Would you do this?

May14th2011 · #1 December 26th, 2011, 06:44 PM

So, a very recent event has me wondering.

A 7yr old boy I know was acting bad all day today. Finally, as his mother was putting them in the car to leave their grandmother's house, he "stole" his water bottle (after he'd been told not to touch it until she got back) and she reached the end of her rope and made him get out of the car and she drove off without him.
He was right in front of his grandma's house, so he went inside, crying. Grandma intervened, called her daughter and made her come back. While they were waiting, grandma had a long talk with him about why this happened and how he needs to behave better.

Would you drive off and leave your kid? I'm not sure that she did it so much as a way to teach him, but more of that really was angry with him.
I personally, don't know if I would. I realize that there need to be consequences for bad behavior, but I don't know that I'd drive off and do that. For a 7 yr old, that's REALLY scary, even when he's right at Grandma's house, it's probably more than terrifying.

Thoughts?

fromGirltoMommy · #2 December 26th, 2011, 07:06 PM

Noo I most definitely would NOT ever do that! Never.

SammyJ · #3 December 27th, 2011, 07:56 AM

No way! That sounds more traumatic on a child that young than anything else. It doesn't seem like a kid that young would even be able to learn right from wrong in a situation like that. I also agree that her actions could have had worse consequences. I mean, the kid could have just gotten really upset and decided to run after her instead of going back inside to his grandma's house. He might have gotten lost or worse. I realize being upset with your kid after a long day can be incredibly frustrating, but honestly driving off and leaving your child over a waterbottle?? Really?? Overreacting much?

Shades of Grey · #4 December 27th, 2011, 09:10 AM

I understand how one little seemingly insignificant thing a kid does can be your breaking point. However, I wouldnt do that. If anything, Id have brought him to the door, (spoken to the grandma) and THEN driven around a few blocks to cool down, then returned. I would have told the child that he needs to sit and talk to her about his behavior while I was gone. I wouldnt have done anything without talking about it. Greyson and I talk EVERYTHING out. I feel for this mom... its hard sometimes to balance your frustration, patience, and a child pushing all the right buttons. I think she just had a bad day... I'd bet she feels awful about it too.

Babybear4 · #5 December 27th, 2011, 09:23 AM

No.

Irish_Wristwatch · #6 December 27th, 2011, 10:23 AM

No, I wouldnt drive off and leave my child. If i really needed a moment alone I would walk the child back into the house and ask grandma to watch him while i took a drive/walk alone

bellabri287 · #7 December 27th, 2011, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shades of Grey

I understand how one little seemingly insignificant thing a kid does can be your breaking point. However, I wouldnt do that. If anything, Id have brought him to the door, (spoken to the grandma) and THEN driven around a few blocks to cool down, then returned. I would have told the child that he needs to sit and talk to her about his behavior while I was gone. I wouldnt have done anything without talking about it. Greyson and I talk EVERYTHING out. I feel for this mom... its hard sometimes to balance your frustration, patience, and a child pushing all the right buttons. I think she just had a bad day... I'd bet she feels awful about it too.

This! Just driving away and leaving him... could have ended badly. She should have told Grandma she needed a little break before taking off.

cocosmumNco · #8 December 27th, 2011, 01:19 PM

no definately not thats terriable. how had he been acting bad? if it was his water bottle how could he steal it?

May14th2011 · #9 December 28th, 2011, 09:54 AM

He had been told not to touch it, and he took it without asking. The problem was, he had been disobeying ALL day and she finally got frustrated enough that she told him to go back inside with his grandma and she was leaving.

cocosmumNco · #10 December 28th, 2011, 11:17 AM

i don't know how the day went but sometimes when kids just here no all the time it starts to have less affect and also he could of been bored and playing up because of it.

proudlymommy · #11 December 28th, 2011, 01:21 PM

I don't think I would but not being in the situation it's hard to say. I think the good thing is that she took a few minutes to cool off but I agree with a previous poster that taking him to Grandmas door first probably would have been the smarter thing to do.

mrs.klynn · #12 December 30th, 2011, 11:34 AM

ummm NO I wouldn't drive off on my child. My goodness. *shakes head* I really don't understand some parents thought process when it comes to handling their children. With that said, I just spent christmas with my family including my sister and her 3 sons, the oldest being 5 who has NO understanding whatsoever of the word NO. He pretty much does whatever, whenever, wherever, to whoever he wants and has no consequences. Drove me batty. At one point my sister almost started crying she was so frustrated and I flat out told her, "you just told him no, repeatedly, and he mocked you and didn't listen, yet you did nothing about it. there's no consequences for his actions. so until you learn to discipline and teach your child who is in charge, he's gonna continue to behave like this'. She didn't like what i had to say, but it's the truth. Teach your kid from an early age, and maybe you won't be left feeling tempted to leave them standing there as you hit the gas and drive off.

Steph604 · #13 December 30th, 2011, 02:22 PM

No I wouldnt just drive off and leave my child. Maybe like some pp I would have taken him in the house first and then gone outside to have a time out myself if I was feeling that frustrated.

LadyGamer · #14 December 30th, 2011, 03:47 PM

My parents did that to me once, but i was left home, locked out

plan4fate · #15 December 30th, 2011, 04:31 PM

It's been done to me too. Left at my grandmother's because I was being ugly with my mother. I didn't even knock on her door, just sat on her back step because I knew she'd give me hell for being naughty.

I learned my lesson too.

So ya, I'd probably do it. But I'd probably have called the house to let them know, rather than let the child go back inside by themselves.

Trish36 · #16 December 31st, 2011, 04:17 PM

I would never leave a child on the street, even if it was outside of someone's house, no matter how angry I was. You just never know what could happen. It only takes 1 second for the kid to wander off or for another car to drive up and grab him/her. That just gives me nightmares.
I have threatened and 'pretended' to leave my DS with my parents when he was little. But he was in their house and just didn't want to get ready to leave so I would say okay that's fine you stay here and I'll leave. that's all it took.