Would you leave an 11 year old in a car for a few minutes?

Zenya · March 2011

I'm seriously thinking people misread hnmommy's post. [Poll]

KoriBrett · March 2011

I was babysitting at 10-11. Unless the kid had some issues, I'm not even sure why this is a question lol

rebs · March 2011

Heck, I was babysitting at 11. I don't know what the law is about this now (if there is one???). She could leave the older one at home watching the younger one so she doesn't have to drag a sick kid in the car. Of course that would depend on how far away the school is and how responsible the 11 year old is.

august06mom · March 2011

Um, yeah, I didn't get that post at all. Seriously -- 11?!

DevonPow · March 2011

Of course. Kids ride the subway at 11 by themselves here. Of course it all depends on the kid, I get that certain 11 year olds may be too immature, but generally speaking I wouldn;t think twice about it.

Zenya · March 2011

I want the people voting no to explain why!

lsufan · March 2011

I could definitely leave an 11 year old by himself in the car for a couple of minutes, but I don't know if I'd feel comfortable leaving him in the car with a puking 5 year old. I'd probably do it anyway, given the alternative.

gracendantho26 · March 2011

This place is psychotic sometimes. I'd leave an 11 year old...a 10 year old and quite possibly even my 7 year old in that situation!

Andrewsgal · March 2011

What post did i miss?

Zenya · March 2011

knmommy's post below.

Andrewsgal · March 2011

OMG I swear the nest would call CPS on me to see what I do on a daily basis, an 11 year old is old enough to baby sit yes I would leave them in the car to watch my 4 year old.

JellymanKelly · March 2011

When I was 13, so only 2 years older than her DS, my best friend and I navigated around DC via the metro to go to the zoo, museums and monuments. In retrospect, that might have been a little young, and it's a different world now than it was then, but still. He is 11, so probably in Jr High or close to it. I'd totally leave him in the car for 5 minutes.

knmommy · March 2011

Andrewsgal:
OMG I swear the nest would call CPS on me to see what I do on a daily basis, an 11 year old is old enough to baby sit yes I would leave them in the car to watch my 4 year old.

My 11 year old is not a typical 11 year old. Per IL state law, a child has to be 13 to be left home alone. So yes, I worry about leaving my 11 alone in the car in front of the school.

Zenya · March 2011

knmommy:
Andrewsgal:
OMG I swear the nest would call CPS on me to see what I do on a daily basis, an 11 year old is old enough to baby sit yes I would leave them in the car to watch my 4 year old.
My 11 year old is not a typical 11 year old. Per IL state law, a child has to be 13 to be left home alone. So yes, I worry about leaving my 11 alone in the car in front of the school.

OK I didn't realize he had some delays. So he is developmentally younger than 11? That makes a lot more sense!

belle204 · March 2011

If I remember correctly he was shaken as a baby and *just* finished up his related therapy. So, I definitely understand the concern. A typical (for lack of a better word) 11 yr old would be ok in my eyes and even in this case I think Nathan would be ok.

knmommy · March 2011

yes, he is in 4th grade not 5th and he has some developmental delays. I will end up leaving them in the car for a minute because I can park in front of the doors. If he were a typical 11 year old, I may not even question it.

hikerbeth · March 2011

I would let my 11 year old babysit her little brother while I ran out to do something.

ELEVEN, folks.

eta: now I see the follow up. Since I don't know him, you have to use your judgment, then. Sorry.

Andrewsgal · March 2011

knmommy:

Andrewsgal:
OMG I swear the nest would call CPS on me to see what I do on a daily basis, an 11 year old is old enough to baby sit yes I would leave them in the car to watch my 4 year old.

My 11 year old is not a typical 11 year old. Per IL state law, a child has to be 13 to be left home alone. So yes, I worry about leaving my 11 alone in the car in front of the school.

I appoligize I was not meaning my comment toward you at all, i was adressing other nesties.

joseysbride · March 2011

When I responded with the suggestion to get help from another mom, the only thing that was on my mind is that her 5 year old is puking sick. I would have no problem leaving an 11 year old in the car with a 5 year old, but if she is so bad that the poster was that worried about her...what if she puked when I was in the school? I can only imagine how an 11 year old boy would respond to that! LOL.

DandelionMom · March 2011

My 10 y/o is no where near ready to babysit her siblings. There's no chance I'll leave her in a car alone even when she's 11. And especially not with a vomiting sibling.

knmommy · March 2011

DandelionMom:
My 10 y/o is no where near ready to babysit her siblings. There's no chance I'll leave her in a car alone even when she's 11. And especially not with a vomiting sibling.

Neither is my DS. I actually did leave them in the car, I happen to know the mom that pulled up behind us, while I went in, she kept an eye on the car. Luckily Allison's vomiting seemed to have subsided and she had her bucket.

august06mom · March 2011

DandelionMom:
My 10 y/o is no where near ready to babysit her siblings. There's no chance I'll leave her in a car alone even when she's 11. And especially not with a vomiting sibling.

Ehh ... but you've admitted on more than one occaision that you're a helicopter parent ....

pookie2005 · March 2011

I wouldn't let an 11 year old babysit Grace. My little SIL is 12 and she doesn't babysit for us. She might help us watch Grace at home but we wouldn't leave her and leave the house. IMO, an 11 yo still needs some supervision. I think where I live the age of being legally able to be left alone is 13. And when we take SIL places she stays with us. I would never leave her alone anywhere. If she was 17...ok. 11 or 12? No.

mikeandmonica · March 2011

I'm also a SS poster -- I think there is a difference between leaving an 11 year old in a car, in a public place and having that same kid babysit. I also babysat for the neighbors when I was 10, but looking at the 10 year olds I know today, would I let them babysit my kids? No way in h3ll. I think that the kids are just so much less mature these days (in general of course). But I also think that leaving kids in a car in a public place where everyone knows they are obviously alone is different from having an 11 year old in the house where it isn't obvious they are alone. Does that make any sense to anyone but me?

DandelionMom · March 2011

august06mom:

DandelionMom:
My 10 y/o is no where near ready to babysit her siblings. There's no chance I'll leave her in a car alone even when she's 11. And especially not with a vomiting sibling.

Ehh ... but you've admitted on more than one occaision that you're a helicopter parent ....

You say that like it is a bad thing. Stick out tongue

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