leaving children on their own?

valk_scot

Could your OH take a half day off work, perhaps?

Otherwise I'd not be keen on leaving a 9 and 10 year old alone for that length of time with no adult nearby that they could access quickly. Apart from any emergency that might arise I think the kids themselves might get a bit nervous about being left for so long. I recall first starting to leave mine when they were 13 + 8, only for an hour or so and with close neighbours that they could contact easily but even then, the kids were a bit twitchy at first. And I'm reasonably easy going about letting my kids off the leash, it wasn't that I though mine were unsafe but more that they felt insecure. Three and a half hours? It's too long for 9+10 year olds to be left, sorry.

How about a swimming pool close to your client though? The kids could go in for a swim and then get lunch at the pool cafe, if there was one. Or do you not have any friends anywhere that you could leave the kids with, or with an older teenager you could pay to babysit?

londonsurrey

moneysaymoneydo wrote: »

On the other hand if i was a neighbour that knew you had left 2 minors home alone sorry but i would be calling the police!

If I were a neighbour who knew of a nice family who were in this situation, I'd gently introduce myself to see if there was anything I could do to help.

scotnan

It's not really about how trustworthy or well behaved they are, it's more what if one of them has an accident, falls and bangs their head or chokes - unlikely yes but accidents by their nature are just that - accidents and no one can forsee them.


I understand that you are a bit strapped for cash at the moment but am wondering how much you would be able to concentrate on the meeting as I would imagine you would be worrying about your children.
Also you've mentioned that you're new to the area and don't know the neighbours yet just bear in mind that someone could see you drive off and take it upon themselves to report to whoever that the children are being left on their own (you said they're previously been on their own for an hour)
Just a thought.............


Hopefully your client will agree in allowing you to take them along with , failing that - as someone else has mentioned ....suggest that you go and collect the client and bring them to you.

Only you can make the decision for your children but for what it's worth - me personally, no I wouldn't do it.

sharnad

if they have bad accident and hurt themselves or theres a fire do they know to ring 999 or knock of a neighbour. there should be someone closer than fifteen minutes away if they manage to cut themselves/choke/a fire starts. Im sure you could find a neighbour to help

Ivrytwr3

I wouldn't leave them at that age. Also, what if YOU had an accident on the way there or way back?

I think the only sensible options are to take them with you or reschedule the appointment.

Toto

I wouldn't leave them either. I remember my mum leaving us kids, there were 6 of us from around 15 to 6. We got up to all sorts when her back was turned, she also thought we were very sensible mature kids. We were, when she was looking.

I like to think of kids as being like mini drunk people, unpredictable, prone to escape/ accidents and generally doing stupid stuff because it's funny. Never trust them further than you can spit a bus

londonsurrey

Some children at age 10 are mini mothers, some are scatterbrains who still need supervision dressing.

The OP is best placed to judge where in the spectrum her children are. Is there a library close to your meeting venue?

One thing that is a cause of dissonance for me is that this society has less problem with children spending time wandering unsupervised in a shopping mall, constantly interacting with strangers, than spending time unsupervised in their own home.

krustylouise

Hi,

I remember being left alone for lengths of time when I was that age and never did it enter my head to do something stupid or let random people in. But as people have stated all children are different, only you know your children and what is right for you all.

Spendless

I've a 9yo. I left her at Christmas time for 3.5 hrs with her then 12 3/4 yo brother. Was never my intention I'd only ever left them for an hour or so before, but this is what happens when you take someone with dementia shopping!

I have no alternative but to leave my eldest (now 13) as there is no suitable childcare here once they go to Secondary school.

As Dad is only going to be 15 mins away, can't he take responsibility for checking in on the kids and being available by text/phone call if there is no other suitable alternative.

I have twice banged on a teenager's door and offerred them a babysitting job when I've been stuck. I didn't always know teenager that well, but I did know the family.

tango

Once you ask yourself this ,let alone others you will end up in a right tiz !
We are all different, but we seem to be less able to make decisions these days without the nanny brigade making us feel bad