I just had to go rescue my kids from the cops....

[Ghost in the Machine]

ok, so I'm at work and get a call from my 14 year old daughter who was in tears and hysterical. I had let her and my son go with the neighbors to go to the skating rink and to the movies.

Unbeknownst to me, said neighbors (they are my age, never had kids) had been drinking. Apparently they were being loud and a little obnoxious, and the woman could hardly walk without falling down. When the skating rink manager noticed them fixing to leave with the kids he called the cops because he didn't want to see them get in a vehicle and drive with the kids in the car. Cops came, checked the situation out, and arrested both of them for public intoxication. The cops stayed there with my kids until I arrived to pick them up. My first question to the officer was "is there any way to slap a child endangerment charge on them"? He said they would if they could, but since they didn't actually see them driving with the kids that they couldn't do it.

This just helps reaffirm my belief that some people are like slinkies...


Ghost

[auntAgonist]

1. thank gods the rink manager was observant.

I'm SO glad your children are safe.


:hug:

aA

[Ghost in the Machine]

2. Yes, I hate to think what *could* have happened

It's been raining all day, the roads are wet and nasty, and it's foggy out.

I work 12 - 16 hours a day, 7 days a week.. I own a restaurant and have to be there. I guess it just goes to show... we can never be too careful about who our kids go off with. I'm thankful to the manager also.

:hi:

Ghost

[auntAgonist]

3. and ...

give your kids a HUGE :hug: tonight.

I'd have a hard time being nice to those people when they sober up though.

aA

[Ghost in the Machine]

10. for me, niceness has gone out the window with the neighbors

and the kids have been told to stay away from them from now on... period.

[carly denise pt deux]

4. thank goodness the rink manager cared enough to call the police

He deserves a big thank you. I would be pretty leery about the neighbors taking the kids again.
Carly

[Ghost in the Machine]

11. Thanks Carly... and welcome to DU

:hi:

The manager got a big thanks from me yesterday. Today I'm gonna drop off a couple gift certificates for a free dinner at my restaurant.

The kids have already been told "don't even think about asking if it's ok to go off with them ever again"!

:hi:

Ghost

[BikeWriter]

5. Damn, that sucks!

[Ghost in the Machine]

12. Yep, it does... especially for the kids..... n/t

[Scarlett17]

6. I can't even imagine your drive to the skating rink.

Talk about a roller coaster: terrified, grateful, furious. My husband says I'm too protective, but you just never know. Better safe than sorry. I don't know how I could continue to even deal with those neighbors. Huge props to the skating rink manager. How are your kids doing? They must have been scared to death. What a drama. I'm sorry, but I'm so glad it turned out well.

:grouphug:

[Ghost in the Machine]

13. Yes, it was quite a roller coaster...

but honestly, my worst thought was if the cops had left the kids there by themselves once the couple had been arrested. I was relieved to see them still there with the kids when I got there. The kids are doing good, though. My daughter is very sensitive, and it tore her up. My son though, he kept his head (he's 13).. his biggest fear was he didn't want the cops to have to take them home... didn't want to ride in the back of the cruiser and pull up at the house where other neighbors would see him.

Welcome to DU, Scarlett :hi:

Ghost

[Scarlett17]

22. Thank you, good to be here

I bet your son had some stories to tell at school today. I have a 12 year old girl and an 11 year old boy, and my boy would recount it like an episode of CSI. My daughter, of course, would be mortified (as all tween girls are, all the time). :eyes:

[skygazer]

7. Oh my god, I had that happen once

Except the people did leave and drive home with my kids - I was livid and I had to restrain my husband from doing something that just would have gotten him in trouble.

I'm so glad the rink manager had the presence of mind to do what he did. Nothing worse than seeing your kids at risk. :hug:

[Ghost in the Machine]

14. self restraint is one of my downfalls... I hardly have any...

It's gonna be hard for me not to go kick their asses today... but getting myself locked up won't help the situation either.

Maybe some sort of civil suit? Hit them where it hurts... in the bank account!

:hi:

Ghost

[SeattleGirl]

8. Ghost, I'm so thankful that your children are all right.

Shame, shame on those two for drinking and driving, especially with children in the car! :grr:

And kudos to the manager for calling the cops on them, and for keeping your children safe! :hug:

[Ghost in the Machine]

15. Thank you!

Back in my drinking days, I've been guilty of driving drunk more times than I care to admit... but never with my kids, or anyone else's, in the car.

Ghost

[LynzM]

9. Ah dude, that sucks. I'm so glad your kids are ok.

I would want to kick the asses of those neighbors, like crazy. Holy shit. Thank god the rink manager was so observant and was dedicated enough to call the cops. Wow. :hug:

[Ghost in the Machine]

16. Thanks Lynz.... yeah it does suck

But fortunately everything turned out alright and the kids were kept safe. The rink manager has a couple free meals coming from me at my restaurant to show my appreciation.

:hug:

Ghost

[Midlodemocrat]

17. Wow. Talk about dodging a bullet.

That skating rink manager deserves a promotion and a raise.

[Deep13]

18. Suggestions on losing someones trust forever:

Agree to be responsible for your neighbor's children. Take them on a DUI adventure ride.

Start a war by lying to the county.

[Connonym]

19. Yikes! That is scary

It makes me think that I need to have a discussion with my kids (10 and 13) about using personal judgement about taking rides with their friends' parents.

[havocmom]

20. Write to the company that owns the rink and congratulate them

for having such a fine, concerned, and wise employee.

Get the gentleman who called the cops (and possibly saved your kids from who knows what) a gift certificate to a local restaurant or some little thing to show your appreciation.

Kiss your kids on the tops of their heads and say a silent thank you that they are safe.

[Nickster]

21. Absolutely! Encourage that kind of behavior. Too many people would just turn away and not think

twice about letting the kids go. At least send a nice thank you note.