Tis the season to not have to watch your kids?

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

I posted a story on here probably about a year ago about a mom who dropped her boy off at my games store then had the nerve to rip ME a new one when her darling child wandered off to another store.

I really wish I could have slapped that woman silly.

[Pagan]

2-3 Weeks Ago:

I went into work (seasonal worker at the big, red, almost bankrupt electronics store) at 11am....

Well, about an hour or so later he comes up to me wondering where the computer games are....

After another hour I go to one of my mangers and tell them about the kid. I'm told not to worry about it. I got off my shift at 6pm that day and the kid was still there. I felt sorry for him. He looked really lonely.

Seriously, regardless of what the manger said, I would've been calling the cops. If the manger knew something you didn't, s/he should have told you.

Actually, I'm almost positive that they were in the same store- she let him stay in the toy department of a large store while she shopped in another department.

Message is the same though- it's not safe to leave your kids unattended while shopping.

No, they were both in Sear's, a few aisles from each other. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Adam_Walsh

And you've got to remember, the late 70s-early 80s were a different time. Things were a lot less paranoid then. I hate to say it, but the world was less dangerous than it is now. At least now they know who did it.

Still, though, I don't know how many times I've been in Wally World or at the mall as seen some toddler and you can't figure out who the hell they belong to.

[Gravekeeper]

And you've got to remember, the late 70s-early 80s were a different time. Things were a lot less paranoid then. I hate to say it, but the world was less dangerous than it is now. At least now they know who did it.

Honestly, its not that the world is more dangerous ( Statistically it really isn't ), its that we hear about every horrible thing that happens for months on end thanks to the global village effect and the 24 news cycle. There might only be 3 or 4 kidnappings, etc a year, but you'll hear about it on the news for 3 months straight than they do a cycle of "how to protect yourself/child/etc" crap for another month or so. Just in time to tide them over till the next heinous crime. ><

I was only allowed to wander at one mall as a kid ( 7 or 8 I think ). Because my mom was the main desk/switch board there, the owner was a good family friend and the security guards knew me by name. I had to come to my mom's workplace after school for a couple hours till she got off work since she was a single parent. Usually I was able to just hang around in the back though I was permitted to wander to nearby shops since everyone knew who I was. >.>

I know that sounds cringe worthy to a lot of you , hehe. But this was the 80's and as I said, a family friend *owned* the entire mall so everyone kept an eye on me though I wasn't far from my mom's desk.

[Chromatix]

Around here, I'm perennially surprised to see that children who are just old enough to be starting school, are allowed to walk themselves to and from it. Often, they'll go to a shop on the way.

Bear in mind, though, that school starts at age 7 here, and Finns are *very* good at raising children properly.

[rerant]

My mom and I were in Zellers (like Target, only Canadian) and there were three kids all under the age of 10 running around like maniacs.
I think my mom said it best when she said, "You know, all it takes is one person and those kids are going to end up on the side of a milk carton. And then I bet the asshole parents will blame the store. I wish I had the power to sterilize people."

[Gwen_Goth]

gods even if there were other kids in the store, i still would never leave my child unattended. It's never safe anymore, and such a pity lets never forget the Jamie Bulger case

[PepperElf]

personally... i'd say a nice sign on the door could be fun....

"No unaccompanied children below the age of X. Police will be called. No exceptions."

Then enforce it.

and when it happens... even if they complain to corporate, it won't erase the police report

[depechemodefan]

People leave their kids at the library, or else, the kids leave school at 3 or 4 and spend time at the library until mommy or daddy gets home.

There was the M.S. next to the library I was working at in 2007. Bunch of 11-13 year olds there after school. There was this one guy who claimed to be 18, just so he could use our meeting room for a party for s ome kids from the school. There is so many levels of to that.

One day I see him making out with a M.S. student, who can't be more than 14 years old. I think our state law will give some leeway for a 18 year old having relations with a 17 year old, but if he really was 18, I really wouldn't want him making out with a M.S. student in my vision. I was all for finding out who her parents were and tell them. But the manager was pretty spineless.

[PepperElf]

screw asking the manager. just call the cops. in some states age 14 and younger... it's statutory rape.
besides, if it was a relationship he was legally allowed to engage in, he wouldn't be sneaking around to get it on with her.

actually someone i know had something similar happen. the girl is only ... 15 or 16 i think and the guy who wants to date her is at least 18 or 19. the parents said hell no. and if he tries to come around he'll go to jail. (oh yeah did i mention the parents are cops? so you know they'll do it too)

as for the OP
and im reminded of a woman i met once... on three occasions (including a military base exchange) someone tried to steal her son. so yeah watch the kids

[taxguykarl]

I have been asked several times to watch kids while Mommy and/or Daddy sped home for that missing document. I can't count how many times I refused to babysit. This is a tax office, we have a television (broadcast not cable) that it. Moreover, we do not have the training or insurance for this. Yes, I have had to tell that to some SC's.

[Lace Neil Singer]

The sign I put in the pet centre was "This is not a creche. Please don't leave children in the pet store." The sign I WANTED to put up, but was vetoed by management, was "If you're going to treat me as a babysitter, then you have to pay the going rate."

[Mike Taylor]

I used to work for a toy store called Zany Brainy.

So you were a victim of Jerry Welch, too, eh?

I worked for ZB's former sister chain, FAO Schwarz at the old Chicago store.

We used to be a "drop off point" for parents, too. Many is the time when DCFS (Department of Child and Family Services) and Chicago PD had to be called. Our store did not screw around with that sort of thing. Pissed off parents would suddenly become very meek in front of a large, angry policeman.

And courtesy of Jennie Breeden, we have this...

[Mike Taylor]

I remember that store. They had some cool stuff and I was pretty bummed when they went under.

Not to side track the conversation, but that's what happens when your corporate heads consistently make stupid business decisions. There were a lot of us who were let go when FAO/Zany Brainy/Right Start went under.

[draftermatt]

From the age of about 10 on I was allowed to walk from my house to the library (1 mile there, 1 mile back) and I was allowed to walk the mall by myself, or with my sister (who is younger) and we knew to meet Mom or Dad at x time at x door.

They never dropped me off, and I was never abandoned.

Now if I worked at a store and I saw the parents drop a kid off I would call store or mall security and let them handle it.

But if a kid just wandered in, he may not be "abandoned" he could just be mature for his age, and his parents trust him (not using he to be sexist, just easier to type).

In that case I'd ask the kid if his parents knew where he was, and then gauge the situation.

Granted, I think things are different from when I was a kid (especially in the town where I grew up) and I probably won't let my kids (or kids in my care) have the freedom to roam the way I did, but not every kid that's alone in a store has been abandoned.

Maybe the parents need a scare, and sure I'd feel bad if a kid who wandered into my store was abducted, but not every case requires police intervention.

I admire you folks who do this everyday, I know I couldn't do it.

[Lace Neil Singer]

I used to always hang around the library as a kid; then again, I lived in a village and the librarian knew my parents well so it didn't matter.