So I’m leaving the bank. It’s pouring outside and as I step into the parking lot to find my car I see a 6 year old boy wandering in the parking lot aimlessly. I asked him where his mom was and he said; “I think she’s in one of these stores.” He looked lost, confused and hesitant to talk to me but the mom in me took over as I asked him if it would be ok if I helped him find her. He reluctantly agreed.

I checked the bank first and luckily, there was his mom. What was the first thing she said to him? “Why did you leave the car? I told you to stay there!”

Now, I rarely judge other parents and I’m far from perfect myself but this one really got me. I guess it’s because I saw firsthand, a scared, little boy who could have so easily been abducted or hurt. As he went with me to find his mom a sickening thought came to mind. “Look how easily he went with me, what if I were crazy myself?”

Moms, please listen. I’m just like you and throughout the years, I’ve had thousands of errands to run with my 4 kids. Not one time did I leave them in the car in the hopes of saving a few minutes to get more done. Was it more difficult? Did my errands take longer? Did my kids give me a hard time? You bet. But…were they safe? Did I know where they were and did I need a break after we were done because of how challenging it was to disrupt 4 young kids who only wanted to stay home and play? Definitely.

Looking back, I could have made some very different choices. I could have waited for help so I could get my errands done more easily without the kids. I could have done less, scheduled my time differently, etc. But would I change the fact that I never left them alone in the car while I raced in to get a quick errand done? Never.

I’ve seen babies left to sleep in cars on a hot summer day. I’ve seen kids left in a car in a crowded parking lot with the windows open enough for them to jump out or be taken out by a stranger. I’ve seen kids fist fighting in cars, dangerously close to crashing through the front window and today, I saw a little boy, walking through a parking lot with the rain pouring on him, alone and wondering where his mom was.

Being a parent is a huge responsibility and not one to take lightly. I’d rather have my kids angry with me than not have them safe. I’d rather deal with the discomfort and hassle that comes with packing and unpacking little ones in and out of car seats than feel more accomplished because I got more done. Finally, I’d rather have them all complaining about how annoying it is…then not have them around to complain at all.