widgeonwood...a farmers' viewpoint, tales, farm fresh food, recipes & "junque"...

Sally's Farm Fresh Story...Memorial Day Weekend 2017

What would you do if you noticed in the parking lot of a big box store there were three small children left in a car with the engine running?  Seriously, I would really appreciate your input on this one.

Last Saturday on the way home David decides he must go in the giant Sedalia Menard's store for on sale light bulbs.  I avoid box stores like the plague and chose to wait in the van.  David gets out and comes around to the other side of the van to tell me to observe the small children left in the car next to us and heads into the store.

Why me, Lord?  Why must I be the one to see this?  One toddler asleep in the back seat snugged up to a sleeping baby in a car seat and an older child in the front seat I perceived to be between 8 and 10.  The child in the front seat appeared to be working on pushing buttons on the dashboard of the car.  THE CAR IS RUNNING!  OMG!

Visions of the kid in the front seat taking the car out of park took precedence over my thoughts of some sicko driving off with the children, I being present to prevent the later.  I hit 911 on my phone.  The women with Sedalia police dispatch seemed to be as alarmed as I was at what I was telling her I was seeing.  She asked I describe the car and children...a newer model Cadillac and a black toddler and Caucasian baby in the back seat and a black older child in the front. (What the hell difference did it make what color these babies are?) I made it clear the ENGINE WAS RUNNING and I've been watching this scenario for over 10 minutes now.  PLEASE SEND THE POLICE!!  I will watch the kids!  While waiting for the patrol car the older child opened the door of the car and was hanging half in and half out...clearly bored and clearly thinking about his next move... I was asked to stay on the phone with dispatch and report what I was seeing.

In the interim here comes Mother of the Year...pushing a shopping cart with two five gallons buckets full of something.  I am asked by dispatch to give them a description of Mommy dearest!  Blonde, Caucasian, boobs hanging out of a too small pink tank top, braless and completing her ensemble du jour were skin tight flowered capris and flip flops.  Dispatch asked and I am if nothing observant.

The older kid saw Mommy coming quickly got back in car, slammed the door shut and hit door lock. Mommy screams for the kid in front to open the f'ing door...yes, screams.  She loads the buckets in the trunk, get in the car and started to back out just as the squad car stops her.  I do not want to see what I know is going to be a woman dragged to jail and children taken into protective custody, so I get in the van.

Within five minutes a very attractive police officer comes around to my side of the van to report he let the women go.  He wanted to know how long the children had been there and I estimated 20 minutes from the time I noticed them. Then Mr. Policeman informs me: the child was 10 and old enough to be left home alone, which I am grasping for a correlation between "home alone" and what kind of idiot would leave a 10 year old at home with a toddler and a baby, let alone in a running car?  Then he tried to describe something about no law regarding leaving children in cars in Missouri...adding it wasn't hot outside.  "You've got to be {expletive} kidding me," I say to the officer and gave him examples of all the horrible things that have happened to small children being left alone in cars and in particular...CARS THAT ARE RUNNING! What took place was clearly child endangerment!  He smiled and wandered off.

I think back to when I left my daughter Tabitha at the age of 3 with her grandmother for the day!  Mom got a call to show a house (she was a realtor) and put Tabitha in the car.  Mom started down the driveway and remembered she forgot her briefcase.  Mom said, "Tabitha, don't move, I'll be right back!"   

Tabitha stood up in the driver's seat; put the car in reverse and the car drove itself downhill through the neighbor's yard and somewhat knocks down their deck.  OMG!  Good Lord what in the hell was my Mother thinking?  Thank God my kid wasn't hurt!

Was my Mother's behavior any different than the women that left her kids in the car running, while shopping...absolutely not in my opinion!

I'll look forward to your opinions on this story, for sure!

Happy Memorial Day to one and all!  Wishing for you a restful and reflective weekend!  We'll see you Saturday!  Rain or shine!

Thanks for reading me!

~Sally Calvin