Ok to leave daughters overnight?

Dick_here

sarymclary wrote: »

As for the person who goes running at night while her kids are home alone: break a leg!

Well said :T

Read the Trying to Conceive forum. Many of those people would do anything to have kids to look after, not dump them at SEVEN and THREE years old home alone asap while you selfishly go out for a run. The easier you find it to have kids the less you look after them, as a general rule of thumb. Life isn't fair.

silvercar

!!!!!!_here wrote: »

Well said :T

Read the Trying to Conceive forum. Many of those people would do anything to have kids to look after, not dump them at SEVEN and THREE years old home alone asap while you selfishly go out for a run. The easier you find it to have kids the less you look after them, as a general rule of thumb. Life isn't fair.

I totally agree that it is inappropriate to leave young children alone in the house. Although the risk to the children is unchanged, I find it more offensive to do so for ones own selfish needs, rather than in an emergency or more necessary situation.

The issue of others fertility problems is completely unrelated. I find it offensive that you can generalise that just because people fall pregnant easily they care less for their kids. My children are loved, cared for and well looked after, the fact that I fell pregnant easily is irrelevant.

bestpud

Thank you once again for all of your replies - it has been very helpful.

Ebaybaby - my job is not more important than my children, no. I am weighing up all of the options and this is one of them. I thought I may be out of order for thinking about it but this thread has confirmed I am not the only person who would not rule it out automatically.

As for the world being more dangerous these days, there is a myriad of possible reasons for the 'increased' crime rate, but believe me, there were some very bad people about in the 70s, when we could supposedly leave our backdoors open, and children wandered freely and without a care in the world! Personally, I would say we are more aware of crime today and (perhaps) more is reported, but is a bad person more dangerous just because we know they exist??

I can say, as someone living the effects of crime, I do not feel the need to wrap my children in cotton wool. I would like to sometimes, but in reality, they have to learn to assess, and act on, risk for themselves. As parents, we are responsible for keeping them safe, but while also teaching them to keep themselves safe. It is not an easy task, but it is an essential one, and I feel I'd be failing my children if I wrapped them up because the minority out there may do them some harm.

ScoobieGirl - she would not pop to the shops as there are none open at that time of night around here. She'd have to walk about three miles, even if she were that irresponsible, and I don't think she is.

sarymclary - I wouldn't leave them if I were going to be 150 miles away either! We would come home if either were ill and would not go in the first place if we thought it likely. I'm not really sure why medical emergencies are more of a risk in the middle of the night? When they are awake they can fall, choke etc but in bed it is only illness so there is less chance of emergency action being required imo. DD would be more likely to call us needlessly than call late, or not call at all.

pickle - I guess that is always a risk - even when we are here.


Anyway, thank you all again for your replies.

I am pleased to say we have actually sorted something else out. DH is going to work days and I have arranged to change my hours slightly, to fit with his new hours. So there is no need for them to be alone at night - just an hour or so one morning a week.

I feel much happier now, I can tell you. I wasn't completely convinced it was a good move so I'm glad we don't have to face that decision now.

:beer: