| Author | Message | ||
     S.L.K. 2.0 Citizen Username: Scrotisloknows Post Number: 1914 Registered: 10-2005  |
Whoever called the cops on me this past Saturday morning while at Gleason's, I just want to say thank you. I really admire your passive agressiveness in handling the situation. I mean, since Gleason is such a large store, how could you find me in it amongst the thousands of people? And I think I know who you are, a late 4Oish hippie driving a blue Ford Winstar minivan with an anti-war sticker on the bumper, but I may be wrong. My instincts tell me otherwise.... Maybe you would of noticed me if you were paying attention, I was the guy staring out the window the entire 4 minutes I was in the store, keeping a very close eye on my car, a mere 20 feet away. But nope, I am a criminal, so the cops must be called. My crime was so severe that they literally were waiting for me outside and blocked me in the parking lot. After a good (well-deserved), humiliating scolding (in front of the owner of Gleason's) they let me go with a friendly warning. Did you ever stop to think that there may have been a good reason why I took such an action? Don't you think the reason I did is i lacked (and needed some)help? Don't you think you could of found me, offered some assistance isnteading of calling the cops? In hindsight, it may not have been the most intelligent decision I ever made, but I did take every precaution to make sure everything is ok. Thanks again.... -SLK | ||
| Hoops Citizen Username: Hoops Post Number: 1980 Registered: 10-2004  |
so SLK, what happened that you deserved a scolding? | ||
| Oldstone Citizen Username: Rogers4317 Post Number: 912 Registered: 6-2004 |
did you leave your new baby in the car??? | ||
| Dr. Winston O'Boogie Citizen Username: Casey Post Number: 2381 Registered: 8-2003  |
maybe the person was too scared to approach you personally | ||
| S.L.K. 2.0 Citizen Username: Scrotisloknows Post Number: 1915 Registered: 10-2005 |
I am almost afraid to admit it, but hear it goes: I left my two (2 1/2 years and 4 months) children in the car (strapped in their car seats).... The precautions I did take were the following: o. Took the closest, most visible parking spot available (15-20 feet away). 1. Turned the car off. 2. Made sure all windows were up (it was very cool out). 3. Tooks the keys with me. 4. LOCKED ALL DOORS 4. Checked on both kids before leaving (they were both in good spirits). 5. Eyed my car like a hawk while inside. Even went right outside the door a couple of times to check the car. I was in 6th gear both mentally and physically and was ready to leap with any remote sign of trouble. Again, not the smartest thing to move and I even acknowledge that it is against the law. I just think it could of been handled differently instead of calling the cops. I would of took a chiding from another customer if that's what it took... ok, let the crucifixtion (sp) begin... | ||
| S.L.K. 2.0 Citizen Username: Scrotisloknows Post Number: 1916 Registered: 10-2005 |
Dr. It didn't look like him...but maybe it was!!!! | ||
| SO Ref Citizen Username: So_refugee Post Number: 2145 Registered: 2-2005  |
Must've really needed that dry cleaning... | ||
| Oldstone Citizen Username: Rogers4317 Post Number: 915 Registered: 6-2004 |
if no other choice, i would have called gleason's in advance and told them you had babies in the car and could they send someone out to get your stuff, check it in and bring the slip back out to you. either that or go when you have your wife with you. now...on to a more serious subject...repeat after me: would HAVE, could HAVE, should HAVE. dumb move, btw.  | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 9203 Registered: 5-2001  |
The person should have just thrown a banana at you. Maybe your brain was just clogged up. Your wife isn't a redhead, is she? | ||
| Hoops Citizen Username: Hoops Post Number: 1981 Registered: 10-2004 |
You have your hands full. Obviously you should have taken the little guys with you into Gleasons. The cops neednt have been called but by the same token maybe you were just shown some tough love. I bet that all the agita you got from leaving your kids in the car was worse then the hassle of taking them out and putting them back in for a 10 minute stop, and isnt it reassuring to know that the cops are so quick to respond? You might prefer the personal touch but what the person that called the cops cared enough to try to protect your precious ones. I wouldnt get too bent out of shape. | ||
| S.L.K. 2.0 Citizen Username: Scrotisloknows Post Number: 1917 Registered: 10-2005 |
oldstone- you are right and the owner offered this very same suggestion which I am taking him up on from now on. I just don't like it that the cops were called, that is why I am venting... Personally, I would of went inside and said "whoever left the kids in the car, dumb move..." -SLK | ||
| S.L.K. 2.0 Citizen Username: Scrotisloknows Post Number: 1918 Registered: 10-2005 |
greenetree-nope black irish hoops-good points....never looked at it that way.... -slk | ||
| Oldstone Citizen Username: Rogers4317 Post Number: 917 Registered: 6-2004 |
UGH, would HAVE GONE inside... what am i going to do with you? (i agree that calling the cops from gleason's parking area when the place is right there was a little over the top...it's not like you parked at the train station and went to kings...but there are a lot of indignant people around here so i'm not surprised...but i would have been pissed, too.) | ||
| S.L.K. 2.0 Citizen Username: Scrotisloknows Post Number: 1919 Registered: 10-2005 |
would have would have would havewould have....trying to break a bad habit.... thanks for the sympathy, oldstone. I am not denying any wrongdoing, but a small sliver of me equivocates what I did to let your little one run 15-20 feet ahead of you in the park....i still am protecting/watching him even though he isn't right at my side..... -SLK | ||
| themp Supporter Username: Themp Post Number: 3215 Registered: 12-2001  |
Did you break the law? | ||
| S.L.K. 2.0 Citizen Username: Scrotisloknows Post Number: 1920 Registered: 10-2005 |
yes themp, hands down. | ||
| Robert Livingston Citizen Username: Rob_livingston Post Number: 2040 Registered: 7-2004  |
A parent who leaves a child in a car for any amount of time can be charged with endangerment. It's illegal, and very, very unsafe for myriad reasons. The younger the child, the more dangerous, too. But I guess like all good Bush fanaticos, Scrotey here felt he was above the law. If you can't understand the difference between letting your kids run ahead of you in the park, and leaving them unattended strapped in a car in a parking lot while you run errands, you are unfit to be a parent. | ||
| Bajou Citizen Username: Bajou Post Number: 1663 Registered: 2-2006  |
Dear S.L.K 2.0 I know it must feel terrible to have the police called on you but I think somebody was trying to teach you a lesson you won't forget. No it wasn't me, I wouldn't have called the police but I would have embarrased the •••• out of you in the store. I have two children and I remember clearly how hard it is to unload them, drag them into the store, load them up again and them being cranky. However was also a nanny and I remember a nanny friend of mine who thought she could just run into the store and leave the two kids in the car. The 4 year old fed the infant a couple of cherrios (which it seems the child must have found in the crevices of the carseat) and the infant almost choked to death. By the time she realized there was something wrong the child was purple and unconscious. He had to spend several days in the hospital for observation and there was a big fear that he might have prblems due to the loss of oxygen. The whole incident took less then three minutes and the children where in full view of her, another customer and the deli owner through a front window of the deli. She was asked to leave her post and the country or face charges. The girl was devastated since she really cared for the kids and was horrified that she could have easily cause the death of one. So maybe this was embarrasing for you but I betcha you never leave the kids in the car again. Do yourself a favor and do those errands without the kids, It will take half the time and you can sit down and have a nice cup of coffee or tea before you return. | ||
| Joan Supporter Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 8205 Registered: 5-2001 |
S.L.K.: It was a dumb move. You have learned from your experience. It won't happen again. End of story. I don't know what I would have done if I saw two children that young sitting alone in parked car in a parking lot on Parker Avenue. If I had been with someone, I might have stayed outside and watched the children (to make sure they were ok and remained so) while sending my companion into Gleason's and if necessary into the matrial arts school or the Y to ask if anyone in there had left the children in the car. However, this person was alone and probably thought the welfare of your children was more important than any embarrassment for you which might have resulted. The police responded quickly because they had no way of knowing if the children had been abandoned, kidnapped, or left there by a car jacker. Be grateful that a passer-by was kind enough and concerned enough for your childrens' well being to take the time to make sure they were protected. Next time, either plan your errands more carefully or bring someone with you to watch the kids if you can't handle the children and the cleaning at the same time. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 9209 Registered: 5-2001 |
I can't believe that I'm being forced to defend Scrot. He never said he was above the law, he even said that he knew he was wrong. I think the point is that someone could have walked into Gleason's and loudly announced "which one of you idiots left their children alone in the car?" instead of calling the police. I've actually done things like that in the past. Having seen a few near misses in parking lots from little ones running ahead of their parents, I'm not sure that I understand the difference, either. Good thing that I don't have kids. Now, Scrot, if I end up pulling a Republican level in November, I'm coming after you.... | ||
| S.L.K. 2.0 Citizen Username: Scrotisloknows Post Number: 1921 Registered: 10-2005 |
Thank you Joan. Thank you Bajou. Your input was well received. RL, such a typical/predictable response, go find another piece of meat to leap on. What does politics have to do with this? Only a warped mind like yours would make such a connection. This is coming from a guy who admits to be a drunk all weekend. I guess it would be pretty easy to judge you the same. Yet again, imagining such a hateful individual as yourself with offspring is a truly scary thought... -SLK | ||
| S.L.K. 2.0 Citizen Username: Scrotisloknows Post Number: 1922 Registered: 10-2005 |
Thank you greenetree, finally someone gets it.... and if you do pull a Republican lever in November just blame it on the vast right wing conspiracy hiding under your bed... ;) | ||
| MBJ Citizen Username: Mbj Post Number: 234 Registered: 10-2005 |
Lesson learned SLK, and nice job skewering Livingston. Who richly deserves it. | ||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave  Post Number: 10620 Registered: 4-1997  |
Obviously, you should have left the kids at a bar. | ||
| MeAndTheBoys Citizen Username: Meandtheboys Post Number: 4381 Registered: 12-2004  |
I completely get why you did it. I think you took every possible precaution. Nonetheless, it is, apparently, against the law. Might I suggest Spotless Dry Cleaners in Millburn? They pick-up and deliver and no one (you or your wife) needs to worry about how to cope with the dry cleaning and the little ones at the same time. This was the very reason why I chose to find a dry cleaner that delivers. One less errand to run, one less time you have to worry about wrangling the kids and your packages. Milk and groceries are delivered as well. | ||
| S.L.K. 2.0 Citizen Username: Scrotisloknows Post Number: 1923 Registered: 10-2005 |
MATBs- I had a feeling you would understand and I think people have a hard time understanding if they don't have two small youngsters. Gleason's is the only parking lot I would even remotely think of doing this.... -SLK | ||
| Soda Supporter Username: Soda Post Number: 4170 Registered: 5-2001  |
What an unbelievable sense of entitlement! And what infantile responses to (A) somebody's totally understandable call to the MPD and (2) the honest reactions of shocked MOLers! You started the damn thread, so what did you expect, you bullying macho sh**head? You should be drummed out of the parents union. I constantly see tiny little mothers managing (without complaint) toddlers&infants while accomplishing such herculean tasks as dropping off/picking up dry cleaning, grocery shopping, etc. Your wounded pride is a small price to pay for such complete dereliction of your parental responsibility. -s. BTW: My cousin Phil says hello. | ||
| Costanza Supporter Username: Vandalay Post Number: 1764 Registered: 8-2004  |
Are you guys 100% sure that it is illegal in NJ to leave kids unattended in a car? | ||
| themp Supporter Username: Themp Post Number: 3217 Registered: 12-2001 |
Get tinted windows. | ||
| Bajou Citizen Username: Bajou Post Number: 1665 Registered: 2-2006 |
Kumbayah mylord Kumbayah | ||
| Dego Diva Citizen Username: Fmingione Post Number: 833 Registered: 12-2003 |
Good citizens of MOL, I beg of you, if you ever see a child sitting alone in a car, PLEASE call the police, God forbid it ends up being mine!! If some looney decides to kidnap my kid and then "run in" for a quick errand, I HOPE that someone would butt in and call the cops. SLK, I understand that your complaint is that you wish this person didn't go to the lengths of calling the cops, but this is no "little white crime". You put your kids in danger, period. For that you deserved what you got. Count your blessings that you didn't get worse, and for Pete's sake, don't come on MOL looking for sympathy because someone else did the RIGHT thing and made you feel bad. Jeez! | ||
| themp Supporter Username: Themp Post Number: 3218 Registered: 12-2001 |
What was the danger, exactly? Meteorite? | ||
| susan1014 Supporter Username: Susan1014 Post Number: 1772 Registered: 3-2002 |
SLK, I'm afraid I'd probably call the cops too, maybe after a couple of minutes of wait time...I believe in erring on the side of protecting the safety of those too young to protect themselves. The problem with coming into the store to tell you off is that some percentage of parents caught in that situation would verbally abuse me rather than sheepishly going back to the car ASAP. No way of telling from the look of your car, your kids, or even your MOL posting record, whether you are a parent who would have taken the criticism as a kindness, or as an attack on your parenting. I know it can be a royal pain running errands with small kids, but you probably better learn to do it, or rig things with your spouse so that errands get run solo -- next time you might end up in a serious conversation with DYFS. By the way, Livingston was jerky, but why did you feel a need to specify that you thought you were called in by a "hippie" with an anti-war sticker? Do you expect more sympathy for that? Does that make his/her concern less valid? I'm afraid that you were the first to bring politics into this thread. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 9223 Registered: 5-2001 |
Susan - remember that thread not so long ago with the video of the kid being "kidnapped" as an experiment to see who would help? Everyone thought that someone else would help so no one did. Stepping up is always a risk and never easy. I've been cursed out by parents. But I could never live with myself if something happened. If I said something to the parent and they reacted like that, then I would call 911. But I'd think that the point would be to get someone (parent or cop) to the car as quickly as possible and calling the parent on the behavior would have been the fastest route. I once saw a man coax a kid into a car; I took down the license plate and went to the police station. The cops checked it out; it was a kid not wanting to leave an after-school program and the parent cajoling him. To this day, I think about the fact that in the time it took me to drive to MPD, the car could have gotten away. Even tho I had the license plate, preventing an abduction in the first place would be the best thing. There are a lot of reasons not to intervene, but when a child is in danger, being afraid of what a parent thinks of you shouldn't be one of them. | ||
| mickey Citizen Username: Mickey Post Number: 473 Registered: 10-2001 |
What Dego Diva said. If someone called the cops, and the cops came, and you were still in the store, you've now left your kids unattended for way too long. In a closed, locked car, in August. Sorry for your stress, but you screwed up. Lesson learned. | ||
| Brett Citizen Username: Bmalibashksa Post Number: 2648 Registered: 7-2003 |
I would have called the cops,. But I would have stayed around the car to keep an eye on the kids, just to make sure in the end that they were ok. If the cops showed up I would leave, if you showed up I would have said something to you. By calling the cops and leaving the person was just as bad as you were. Although I have been known to Banana Assult. By your own admittance you said it was a dumb move. So maybe you weren’t’ thinking right and if I stormed into the store yelling, I may have ended up with a 3 piece suit shoved up my •••. | ||
| crabby Citizen Username: Crabbyappleton Post Number: 769 Registered: 1-2004 |
I believe it was cold and rainy on Saturday. i say No Biggie. Plus, do you ever put the kids in the car in your driveway and then run inside to get something you forgot and then come back? Same thing. Everyone is overreacting. But SLK, don't do it again. | ||
| Robert Livingston Citizen Username: Rob_livingston Post Number: 2041 Registered: 7-2004 |
You thought you were above the law. You broke the law, the cops came, and you were pissed off about getting busted red handed. And you're angry at the good samaritan, a perfect stranger who clearly had your kids safety in mind more than you. Typical republican attitude. But more importantly, the Maplewood Police have put you on their Negligent Parental Watch List, which is a good thing. (They are probably listening to your calls now without warrents, how's that for poetic justice...) | ||
| Brett Citizen Username: Bmalibashksa Post Number: 2649 Registered: 7-2003 |
http://www.kidsincars.org Q21: What can I do if I see children left unattended in a vehicle? A21: Help Kids In Cars raise awareness about this important issue. Do not be afraid to tell parents or caregivers about the dangers when you see anyone leaving children unattended in a vehicle. Kids In Cars recommends leaving a “Not Even for a Minute” flyer on the windshield of any vehicle that has children left unattended. If possible, stay with the children until the responsible party returns, or call 911 if they do not return within five minutes (or sooner if you fear the children are in imminent danger). Q22: How many states have legislation about leaving kids alone in cars? A22: Eleven states have laws protecting children left unattended in cars. The states with this legislation are: California , Connecticut , Florida , Illinois , Louisiana , Maryland , Nebraska , Nevada (Effective October 1, 2005), Pennsylvania , Texas , and Washington. | ||
| Brett Citizen Username: Bmalibashksa Post Number: 2650 Registered: 7-2003 |
You broke the law, the cops came: Not true a perfect stranger who clearly had your kids safety in mind: not true, they left the kids there the Maplewood Police have put you on their Negligent Parental Watch List Is that true? |
