Opinion on leaving 13 yr old and 9 yr old home alone while working 9-5?

rochja

Delegating responsibility for the 9 year old to the 13 year old is using child labour. Some child labour such as paper rounds may be approved but full time work? No. I also think 22.5 hours without breaks is as near as darn it full time. Failing to make anybody responsible for the 9 year old is failure of parental responsibility. This argument applies if the 13 year old is mature enough to be left alone all this time. If not then leaving them alone would be thoroughly reprehensible. No. I would not do it.

WantToBeSE

Thanks for the opinions so far, they are all appreciated. I would never consider doing it long term, only the 6 week summer holidays.

I would leave them both a packed lunch, and snacks will be in the house, so no cooking would be involved.

LOL, no, definiteyl no parties or strip poker or hookers
Is there anyone who think it's be OK?

jackieblack

WantToBeSE wrote: »

I would never consider doing it long term, only the 6 week summer holidays.

6 weeks is a long time. Will seem even longer to children :cool:

When I was a child it felt like the summer holidays lasted for months and months .....

OrkneyStar

I'm another one who thinks it's far from ideal, in fact not really a good idea.
Without trying to make you feel guilty, ask yourself how you would feel if something happened (and lets face it something could happen, things happen even with well behaved kids, when parents ARE there!)? Perhaps the older one could be left without the younger sibling, but tbh would it mean he/she (sorry didn't catch what sex they are) was basically stuck in the house?
Is there no clubs or relatives or friends they could go to, even some of the time?
My sister now leaves her kids for a while at a time, but they are nearly 17 and 13, and she knows dad pops in some times (his hours vary) and also Granny is only a taxi ride away.
Best of luck sorting something out, it isn't easy having kids!

Gigglepig

If you have a good support network (neighbours, relatives or even a baby sitter who can check in and keep an eye) and the kids are super sensible, then maybe until lunchtime. they might be sleeping in late so most of the morning will be gone anyway? I was however very independent as a child so my answer might be coloured by that. I do think the youngest is too young for a full day though, even if you could leave work any time they called.

angelil

I would, if the 13-year-old was happy to do so. I was babysitting for much younger children than this when I was 13/14 (and this was in 1999/2000 - so hardly the dark ages). My sister was also regularly letting herself in from school and being on her own before the rest of us got in, from when she was 8 years old. I'm not sure I see a massive difference between 1 hour and the day. You are clearly providing for them.

It does of course depend on the older child - both on their maturity (though I suppose you wouldn't be considering this if you didn't think the older one was mature enough to handle it) and on whether or not they are happy to do it. You do also needs to consider what happens if the older one wants to do something with their friends one day without the younger one being around. They need to have down time too.

But yes, in essence I think it's OK and don't consider it to be a suggestion straight from Hades like some other posters here appear to think it is There's just clearly plenty of factors to consider, and you are doing that.

Nicki

WantToBeSE wrote: »

Thanks for the opinions so far, they are all appreciated. I would never consider doing it long term, only the 6 week summer holidays.

I would leave them both a packed lunch, and snacks will be in the house, so no cooking would be involved.

LOL, no, definiteyl no parties or strip poker or hookers
Is there anyone who think it's be OK?

SIX WEEKS is not long term in your opinion :eek::eek: I think that is a very very long period of time to leave any child on their own all day.

Gigervamp

So, in essence, they would be stuck in the house for all of the 6 weeks holidays?

Memory_Girl

I think it would be OK - did it myself from the age of ten and looked after other kids from 13 (Step siblings)

Mind you - there were three neighbours (older ladies) that we could go to if there was a problem and my parents were just a phone call and a five minute drive away.

One of my parents would always come home for lunch and the other worked through to come home at 4pm.

So I got up - had a cold breakfast, watched some cartoons.played in the local park,talked to my Mum at 11 am on the phone, met my parent for lunch which we made together, walked them back to work, went swimming and came home to read until 4pm when someone else came home so we could start making dinner.

TBH by the time I was fifteen I was working part-time in the local theatre too - so was responsible for all my younger siblings all day - including cooking them lunch, shopping in the afternoon and preparing dinner then handing over to my Mum at 4.30 as I headed off to work as she came in.

Worked for us as a family - cos Mum could never have afforded to work and pay for childcare all summer holiday and without her working we couldn't have survived. It wasn't "work" for me, it was taking care of my family .............

............... mind you I was a responsible sort - and a West End stage manager at 18 with a staff of 70 .................. so probably the bossy sort as well. But I was totally independent from 16 and contributing to the household as well as studying.

If our kids here can vote for the future of their country at 16 and join the army and get married ........ surely we need to start giving them some responsibility sooner rather than later.

So my vote would be 13 year old totally fine - 9 year old maybe needs some more input from you like my folks did - lunch and calls at certain times. But as others have said - you know your kids best.

MG


Sheesh!! I've just read that and I sound so darn ancient - I am 44 honestly it was not that long ago. :-)

paulofessex

Some areas have activities for kids during the school holiday, may be worth checking with your local education authority. Hopefully your employer would enable you to be a little flexible for the 6 week period.