What would you think?

[Alyantavid]

I see threads all the time in here about whether or not people should call CPS on things they witness. I don't think this is a CPS worthy incident but it did kind of shock me.

I was at the library yesterday with my two boys and saw a dad and son in there. They were playing some game, very loudly btw, and wandered around a bit and then headed out the door while we were checking out.

As we walked out the door, I saw the dad in the car, kid in the backseat with the door open and then the dad sped away with the kid's door still hanging open. I couldn't really tell if the kid was in the carseat or buckled or what, I was mainly watching the door to see if he could get it shut. It did finally shut and they flew around the corner. Which if the kid hadn't been buckled and the door hadn't shut, would have thrown him right out.

I'd guess this kid was about my son's age, 8.

So what do you think? Obviously the kid was fine when they went around the corner and the door was shut so he wasn't hurt. But what if it happens again and he doesn't get the door shut? Is it really that big a deal to start driving fast when your child's door is still open?

[mooshersmama]

Isn't it possible the dad didn't realize the door was open?

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

Originally Posted by mooshersmama

Isn't it possible the dad didn't realize the door was open?

Gosh I hope so.

If my husband did something like this, I would have him get a pysch-evelatuation. Because I would think he bumped his head or something.

[ErinYay]

Maybe they were doing the "fun" thing where you make the door shut by speeding up?

Immature and reckless? Yeah. Abusive? No.

[Alyantavid]

Originally Posted by mooshersmama

Isn't it possible the dad didn't realize the door was open?

Well of course it's possible. That's why I posted this, for other views.

[nextcommercial]

Originally Posted by ErinYay

Maybe they were doing the "fun" thing where you make the door shut by speeding up?

Immature and reckless? Yeah. Abusive? No.

That's what I was thinking. Kinda like dads who drive through big snow drifts with the kids in the car because "Look how cool this is kids".

(My dad used to do this in Mall parking lots...he was the dummy that would have said "lets see if I can close the door with no hands")

[gbailey]

Originally Posted by Barbie64g

Gosh I hope so.

If my husband did something like this, I would have him get a pysch-evelatuation. Because I would think he bumped his head or something.

This!

[mammal_mama]

I'm really puzzled about why you'd even think about calling CPS over this? You've admitted that you think it's possible that it was an oversight on the dad's part.

Heck, one time when dd1 was a tiny baby, we were almost all the way to church (nearly a 30 minute drive at that time) when I realized that I'd just laid my baby in her carseat and forgotten to buckle her in. I mean, I guess if a dad forgetting to shut a door is CPS-worthy, then so is forgetting to buckle in a baby.

I'm also kind of wondering why their loudness while gameplaying is even relevant?

Now I'm kind of picturing a thread about me forgetting to buckle in dd1:

"There's this couple with a small baby who lives below us, who makes love very loudly during the night btw, and this morning I noticed the mama just laying her baby in her carseat without buckling her in before they took off down the road."

I'm rather hoping that if anyone here would advise that mama to do something, it would simply be to alert a police officer so that maybe we could get pulled over and reminded before we got too far; I think most officers just give a warning about this sort of thing the first time.

Of course, by the time the father and son had turned the corner the door was shut, so by that point I'd assume that the danger was past.

[Drummer's Wife]

I'm guessing the dad didn't notice. Dangerous - yes. CPS worthy - absolutely not. Totally assuming here, but a dad who is that involved to take his kids to the library, doesn't seem like the kind of dad who would purposely put his kid's life at risk by driving off at high speeds with a car door still open.

[meemee]

i was rushing to class the other day and i was hurrying my dd and i forgot to look back and stopped when she yelled out at me. she hadnt even closed her door.

well at 8 i expect her to get it. i had maybe gone two car lengths when i slowed down to an almost stop. well i had an exam to get to and dd was in a real slow mode that day.

[eepster]

Originally Posted by mooshersmama

Isn't it possible the dad didn't realize the door was open?

BTDT

Originally Posted by mammal_mama

Heck, one time when dd1 was a tiny baby, we were almost all the way to church (nearly a 30 minute drive at that time) when I realized that I'd just laid my baby in her carseat and forgotten to buckle her in.

And I'v done that one too.

[cycle]

Originally Posted by ErinYay

Maybe they were doing the "fun" thing where you make the door shut by speeding up?

Immature and reckless? Yeah. Abusive? No.

Right, not CPS worthy at all. I don't get the constant jump to judging that happens all.the.time here.

[mamalisa]

Originally Posted by meemee

i was rushing to class the other day and i was hurrying my dd and i forgot to look back and stopped when she yelled out at me. she hadnt even closed her door.

well at 8 i expect her to get it. i had maybe gone two car lengths when i slowed down to an almost stop. well i had an exam to get to and dd was in a real slow mode that day.

My dd was in the backseat one day buckling up and dh started to back up before she was done. In all of her 4 year old sassiness she YELLED, "Daddy, what the hell is wrong with you, are you trying to kill me or somethin' ??" He asks twice now to make sure she's buckled

For the OP, stuff happens. I'm not even sure it would occur to me to call anyone??

[Alyantavid]

Obviously, you all missed reading my entire first post, where I said it wasn't CPS worthy. I wouldn't and won't call. I wasn't asking if you thought I should call someone because I wouldn't have.

Originally Posted by mammal_mama

I'm really puzzled about why you'd even think about calling CPS over this? You've admitted that you think it's possible that it was an oversight on the dad's part.

Heck, one time when dd1 was a tiny baby, we were almost all the way to church (nearly a 30 minute drive at that time) when I realized that I'd just laid my baby in her carseat and forgotten to buckle her in. I mean, I guess if a dad forgetting to shut a door is CPS-worthy, then so is forgetting to buckle in a baby.

I'm also kind of wondering why their loudness while gameplaying is even relevant?

Now I'm kind of picturing a thread about me forgetting to buckle in dd1:

"There's this couple with a small baby who lives below us, who makes love very loudly during the night btw, and this morning I noticed the mama just laying her baby in her carseat without buckling her in before they took off down the road."

I'm rather hoping that if anyone here would advise that mama to do something, it would simply be to alert a police officer so that maybe we could get pulled over and reminded before we got too far; I think most officers just give a warning about this sort of thing the first time.

Of course, by the time the father and son had turned the corner the door was shut, so by that point I'd assume that the danger was past.

The loud game playing was just a little pet peeve of mine.

I find it kind of funny reading posts in here. There are so many I read and think no big deal while most of the other posters are screaming "call CPS!" I post one asking for other thoughts and get attacked for thinking of calling. Which I clearly stated I wouldn't do. I never asked if I should call. Perhaps before attacking someone you should actually read what they wrote.

I have no plans of calling anyone. Our library is right beside the police station, which the father drove past and I highly doubt they'd do anything anyways.

Would it change anything at all if you knew that CPS had been called on this family before for other reasons? But just case anyone missed it, I won't be calling anyone, I was just surprised to see something like that. Maybe I assume everyone makes sure their kids are buckled in and actually fully in the car before driving.

[mamazee]

My dd is 8. She buckles herself in and shuts her own door. I can see this happening, though she's pretty cautious so it hasn't in our case. But I can see how it happened.

I agree with whoever said that a parent who is involved enough to take his kid to the library probably isn't in a situation that warrants CPS involvement.

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

Originally Posted by Alyantavid

I have no plans of calling anyone. Our library is right beside the police station, which the father drove past and I highly doubt they'd do anything anyways.

Hey, wonder if you live near me. I have TWO in my area like that. Or is that totally normal in most areas of the US?

Originally Posted by Alyantavid

Would it change anything at all if you knew that CPS had been called on this family before for other reasons? But just case anyone missed it, I won't be calling anyone, I was just surprised to see something like that. Maybe I assume everyone makes sure their kids are buckled in and actually fully in the car before driving.

Not an unreasonable assumption, if you ask me.

[mooshersmama]

Originally Posted by Alyantavid

...

Would it change anything at all if you knew that CPS had been called on this family before for other reasons? But just case anyone missed it, I won't be calling anyone, I was just surprised to see something like that. Maybe I assume everyone makes sure their kids are buckled in and actually fully in the car before driving.

No, it wouldn't change anything. I guess I don't know what you're asking? The dad could be a bad parent, or be playing a silly / dangerous game in the car, or just be absentminded. I once put DD in her carseat, went to unwrap a toy we had just bought to give her, and forgot to buckle her in before I drove off. I was horrified when I realized what happened, but it happens. (And now I always double check!)

[Alyantavid]

Originally Posted by Barbie64g

Hey, wonder if you live near me. I have TWO in my area like that. Or is that totally normal in most areas of the US?



Not an unreasonable assumption, if you ask me.

I don't know? Now that I think of it, alot of the smaller towns around here have libraries and police stations close.

Originally Posted by mooshersmama

No, it wouldn't change anything. I guess I don't know what you're asking? The dad could be a bad parent, or be playing a silly / dangerous game in the car, or just be absentminded. I once put DD in her carseat, went to unwrap a toy we had just bought to give her, and forgot to buckle her in before I drove off. I was horrified when I realized what happened, but it happens. (And now I always double check!)

That's basically what I'm asking. What could be a reason someone would potentially endanger their child? For fun? That one didn't even cross my mind.

[eepster]

Originally Posted by Barbie64g

Hey, wonder if you live near me. I have TWO in my area like that. Or is that totally normal in most areas of the US?

The library and police station are right next door to each other in my town. A few other municipal buildings are also right near by.

[meemee]

Originally Posted by Alyantavid

Maybe I assume everyone makes sure their kids are buckled in and actually fully in the car before driving.

my dd is 8. she is pretty hard core safety conscious so no i dont check. i think i kinda stopped checking at 6. once she could buckle herself and after checking the first few times and knowing she was automatically putting them on i really stopped checking.

however when i have other kids in the car then you betcha i check and make sure - no matter what the age.

ooooooooooh mama's you bring up a great and very very fascinating point for me. oh boy. yeah the police station is right next to the library in our town and now that i recall in the other places i have lived in. at least one library if not the main one was right next to a police station.