I have a very guilty consience-I drop N off at preschool three times a week, almost always with Meg and another 1 year old in a double stroller.  We go upstairs and drop him off.  Another mother has a one year old but she keeps her in the car while she drops off her son.  I don't know if she made arrangements with the front desk girls -the car is always visable.  And she has a dog in there- it irritates me to no end should I tell the pre-school teacher what should I do?

She's just running in for a minute, right? It's risky and unsafe but I think it's her choice. I personally, would never do that. But I do remember sitting in the car alot waiting for my mother. Maybe she thinks the dog will protect the baby. There are alot of dogs that won't let anyone near their owner's cars.

If I were in your place and it was bothering me that badly, I would talk to the woman directly. Otherwise, I'd just leave it alone and thank my stars that it's not me or my child.

Yuck, totally awkward.  I'm assuming that you do not have any communication with this mother.

Coming from AZ, where there are tragic deaths because a child is left unattended in the car - heat raises rapidly in cars.  I totally think it should be addressed.

What is something freaks the dog out and the dog attacks the baby, unforseen things happen.  This puts you in a awkward position and the parent may be a bit pissed, but after calming down, hopefully she/he will understand the childs interest is top of mind.

If possible, I would find away to address with the parent.  If not, I would speak with the preschool teacher and attempt to get validation of your assumption - arrangements have been made for someone in the office to be watching.

On a similar note, a lady I work with had her daughter reported for simply stepping away to throw out a dirty diaper while her daughter was in the car - she never left sight of her vehicle and returned right away.  However, another lade did not know where she was going and called 911 immediately.  By the time she got to her car, the women was already on the phone with 911.  While everything was cleared up, she still had to meet with CPS. 

 

HEHE... I have one of 4 ideas... all not so nice but here goes

1 would be to say hey if you wait for me in the A.m. I'll watch your car and kid while you run child in....

2 would be to offer to take the child in

3 would be to be a huge bitch and call the police ahead of time and tell them the case perhaps they could pull in right after she gets out of the car and takes child to class and be waitting for her next to alone child in car...

4 would be to take the alone child and scare the bajesus out of the mom maybe the police would do that too... take the alone child and walk up to the mom hand the kid over and say i think you forgot something... let her know how very easy it was to do. and then remind her that if you could do it so couldnt the sickos that lurk behind ever tree and bush...

but really I'd go with one of the first 2 maybe you could swap days to run the children in so you wouldn't always have to load up the lil ones to run in.

I agree, I hate to see parents leave their kids in the car.  I am terrified that they would get kidnapped.  It only takes a second!!!  E is almost 5 and I just left him in the car the other day when I paid a bill and I was terrified the whole time.  When he tells me that his dad lets him in the car I go off!!!  ugh. SO it takes you an extra five minutes to get in and out of school versuses I lifetime of regret when something bad happens.

OMG!  This infuriates me!

I would feel the need to take action too but I would not be sure as well.  I like Rachel's advice (the one about either talking to the preschool staff or the police).

A woman here in Scottsdale last year, went to Scottsdale Fashion Square, pulled up to Nordstrom and told the valet to watch her baby while SHE TOOK HER LITTLE BITY DOG IN WITH HER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well he called the police and it made the news all week here.

THis is a one year old baby, not a 15 year old child.  This baby could not save it's life if it had to from the heat of a car or strangers.  (not sure where you live now but the car will either be extreme hot or extreme cold in just minutes)

Please let us know what happens.

I still hate doing this, and my kids are older.  I would either tell the adminstration at the school or call the police also.  Taking the child out of the car can get you into trouble.  Although putting the fear of God into the woman is needed.

 

I would also tell the school.. or police.  I had a situation kinda like that happen to me.  The area in Gilbert we use to live in was very little..the school was a neighborhood school so wasn't crowded.  Everyone at that school knew I was pregnant with twins, But didn't know what happened with me having them early (I was huge).  The twins were born in early May and school only had a little bit till summer.  I had put both infant car seats in my Suburban because everytime we went to the hospital to visit and stay with them that could have been the day they get to come home....  remember they were 10 weeks eary i was huge and nobody knew they were still in the hospital.  I have remote start on my truck and that truck was kinda big and lifted so if someone walked over to peak in my truck they could see the car seats but not if a baby was in it.   Anyway, this group of mothers that feared the worst and judged me all year thought they would take note of my actions all week then call the police on friday... with there proof.  So Friday come and same thing I get out of my truck that I always parked in the last parking spot to get out easier...remote started my truck so it wasn't 100 degrees in there and walked up to the school and hung out in the front for about 10 minutes before bell rang.   Police  come big issue I look like a complete bad mom car seats were empty...the twins were still in the NICU    So after that drama I realized thier concern and would have done the same thing If I was jumping to conculsions and acting with out full knowledge.  The children come first..I totally agree.  So I would really make sure the child is in there and then act on it.  If she does it there she could do it other places also.

Thank you everyone, Because her son and my son have a love-hate relationship I thought it best not to approach her, blow up bigger then need be.  I talked to the head of preschool.  i feel so much better-although a little guilty that I didn't say something sooner! 

The director stated from their prespective they have to consider personal responsibility if something happens, and if she has an arrangement with the ladies at the front desk the preschool could be held responsible.  So she was happy to be made aware of the issue.