Really, lady?!
 |
| Photo from craptasticmommy.com |
A: You shouldn't be smoking around your infant
B: Your child is more important than your nicotine fix.
I gave her my best stink eye as I drove by thinking about the dangers of second hand smoke, the potential harm she was causing her child, and whether or not it was grounds for calling CPS...?
Unfortunately, this Marlboro Mommy is not the only careless parent I have ever seen. She actually reminded me of another incident I witnessed this past Fall.
It was a mild, but sunny day in late October. I was leaving Subway struggling to find my keys in my ginormous purse and balance my drink. I glanced at the truck parked next to me with, the back window tinted and the rest rolled up all the way. I saw a small dog bouncing around in the cab, what a jerk! Who leaves their dog in the car with all of the windows rolled up on a sunny day? I couldn't believe my eyes as I focused my eyes on the car seat with a tiny, sleeping, human BABY!!! I panicked.
 |
| Photo from adamgoldfein.com |
I looked around to see if I could find the owner of the car. I didn't see anyone obvious so I just stood there staring at the car, hoping someone would notice that I had noticed their negligence. After a few minutes I got in my car to see if I was overreacting to the temperature; no, thought it wasn't hot out the car was definitely warm from the sunshine.
I figured the irresponsible parent must be in Subway so I just stared at everyone in line and kept staring back at the truck. As I prepared to get out of my car and go make a huge scene in Subway/call the police, a man who looked like he was in the beginning stages of a meth addiction, came out staring at me like I was the one in the wrong! He and I stared at each other long and hard as he sat in the truck with the door propped open. Finally satisfied that at least he had noticed his child, I drove away.
 |
| Picture from myinnershakti.com |
I'm not entirely sure why, but I began to cry hysterically on my way home. I sat in my driveway and called the person I usually call when I'm feeling conflicted, my mom (don't judge me, you probably do too!)
I felt like I coward, completely spineless. How could I have just driven away without saying anything to this man about him being such an idiot?! Didn't he know that children, especially infants, die of heat stroke? Didn't he care? What would have happened if I had confronted him? Was the baby still sitting there? Why didn't I get his license plate number to report him? I rambled on hysterically for a few minutes as my mom tried to calm me down. Sensing that I wasn't going to be satisfied until I knew the baby was no longer sitting in a warm car, she told me to go back and see. If it was, she told me NOT confront the idiot but to simply call the police (one never knows how someone is going to react, especially when you challenge their parenting skills, or lack thereof). I sped back to Subway. The truck, the baby, and the idiot were gone.
It still makes me physically ill to think about the possibilities of what could have happened if he decided to sit down and have his sandwich inside or I hadn't stared him down long enough to make him come out to the truck. I'm still mad at my cowardess, but I unfortunately can't take it back all I can do is hope that he learned, the baby is ok, and that if it happens again the person who see it will report him.
Now, I try not to pass too much judgement on those I don't truly understand, but in the case of bad parenting, I can't help it! Parents are supposed to be responsible for caring for their children and putting their needs above their own. I feel like if I, as a childless 24 year old, can tell that something is wrong, they should be able to also.
Finally, though not a smoker, I can empathize with the fact that it's probably a difficult habit to kick, but if you're going to smoke as a parent, you shouldn't be anywhere near your child! Secondly, I do have two younger nephews, and a handful of young cousins so I understand that waking up a sleeping baby is not ideal. However, if you can't wait until after your baby is done napping to get food, at least go to a place with curbside take out so you don't have to leave your infant in the car!
I would tell bad parents that they should not be allowed out in public, but I'd really rather they are out where I can see them.
 |
| Picture from rehobothwatch.com |
I will say this, "Next time I will not hesitate for an instant to call the police if I see you endangering or neglecting your child!"
Disturbing.
ReplyDelete