A mother’s defense of her decision not to return her shopping cart caused a social media backlash.
In a TikTok video, Leslie Dobson, a married mother of two, said that she did not want to get her groceries into her car and then leave her kids in the vehicle to return it.
The video, which has over 11 million views, received over 100,000 comments and 387,700 likes.
@drlesliedobson #groceryshopping #shoppingcart #traderjoes #protectourchildren #protectourkids #educational #groceries #singlemom #drleslie ♬ original sound – Dr. Leslie
Although some people were supportive of her stance, others criticized her.
One user noted that the shopping cart serves as a test of a person’s ability to govern themselves.
One user noted that it was an easy and convenient task to return a shopping cart.
Another person said that it could be done without leaving the kids unattended. The user stated that she would simply load her kids into the cart and return it.
In response to the comment, Dobson said that she wanted women to feel empowered to rely on their intuition and ignore the judgment of others.
She also stated that she has witnessed lives being destroyed due to recklessness.
On Friday, Dobson addressed the millions of people who have been reacting irrationally to her stance on returning shopping carts.
According to Dobson, 265 children were reportedly abducted in parking lots across America in 2017. Half of them were sexually assaulted.
She stated that as a single mother, she is vulnerable to being watched and grabbed by a predator as she returns her shopping cart.
A fact sheet released by Kids and Car Safety claimed that 265 vehicles were stolen in 2022 with kids inside.
The organization didn’t discuss sexual assault. However, it noted that most of the time, thieves don’t realize that a kid is inside the vehicle when they steal it.
Following her advice, Dobson shared with her viewers how they can stay safe. She advised them to always rely on their gut feeling and to trust their intuition.