I think a lot of it depends on the kids' ages & the location of the gas station. I used to live in Chicago & NEVER would've done that. Now that I'm in small town and my 10 yr old is black belt, I have left him a few times.

BUT there are 2 interstates that cross through my town, and I am careful about when & where.

I won't do it at all.  I've heard too many bad stories about cars being stolen with kids in the back.

It's just too scary for me to take that chance

and.... yes... it does depend on how old the kids are....

my youngest two are only 5 & 6

if I left my 20 year old in the car.. then that really isn't any big deal

I can't do it. I've heard too many horror stories. I saw on the news that a woman left the baby in the running car to run into the house, her husband stood in the doorway and watched the car and turned away and the car (and the baby (!) got carjacked! right out of their freaking driveaway. They found the car with the baby hours later and both were fine. but no way will i leave my kids in their.  Too scary!

I was at our casino recently and the dealer told us about a young girl he saw in a car.  He called the police and they arrested the mom.  The first thing the mom asked was for someone to save her chips, not how her daughter was.  Insane!

LOL... no matter how old he is, he is my child .... he is a man.....but he is still my child

alll in all.. I mainly referenced my two younger children who are only 5 and 6

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Gina said ...
I also have to say that referring to your 20 year old as a "child" and specifically mentioning that you would be OK leaving him/her in the car is insane to me.

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Even though I'm not a mom, there have been way too many stories of mishaps when leaving kids in the car! Just don't do this!!! I think the most horrific story I've read was about parents who forget their kid is in the back of the car and the baby dies because it was too hot outside. Believe me, the story stuck. Even though it was just an accident, I'd hate for anyone to have to live through it. 

That's just my opinion and of course, there are always different circumstances, just make sure you think twice. 

Depends. I live in a rural area. I have left mine in the car while I ran in the gas & go to grab milk or pay for the gas, if there is no line. I don't leave the car running but I lock the doors & I can see them from the huge store windows. They are 7 & 8 now but i have been doing it for a couple years.  I wouldn't do it in town but out here at the gas & go... you know everybody, they know you & its not near a main road.

Ok, I struggle with this.  I have 7 month old twins and a 3 year old that I drop off at Mom's Day Out twice a week.  It takes me less than a minute to drop him off in his class room, but it takes me 10 minutes to unload my babies into a stroller, walk everyone inside and turn around and load everyone into the car again.  Not to mention that they are usually asleep, so taking them out of the car wakes them up. 

I have left them in the car once, when it was raining and cold.  The car was right in front of the church building and it was boxed in by two other cars (which I did on purpose). I was in the building less than a minute (I ran ) and I still hated leaving them in the car.  I'm not sure if I will do it again, but I felt dragging them out in the rain would have been worse.

It really is a tough one, and sometimes there are no good options when you have more than one baby.

And to those of you who would reply "Then you should just stay home" know that most of the time I do.  And that sucks too.

Do you know any of the other parents at the drop off? Could you ask one of them to keep an eye on the car for you while you run in? Lock the doors & park close still.Or maybe get friendly with someone else with a baby & you could take turns, one stay out with the cars & one take the kids in?

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dolli-mama said ...
I have left them in the car once, when it was raining and cold.  The car was right in front of the church building and it was boxed in by two other cars (which I did on purpose). I was in the building less than a minute (I ran ) and I still hated leaving them in the car.  I'm not sure if I will do it again, but I felt dragging them out in the rain would have been worse.

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I do, and I try to keep a lookout for people to watch my car, but I still hate leaving them in there.

This is one of those parenting decisions that you make, and even though you don't like it 100%, you still make it.