Home Alone???

kaznelson

WOW!! What a great response & thanks for all your replies, I do appreciate your comments.

I previously checked all this out on the NSPCC website and there is no law about leaving the 13 year old in charge of the younger one.

I was due to leave them alone this morning for 2 hours (they were both still in the pits) but one of their grannies turned up because she didnt like the idea!!!! So looks like I wont have to leave them alone at all!!!

I am very fortunate that I have a lot of close family around who are more than willing to help. But I do feel the below comment isn't very fair:

black-saturn wrote:

Yes and I meant have 1 day off per week for the summer holidays. I wish people would think these things through BEFORE they take jobs on.

I dont believe I have to justify myself but circumstnaces do change. Over the last 12 months my Grandfather was involved in a Car Accident and lost his brother, he is still recovering, my mother who is a nurse has needed to change shifts, my father has retired due to ill health and moved to the Lakes and due to finiancial situations my mother-in-law has needed to take a part-time job

I wonder why I didnt think of all that 5 years ago when I got my job????

black-saturn

Why not change the circumstances to fit round the childre then? Surely they should be more important than ANYTHING in the world?

liney

OP has to go to work. She need to provide for her children. Blacksaturn, your post sounds very much like baiting to me.

Does the school run a summer club the kids can go to 1 day per week? Sometimes leisure centers do. Perhaps there is a community center near by that holds activity days?

Personally I see no problem at all. Perhaps they could stay home for a couple of mornings to give grandma a break, and then it would only be 3 hours or so if you are worried about the length of time.

You are their mother, and you know them best.!!

Anastasia

Personally I wouldn't leave them. Accidents do happen and I thought you couldn't leave children under 14 home alone. I was discussing this issue with a friend and she pointed out that children being left of any age in charge of younger children need to know some first aid eg. if someone falls down the stairs, choking etc. Your daughter sounds mature and you are only 5 mins away. Making sure she knows emergency procedures would be good and having quick dial to you on the home phone. Having had a daughter who nearly choked on 2 20 pence pieces (she eventually swallowed them whilst I had her over my knee slapping her back) I am naturally cautious.

kaznelson

What a good idea about teaching the kids first aid. They have covered the basics at Brownies/Guides/Cubs etc but I've attended courses at St Johns Ambulance Center, I will enquire if if they do courses for children??

It would be so beneficial for them at anytime and not just for when the time is right to leave them home alone. Their father and I will be happy they know how to look after one of us if we ever have a nasty accident!!!!


Again I thank you for your comments, however I won't be continuing with this thread as I do not appreciate someone’s assumption that I don't put my children first.

Jay-Jay_4

kaznelson wrote:

Again I thank you for your comments, however I won't be continuing with this thread as I do not appreciate someone’s assumption that I don't put my children first.

I think that even the ones among us who are lucky enough to be stay at home Mums can appreciate that often a Mother has to work in order to pay the bills and have a decent quality of life. Some of us have the luxury of a husband to pay the bills and some feel that it's ok to stay at home on benefits whereas some have no choice in the matter and do what must be done. I think most of us realise that you do put your children first.

dora37

Jay-Jay wrote:

Some of us have the luxury of a husband

....now thats another debate in itself :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Dazzieboo

Luxury ?? !!!,looking back on my 17 years when I had a husband, nah!!, wouldn't call it luxury !!!

Quackers

black-saturn wrote:

Why not change the circumstances to fit round the childre then? Surely they should be more important than ANYTHING in the world?

Not Chocolate though?

I'm not sure I'd put my children before chocolate. Especially fruit and nut.

Or Vodka come to think of it.

ooo, now I'm thinking - there's shoes as well. i'm not sure I could put them before shoes.

Or my time on MSE. Thats far more important than talking to my children.

oooopps, nearly forgot my bed. I'd much rather sleep in on my day off and leave my kids to fend for themselves.

Its a good job my kids know how to look after themselves.........













......now where are they. I need a cup of tea making

Jay-Jay_4

Dazzieboo wrote:

Luxury ?? !!!,looking back on my 17 years when I had a husband, nah!!, wouldn't call it luxury !!!

I didn't mean that having a husband was a luxury I meant that it is a luxury to have someone, anyone, go out to work to pay the bills and provide enough money so that I can stay at home and care for my children.