Q: My 6 year old (7 in two days) stayed in my locked, not running car while I went into a store. Cops were called.
I was driving my kids home from visitation with their dad. My 6 year old who will be 7 in two days fell asleep. I'm a diabetic and noticed my blood sugar was plummeting, so I stopped at a store to grab a soda to keep my sugar up until I got home. My 5 year old came in with me, but my 6 year old opted to wait in the car. I was gone 10-15 minutes. My car was locked, and not running. When I came out, the police had been called by a bystander, the cops broke into my car, and told me I was being reported to children and youth. We are in PA, which states that children UNDER 6 cannot be left alone in a vehicle. I'm not sure what to do. I've never done this before, and I'm just getting out of an abusive relationship with my kids dad. What recourse do I have?
A: Your recourse is to wait until you're contact by your local children-and-youth department, and then cooperate with their investigation. You situation does not sound dire -- but next time bring both of your kids inside with you. They don't yet get to decide if they want to wait in the car, but your blood sugar drop may certainly explain a lapse in your parental judgment. Best of luck to you.
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