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

WantToBeSE

Hi everyone. Thanks very much for all of your opinions, it seem to be the general consensus that it's not an acceptable thing to do.
The reason i have asked is that i live in an area where there is no full time provision for childcare in my town, and i am wondering how i will cope in the summer holidays when i start full time work.

I don't have any family nearby (they all live at least 250miles away), and all of my friends work full time, so couldn't help out.
I don't understand how i am going to manage it...

This_Year

securityguy wrote: »

The neighbour would, I'd hope, decline the honour. It would mean that the neighbour is tied to the house 35 hours a week as well, because what would happen (and how would they feel) if they went out to the shops and then something happened in your house?

8:30-1 isn't 35 hours a week.

When my DD was that age we had an arrangement with a neighbour for just that.

shop-to-drop

How come you both have to work through the summer break?

sulkisu

WantToBeSE wrote: »

Hi everyone. Thanks very much for all of your opinions, it seem to be the general consensus that it's not an acceptable thing to do.
The reason i have asked is that i live in an area where there is no full time provision for childcare in my town, and i am wondering how i will cope in the summer holidays when i start full time work.

I don't have any family nearby (they all live at least 250miles away), and all of my friends work full time, so couldn't help out.
I don't understand how i am going to manage it...

Can you delay starting work full-time until after the holidays?

WantToBeSE

i am a single parent, so there isn't a partner to help out.

Yeah, i think i am going to have to wait until after the summer holidays, which is very annoying. I will just have to apply for part time for the time being.

shop-to-drop

Oh so you are just starting full time work. Can you not say you have two weeks holiday booked in August? New employers normally honour existing holidays.

pigpen

WantToBeSE wrote: »

Hi everyone. Thanks very much for all of your opinions, it seem to be the general consensus that it's not an acceptable thing to do.
The reason i have asked is that i live in an area where there is no full time provision for childcare in my town, and i am wondering how i will cope in the summer holidays when i start full time work.

I don't have any family nearby (they all live at least 250miles away), and all of my friends work full time, so couldn't help out.
I don't understand how i am going to manage it...

Could the children not spend a couple of weeks with extended family? Take them over one weekend and pick them up the next??

Would a friend from schools parents have them couple of days a week?

Delay your start date giving you a year to sort something for next summer well in advance.??

If your friends all work FT what do they do with their children??

merlot123

Personally I wouldn't never leave a 9 year old for longer than a hour or so. It's just too young.

It's not just the summer you need to think about but all the other school holidays too.

Do you have a partner who you could share time off during the holidays with? You could then have 8 weeks of the school holidays covered in a year, not ideal as you won't get a holiday together, but needs must.

Edit, just seen you are a single parent, you have 4 weeks of the annual school holidays covered, could you not get together with another mum and arrange to share the childcare of the school holidays.

Goldiegirl

When I was 13, I was left 'home alone' for mornings only when my mum got a part time job, and frankly I loved it. It felt great that I was deemed adult enough and responsible enough to be left alone, and I would have been quite happy if my mum had been working full time.

However, if I needed to, I could have gone to either of the next door neighbours for help, or to my friends mum over the road. I never needed to get any assistance though. It was in a different era, so I had my front door key and I was free to come and go as I pleased, and have friends in if I wanted.

Therefore, if it was just the 13 year old, depending on the 13 year old, I would say it would be fine, but in this case, it wouldn't be fair on the older one to look after the 9 year old for all that time.

If the return to full time work can be delayed it would probably be best, then you'll have another year to make summer holiday arrangements, and the children will be that much older too

FBaby

Is your job in the same town you live in? Could they have clubs for the 9 year old where you work or on its way? Also, if you do have family that could look after them for a week, could you take them for a week-end and pick them up the next?

Also, have you thought of asking your youngest school what other full-time working parents do? They be aware of clubs/camps you are not aware of. I found out that my DD secondary school were offering a week camp for primary school children at a very good price, only because she goes there. Best place to start actually is your local council. They also distribute magazines in my town with details of clubs. The local museum do classes etc... I know it isn't easy when it is only for a few hours a day, but if your eldest could take your youngest (or go too), at least it would break their day?