Irresponsible Wife Keeps Leaving Her Son Alone In An Unlocked Car, Husband Takes Him Away While She’s In A Gas Station To Teach Her A Lesson
“My wife has a horrible habit that I discovered 2 months ago,” one husband wrote in a post on r/AITA recently. Turns out, she has been leaving their baby son in the car on his own as she goes to pick up food, run into the post office or pharmacy, etc. Although the author’s wife has clearly seen nothing bad about it, it didn’t sit well with him.
But after one particular incident, when he spotted his wife’s car in a parking lot, the author had enough. “I decided to stop and go in and say hi and get some food and I pulled in and parked next to her. However, when I got there, I was furious to find our son in his car seat. The car wasn’t even locked,” he recounted. So it felt like the last straw and he decided to teach his wife a lesson.
The lesson was pretty unconventional, to say the least, and pushed his wife into a meltdown. Now the question remains, did the author go too far? Share your thoughts in the comment section!
This dad has recently shared how he’d had enough of his irresponsible wife leaving their baby son in the car by himself, and decided to teach her a lesson
Image credits: North Dakota (not the actual photo)
Despite being against games like that, this person showed their support for dad in this case
The author also added a couple more background details
Leaving a child in the car, especially if the temperatures are high or low, can be very dangerous if not deadly. And this doesn’t apply only to neglectful parents, loving ones are susceptible to it too. In fact, researchers estimate that half of hot-car incidents involve a loving parent or caregiver who forgets a sleeping child in the backseat (sometimes referred to as Forgotten Baby Syndrome).
Another common myth among parents is that if they only leave their children in the car for 10 minutes, they will be OK. But the fact is that on an 80-degree day, the temperature inside your vehicle can reach a dangerously hot level in as little as 10 minutes. The truth is that nothing—not cracking the windows nor running the air conditioner or heater—can ensure the car remains at a temperature that is safe for your child. Even if it’s a hassle to take your child along on every “be right back” errand, it can essentially be life-saving.
Others also thought that dad didn’t cross the line and that the wife was wrong for leaving their baby alone
If you see a child left unattended in a car, you have to react immediately. If the child is not responsive or is in distress, immediately call 911, get the child out of the car, and spray the child with cool water if the temperatures are high. If the child is responsive, you should stay with the child until help arrives. Have someone else search for the driver or ask the facility to page them.
Later, the dad posted this update on the incident
People praised the dad for handling this whole situation well
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In plenty of Nordic countries it's normal to babies alone and unattended outside cafes and shops. Is there a cultural component?
We sensationalize violence in America so everyone is afraid to let their kids out of eye sight for longer than a minute until they are the age of 18 or so. People will call the cops if you let you kid go to a local park without an adult. Everyone says "It's not like it use to be when we were kids, things are far worse." If they looked at the actual crime rates they would see crime rates were the highest when we were kids and going to the store or to the park alone. But the 24 hour news media has every parent convinced that their kid is about to be stolen and murdered if they can't track them via GPS 24 hours a day.
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Honestly he should have called the local police and explain what he did and head home. That way when the police intervene he could have a police report in case she tries to pursue full custody later. Cps should be involved just because a family member caught it doesn't mean she shouldn't be punished as per the full legal authority of the law. She is the type of mother that ends up with a kid face down on a pond or pool.
Cops are the last people who should be called. Frankly, they don't tend to help most situations and would've likely only led to CPS involvement for this family. I think what dad did was a bit extreme but not undeserved. Mom sounds like she's struggling with some postpartum issues and it seems like this is headed in the right direction so that things will change and they can heal.
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A few years ago someone my mum knew took her two grandchildren into town. She just needed to nip into the pharmacy to pick up a prescription so she figured, like OP's wife, that the kids would be fine in the car for a few minutes. Then, while she was in the shop she had a stroke. An ambulance was called and she was rushed to hospital - but no-one knew about the kids in the car. They were there for about 4 hours and one of them died. The other recovered but never 100% . Never leave your children in the car. Anything could happen.
And I know a recent story of a mother and her small child crossing a parking lot to go to a grocery store, and got hit by a driver that wasn't paying attention. The mother suffered minor injuries and the child died. If the kid was left in the car, they would have survived. People die in freak situations, "Anything could happen" as you say, but that's for everywhere you go, and everything you do.
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A lot of husbands wouldn’t even think to ask about postpartum issues. This man clearly loves his wife and child. While usually I wouldn’t condone game playing in this instance it was needed. He spoke to her TWICE and she LIED to him when she said she wouldn’t do it again. Just went and did it again. Not only that she left the car running and unlocked. Put aside the abduction risk and let’s look at another. It only takes one person to call the police and BANG. You have CPS, DHS or DOCS depending on your country all up in your business.
In Tennessee it's against the law to leave a child in the car by itself under the age of 7.
I think it's technically illegal like that to a certain age in almost all the states.
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I'm on the fathers side. If it was too hot to leave your child in the car without air then you need to bring him with you. If you can run in quickly and still have visual contact and can lock the door and the child is safe from weather elements, I don't see an issue there. Really should only be done on a rare need to basis. In my opinion
It didn't say the weather was hot though. If she ran in for a minute she likely had her eyes on the car. Not like she left him to do the weekly shop.
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I imagine it's in the USA. Well done. Better have a sudden fright than grief the rest of your life.
I understand how it feels like a hassle, to unbuckle your child and wake them up or disturb them, by picking them up and carrying them into somewhere and then having to hold them while you are waiting in line, etc. And then you have to get them back in the chair and buckled back up, and maybe they're not having it. It takes longer. It's more effort, but nothing on this green earth would ever convince me that I should leave my baby unattended in the USA, especially at a gas station where there are dozens of complete strangers.
I agree. I'm a father of two and no "errand" on this planet is THAT important that I'd risk danger to my children
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Honestly this is the only good reason you shouldn't do this. Well meaning citizens calling the cops for non issues is the problem.
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She wasn't leaving him to do the weekly shop. She was leaving him to pop into a shop, and I expect she could see the car the whole time.
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I am glad things went well for this couple and they sat down and had a serious talk while both explaining difficult feelings and how they could understand the other could see them in the wrong. For those of you who live in other countries where it is deemed normal, I'm glad for you. Where I am, we had an Amber Alert (an alert for when a child goes missing or is abducted) just this past weekend because a car was stolen while the baby was inside. That case had a happy ending, but unfortunately not all have. Does it happen often and could she get away with it for longer, probably. But then there are other families who can no longer say that either. Also, while you does say she leaves the car and AC on, all it takes is just that one time you don't and 6 minutes in a warm climate with the sun on the child and the car being a dark color, and ugh. In Texas its never an if, but when you start to here those horribly tragic cases in the Spring/Summer.
My parents left me in the car all the time. Gas stations for sure. You should lock the car, but I don't think there is something wrong with leaving the kid in the car if it is something you can do within a few minutes and it isn't the middle of summer without any shade.
I got left in a car while my dad was at the bar countless times.... Something I would never wich on my own son
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I can't even. Leaving a baby in an unlocked running car? Are you asking for the worst case scenario? Because I can think if several, including the car stalling and you thinking it was running and the temperature killing the kid, an exhaust leak that only really matters if you are sitting still alone in a closed car with no ability to roll down the window or call fir help, someone stealing the car with your toddler inside.he should have let her dial 911 and then she could have told the cops how she left her kid unattended at a gas station...the father could have always sighted safety concerns for the child when found safely with him. The lady wanted an appology? She is a sociopath.
I was born in the US midwest in the late 1970s, and stranger kidnappings were definitely a thing before I was born and during my childhood. I think my parents were justified in limiting our exposure to being carried off while we were still small enough to be carried off. These days, it is more likely that someone will try to steal the car, not expecting the baby to be in it. Those stories *often* end up ok for the baby, but not always. But if Mom of the Year left the fob in the console or something, then anyone could have driven away with the whole car, baby and all.
With every generation, we try to not repeat the mistakes our parents made in our eyes. I could not have kids so I rent them by the day by working for the schools. Parents want to do right for their kids. But what is that? You've got those who protect them from every bump, you've got those who think they are helping by taking away any chance of victory little kids have in their sense of achievement and yes, a few battle scars. An infant or baby should never be left in a car unattended. What may only take a few minutes can change the course of a whole bunch of lives. I have worked with Special Ed for a good long while. Many who suffered from that 5 minutes when left alone. Parent education should be offered in a safe nonjudgemental way. Share some laughs and stop trying to be BFF and be the best parent. Set some boundaries. You brought this little person into the world. Don't think your job ends there. You're responsible for protecting that kid from more than you'll ever know.
Parenting is hard, but leaving a kid in a car is simple awful. No child should be left alone in a car.
A 6 year old named Jake Roble was left in his mom's running car while she went in to Mr. Goodcents subs & pasta. A man that had been released from prison that day, tried to steal the car & push Jake out of the car. The boy became entangled In his seat belt strap and was drug to his death. Witness followed the car and called the cops. It didn't happen in a high crime area. It was on 291 hwy between Liberty & Independence MO. If the mom is disregarding this safety measure what else is she doing for her convenience and putting the baby at risk-maybe leaving him unattended in the bath tub?
That was tragic, but it's very unlikely. I expect she could see the car and it's not like she left him for hours or to do the weekly shop.
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This is insanity. Good for OP to do this. She wants to say "no mother should feel that panic" (condensed) ummm Lady, what if it wasn't your hubby??? That feeling would be much MUCH worse.
Thank you. People here defending her is baffling me. They're going so far as to assume their living situation saying stuff like "she's doing all the child raising/ errands etc" even though nothing in the article states (or even alludes) to this
Load More Replies... Nah, your wife went to far with her total disregard of your son's safety.
Ind Denmark it ain't super uncommon that children is left "semi" unattended for instance when they are sleeping outside in their strollers ( not sure that is the right term ) our kids have slept outside in negative temps , as that is normal here, but leaving the car running and unlock is illegal here, and would probably not leave my small kids in the car alone, unless I can see the car and they can see me , for instance if I have to go inside the gas station to pay ( rarely an issue as we pay at the pump ) In this case I would probably just have parked my car out of sight, and then sat in my wife's car waiting , she would not have had the extreme fear triggered but still seen how many things could happen while gone, could have been a stranger sitting in the car , or someone taking their stuff and so on so forth.
He apologized later and asked if she was okay. I'm with him on this. Btw, another way he could have handled it would have been to call the police with a tip of a baby left alone in a car. It would still have been an unpleasant lesson, but with less fear and trauma.
Calling the police could have resulted in the child being taken by Child Protective Services and her being charged with a crime, in the majority of the US, it’s against the law to leave a child alone in a car, even for a minute.
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Sir your actions are beyond justified and I 100% stand with you on the matter. However, I do believe she may be suffering from postpartum depression, or having mental issues as no sane person knowing the dangers would ever do this or continue to do this. If she is deemed sane then she is reckless, negligent and an unfit parent and she should be charged with child endangerment in addition to losing any rights to the baby. Hats off to you for standing your ground by not letting her taking him home. I would never be able to trust her again with him alone given her careless and reckless actions. Honestly speaking if I caught her in the act that would have been it for me. If you decide to stay with her God bless your heart. I would have taken my child and told her to go to hell. My child comes before everyone and I mean EVERYONE! I hope you two get through this. Stay strong Sir!
When I was in high school my fabric obsessed mom worked for a high end upholstery fabric store. Lots of custom furniture ordered for folks with 2nd and 3rd homes. Very privileged... One day a lady comes in to check her order or do a change with the in-house consultant, when a wailing baby sound comes out of her bag. The in house consultant inquires and finds out her newborn is in the car, 'but it's ok, I left the car running and the 3year old is with the baby. ' Needless to say security and the cps/local pd were called.
glad they talked afterward and he is supportive of her getting some help. i hope they can work together through this and raise their baby safely.
In the 70s this was common practice to leave your kids in the car while your parents went and did their thing. One time I was 3 and thought I could drive. The car was running I could see my mom in the store window grabbing her check. I backed the car up and thank god there was a woman parked next to me and saw it. She jumped in and stopped the car. Anyway laws are different now. Don't do this it's illegal and it's dangerous.
Your wife is an irresponsible a*****e, she deserved what she got, you do NOT owe her an apology, she owes you one, she's embarrassed she got caught doing this, and she is gaslighting you into thinking you are the bad guy, she lied to you and told you she wouldn't do that again. You also said that after you took your son, it took her 6 minutes to come out, so who knows how long she was in there, I would have let her call the cops, let her answer for her b******t, and I can guarantee you that she will do this again.
Our grandson was kidnapped this way—the car was running. A homeless man jumped in and took off. He knew the baby was there because he told police that “God told him to bring the boy to his grandmother.” Our son-in-law was able to find the car because he had left his cell phone in it. It took a frantic car chase, and he had to ram his own car to stop the man. This father absolutely did the right thing.
If I were the dad, I would be furious! I never left my child or even my dogs for a minute. It's not worth the risk.
Jumping to "she MUST have mental health issues if she isn't paranoid about her baby" seems like a leap. I have the feeling she started crying as a way to grab the "out" offered her. She sobs a little, fakes it in therapy, milks that she has postpartum something to get out of some tasks, and keeps on doing what she wants. So much easier to say it's not you, it's the postpartum, than to have to deal with your spouse thinking you as a person are wrong and not normal.
I appreciate the updates. I feel bad that I was initially quite judgmental of the new mom—it did not occur to me that she could have been post-partum. It’s real, and causes odd behavior. The husband and new dad is an awesome human being!
That doesn't make a lot of sense, Shari. Of course she's post-partum, she has a baby! "Post-partum" just means "after giving birth", more or less. Did you mean to say it didn't occur to you that she could've had post-partum depression or psychosis?
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I 100 percent agree with the father you don't leave your child in the car doesn't matter if it just a simple errand real quick! I think that was a great idea taking his son! She obviously doesn't really care about her child!!
I'm sure she does care about her child. It's not like she was leaving him to do the weekly shop. Although she was wrong ro leave the car unlocked it was probably quicker to run in and grab what she needed than spend the time unbuckling and buckling him back in.
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Honestly I'm probably on the not-so-popular side and say he is the a*****e. He could have sat in her car with the child instead of actually taking the kid, would have still had shock value considering she would have been caught that way to. Taking the child and making her panic like that is really harsh.
Frequently. He wanted to shock her into taking the issue seriously, and it worked. She should think herself lucky he cares enough to get her some help.
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Umm, he DID talk to her. He explained the problems he had with it which she acknowledged and she promised she wouldn't do it again yet he caught her doing that exact same thing again.
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Wait a sec, he did talk it out with her when he first discovered she was doing this (quite frankly) incredibly irresponsible thing. She agreed to stop doing it and then was caught out doing again. Not only did she break her promise she didn't even lock the doors of the car. In hindsight what he did might have been a little over the top but he's a father concerned about the safety of his child whereas she seemed completely blasé about it. Yet he's the bad guy?? Also where does it say that she is doing the majority of the errands and child rearing so she's exhausted? It doesn't, you've just assumed that to defend her actions
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Because she honestly deserves it. This isn’t a safe world, there are real sickos out there. She was WAY too casual about her child’s safety even after being spoken to. What is more messed up is leaving your baby alone in a car or anywhere.
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Where in the article does it say or even imply she is taking on the bulk of the child raising responsibilities? You're just making the usual assumption that the man cannot possibly be as hands on in the child raising department as the woman and then using that assumption to try and justify her actions somewhat. IF there's another side to this story it isn't in this article so based only on what's above she is clearly, 100% in the wrong. He found out she was putting their child in danger, called her out on it, made her promise to stop doing it to which she agreed then she blatantly ignored this and got caught doing it again. If that's not a bad mother I don't know what is.
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She's lying to him and doesn't care. What if the kid got kidnapped? They don't live in Sweden. He just watches out for his kid.
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Where does it say she's doing the "lions share of childcare"?
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As busy as I am as a dad and as exhausting as it can be doing the errands and get things done as a paren, I never EVER am to busy to be concernced about the safety of my son. I take him everywhere with me. This isn't a problem.
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In plenty of Nordic countries it's normal to babies alone and unattended outside cafes and shops. Is there a cultural component?
We sensationalize violence in America so everyone is afraid to let their kids out of eye sight for longer than a minute until they are the age of 18 or so. People will call the cops if you let you kid go to a local park without an adult. Everyone says "It's not like it use to be when we were kids, things are far worse." If they looked at the actual crime rates they would see crime rates were the highest when we were kids and going to the store or to the park alone. But the 24 hour news media has every parent convinced that their kid is about to be stolen and murdered if they can't track them via GPS 24 hours a day.
Load More Replies... Honestly he should have called the local police and explain what he did and head home. That way when the police intervene he could have a police report in case she tries to pursue full custody later. Cps should be involved just because a family member caught it doesn't mean she shouldn't be punished as per the full legal authority of the law. She is the type of mother that ends up with a kid face down on a pond or pool.
Cops are the last people who should be called. Frankly, they don't tend to help most situations and would've likely only led to CPS involvement for this family. I think what dad did was a bit extreme but not undeserved. Mom sounds like she's struggling with some postpartum issues and it seems like this is headed in the right direction so that things will change and they can heal.
Load More Replies... A few years ago someone my mum knew took her two grandchildren into town. She just needed to nip into the pharmacy to pick up a prescription so she figured, like OP's wife, that the kids would be fine in the car for a few minutes. Then, while she was in the shop she had a stroke. An ambulance was called and she was rushed to hospital - but no-one knew about the kids in the car. They were there for about 4 hours and one of them died. The other recovered but never 100% . Never leave your children in the car. Anything could happen.
And I know a recent story of a mother and her small child crossing a parking lot to go to a grocery store, and got hit by a driver that wasn't paying attention. The mother suffered minor injuries and the child died. If the kid was left in the car, they would have survived. People die in freak situations, "Anything could happen" as you say, but that's for everywhere you go, and everything you do.
Load More Replies... A lot of husbands wouldn’t even think to ask about postpartum issues. This man clearly loves his wife and child. While usually I wouldn’t condone game playing in this instance it was needed. He spoke to her TWICE and she LIED to him when she said she wouldn’t do it again. Just went and did it again. Not only that she left the car running and unlocked. Put aside the abduction risk and let’s look at another. It only takes one person to call the police and BANG. You have CPS, DHS or DOCS depending on your country all up in your business.
In Tennessee it's against the law to leave a child in the car by itself under the age of 7.
I think it's technically illegal like that to a certain age in almost all the states.
Load More Replies... I'm on the fathers side. If it was too hot to leave your child in the car without air then you need to bring him with you. If you can run in quickly and still have visual contact and can lock the door and the child is safe from weather elements, I don't see an issue there. Really should only be done on a rare need to basis. In my opinion
It didn't say the weather was hot though. If she ran in for a minute she likely had her eyes on the car. Not like she left him to do the weekly shop.
Load More Replies... I imagine it's in the USA. Well done. Better have a sudden fright than grief the rest of your life.
I understand how it feels like a hassle, to unbuckle your child and wake them up or disturb them, by picking them up and carrying them into somewhere and then having to hold them while you are waiting in line, etc. And then you have to get them back in the chair and buckled back up, and maybe they're not having it. It takes longer. It's more effort, but nothing on this green earth would ever convince me that I should leave my baby unattended in the USA, especially at a gas station where there are dozens of complete strangers.
I agree. I'm a father of two and no "errand" on this planet is THAT important that I'd risk danger to my children
Load More Replies... Honestly this is the only good reason you shouldn't do this. Well meaning citizens calling the cops for non issues is the problem.
Load More Replies... She wasn't leaving him to do the weekly shop. She was leaving him to pop into a shop, and I expect she could see the car the whole time.
Load More Replies... I am glad things went well for this couple and they sat down and had a serious talk while both explaining difficult feelings and how they could understand the other could see them in the wrong. For those of you who live in other countries where it is deemed normal, I'm glad for you. Where I am, we had an Amber Alert (an alert for when a child goes missing or is abducted) just this past weekend because a car was stolen while the baby was inside. That case had a happy ending, but unfortunately not all have. Does it happen often and could she get away with it for longer, probably. But then there are other families who can no longer say that either. Also, while you does say she leaves the car and AC on, all it takes is just that one time you don't and 6 minutes in a warm climate with the sun on the child and the car being a dark color, and ugh. In Texas its never an if, but when you start to here those horribly tragic cases in the Spring/Summer.
My parents left me in the car all the time. Gas stations for sure. You should lock the car, but I don't think there is something wrong with leaving the kid in the car if it is something you can do within a few minutes and it isn't the middle of summer without any shade.
I got left in a car while my dad was at the bar countless times.... Something I would never wich on my own son
Load More Replies... I can't even. Leaving a baby in an unlocked running car? Are you asking for the worst case scenario? Because I can think if several, including the car stalling and you thinking it was running and the temperature killing the kid, an exhaust leak that only really matters if you are sitting still alone in a closed car with no ability to roll down the window or call fir help, someone stealing the car with your toddler inside.he should have let her dial 911 and then she could have told the cops how she left her kid unattended at a gas station...the father could have always sighted safety concerns for the child when found safely with him. The lady wanted an appology? She is a sociopath.
I was born in the US midwest in the late 1970s, and stranger kidnappings were definitely a thing before I was born and during my childhood. I think my parents were justified in limiting our exposure to being carried off while we were still small enough to be carried off. These days, it is more likely that someone will try to steal the car, not expecting the baby to be in it. Those stories *often* end up ok for the baby, but not always. But if Mom of the Year left the fob in the console or something, then anyone could have driven away with the whole car, baby and all.
With every generation, we try to not repeat the mistakes our parents made in our eyes. I could not have kids so I rent them by the day by working for the schools. Parents want to do right for their kids. But what is that? You've got those who protect them from every bump, you've got those who think they are helping by taking away any chance of victory little kids have in their sense of achievement and yes, a few battle scars. An infant or baby should never be left in a car unattended. What may only take a few minutes can change the course of a whole bunch of lives. I have worked with Special Ed for a good long while. Many who suffered from that 5 minutes when left alone. Parent education should be offered in a safe nonjudgemental way. Share some laughs and stop trying to be BFF and be the best parent. Set some boundaries. You brought this little person into the world. Don't think your job ends there. You're responsible for protecting that kid from more than you'll ever know.
Parenting is hard, but leaving a kid in a car is simple awful. No child should be left alone in a car.
A 6 year old named Jake Roble was left in his mom's running car while she went in to Mr. Goodcents subs & pasta. A man that had been released from prison that day, tried to steal the car & push Jake out of the car. The boy became entangled In his seat belt strap and was drug to his death. Witness followed the car and called the cops. It didn't happen in a high crime area. It was on 291 hwy between Liberty & Independence MO. If the mom is disregarding this safety measure what else is she doing for her convenience and putting the baby at risk-maybe leaving him unattended in the bath tub?
That was tragic, but it's very unlikely. I expect she could see the car and it's not like she left him for hours or to do the weekly shop.
Load More Replies... This is insanity. Good for OP to do this. She wants to say "no mother should feel that panic" (condensed) ummm Lady, what if it wasn't your hubby??? That feeling would be much MUCH worse.
Thank you. People here defending her is baffling me. They're going so far as to assume their living situation saying stuff like "she's doing all the child raising/ errands etc" even though nothing in the article states (or even alludes) to this
Load More Replies... Nah, your wife went to far with her total disregard of your son's safety.
Ind Denmark it ain't super uncommon that children is left "semi" unattended for instance when they are sleeping outside in their strollers ( not sure that is the right term ) our kids have slept outside in negative temps , as that is normal here, but leaving the car running and unlock is illegal here, and would probably not leave my small kids in the car alone, unless I can see the car and they can see me , for instance if I have to go inside the gas station to pay ( rarely an issue as we pay at the pump ) In this case I would probably just have parked my car out of sight, and then sat in my wife's car waiting , she would not have had the extreme fear triggered but still seen how many things could happen while gone, could have been a stranger sitting in the car , or someone taking their stuff and so on so forth.
He apologized later and asked if she was okay. I'm with him on this. Btw, another way he could have handled it would have been to call the police with a tip of a baby left alone in a car. It would still have been an unpleasant lesson, but with less fear and trauma.
Calling the police could have resulted in the child being taken by Child Protective Services and her being charged with a crime, in the majority of the US, it’s against the law to leave a child alone in a car, even for a minute.
Load More Replies... Sir your actions are beyond justified and I 100% stand with you on the matter. However, I do believe she may be suffering from postpartum depression, or having mental issues as no sane person knowing the dangers would ever do this or continue to do this. If she is deemed sane then she is reckless, negligent and an unfit parent and she should be charged with child endangerment in addition to losing any rights to the baby. Hats off to you for standing your ground by not letting her taking him home. I would never be able to trust her again with him alone given her careless and reckless actions. Honestly speaking if I caught her in the act that would have been it for me. If you decide to stay with her God bless your heart. I would have taken my child and told her to go to hell. My child comes before everyone and I mean EVERYONE! I hope you two get through this. Stay strong Sir!
When I was in high school my fabric obsessed mom worked for a high end upholstery fabric store. Lots of custom furniture ordered for folks with 2nd and 3rd homes. Very privileged... One day a lady comes in to check her order or do a change with the in-house consultant, when a wailing baby sound comes out of her bag. The in house consultant inquires and finds out her newborn is in the car, 'but it's ok, I left the car running and the 3year old is with the baby. ' Needless to say security and the cps/local pd were called.
glad they talked afterward and he is supportive of her getting some help. i hope they can work together through this and raise their baby safely.
In the 70s this was common practice to leave your kids in the car while your parents went and did their thing. One time I was 3 and thought I could drive. The car was running I could see my mom in the store window grabbing her check. I backed the car up and thank god there was a woman parked next to me and saw it. She jumped in and stopped the car. Anyway laws are different now. Don't do this it's illegal and it's dangerous.
Your wife is an irresponsible a*****e, she deserved what she got, you do NOT owe her an apology, she owes you one, she's embarrassed she got caught doing this, and she is gaslighting you into thinking you are the bad guy, she lied to you and told you she wouldn't do that again. You also said that after you took your son, it took her 6 minutes to come out, so who knows how long she was in there, I would have let her call the cops, let her answer for her b******t, and I can guarantee you that she will do this again.
Our grandson was kidnapped this way—the car was running. A homeless man jumped in and took off. He knew the baby was there because he told police that “God told him to bring the boy to his grandmother.” Our son-in-law was able to find the car because he had left his cell phone in it. It took a frantic car chase, and he had to ram his own car to stop the man. This father absolutely did the right thing.
If I were the dad, I would be furious! I never left my child or even my dogs for a minute. It's not worth the risk.
Jumping to "she MUST have mental health issues if she isn't paranoid about her baby" seems like a leap. I have the feeling she started crying as a way to grab the "out" offered her. She sobs a little, fakes it in therapy, milks that she has postpartum something to get out of some tasks, and keeps on doing what she wants. So much easier to say it's not you, it's the postpartum, than to have to deal with your spouse thinking you as a person are wrong and not normal.
I appreciate the updates. I feel bad that I was initially quite judgmental of the new mom—it did not occur to me that she could have been post-partum. It’s real, and causes odd behavior. The husband and new dad is an awesome human being!
That doesn't make a lot of sense, Shari. Of course she's post-partum, she has a baby! "Post-partum" just means "after giving birth", more or less. Did you mean to say it didn't occur to you that she could've had post-partum depression or psychosis?
Load More Replies... I 100 percent agree with the father you don't leave your child in the car doesn't matter if it just a simple errand real quick! I think that was a great idea taking his son! She obviously doesn't really care about her child!!
I'm sure she does care about her child. It's not like she was leaving him to do the weekly shop. Although she was wrong ro leave the car unlocked it was probably quicker to run in and grab what she needed than spend the time unbuckling and buckling him back in.
Load More Replies... Honestly I'm probably on the not-so-popular side and say he is the a*****e. He could have sat in her car with the child instead of actually taking the kid, would have still had shock value considering she would have been caught that way to. Taking the child and making her panic like that is really harsh.
Frequently. He wanted to shock her into taking the issue seriously, and it worked. She should think herself lucky he cares enough to get her some help.
Load More Replies... Umm, he DID talk to her. He explained the problems he had with it which she acknowledged and she promised she wouldn't do it again yet he caught her doing that exact same thing again.
Load More Replies... Wait a sec, he did talk it out with her when he first discovered she was doing this (quite frankly) incredibly irresponsible thing. She agreed to stop doing it and then was caught out doing again. Not only did she break her promise she didn't even lock the doors of the car. In hindsight what he did might have been a little over the top but he's a father concerned about the safety of his child whereas she seemed completely blasé about it. Yet he's the bad guy?? Also where does it say that she is doing the majority of the errands and child rearing so she's exhausted? It doesn't, you've just assumed that to defend her actions
Load More Replies... Because she honestly deserves it. This isn’t a safe world, there are real sickos out there. She was WAY too casual about her child’s safety even after being spoken to. What is more messed up is leaving your baby alone in a car or anywhere.
Load More Replies... Where in the article does it say or even imply she is taking on the bulk of the child raising responsibilities? You're just making the usual assumption that the man cannot possibly be as hands on in the child raising department as the woman and then using that assumption to try and justify her actions somewhat. IF there's another side to this story it isn't in this article so based only on what's above she is clearly, 100% in the wrong. He found out she was putting their child in danger, called her out on it, made her promise to stop doing it to which she agreed then she blatantly ignored this and got caught doing it again. If that's not a bad mother I don't know what is.
Load More Replies... She's lying to him and doesn't care. What if the kid got kidnapped? They don't live in Sweden. He just watches out for his kid.
Load More Replies... Where does it say she's doing the "lions share of childcare"?
Load More Replies... As busy as I am as a dad and as exhausting as it can be doing the errands and get things done as a paren, I never EVER am to busy to be concernced about the safety of my son. I take him everywhere with me. This isn't a problem.
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