I live in the Las Vegas, NV area. Temps over 110 are normal. The dog will be OK for ten minutes, and I don't buy ice cream unless I am shopping at night. Now, I just wish I could get my husband to think like I do. He is a wonderful father and grandfather, therefore, I am not saying this mother is not a great mother. I just don't know if I could give my husband a free pass if the worst happened. BTW I will make sure he reads this. I think the balance of views here will be good for both of us. I never knew there were so many people who do this and find it acceptable. Maybe I can stop acting like he is committing a grievous sin and we can come to some middle ground.