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LGBT Parenting
PCP/TTC/ATP Wednesday with QOTD
Updates? Fun stories?
QOTD: We were just discussing this on the way to work. At what age would you leave a kid home alone? Of course it depends on sibs and age, what kind of kid(s) you have, etc. Also, do you remember what your parents did in terms of you and sibs if any?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: PCP/TTC/ATP Wednesday with QOTD
Nothing exciting going on here. Kids are liking first grade and are seemingly doing really well given the work that came home yesterday and their streak of good behavior awards. Plus, they are really enjoying soccer. YAY!
QOTD: funny you should bring this up since I JUST had someone bring a pamphlet into my office stating that you have to be at least 8y to be home alone in Maryland (they were flabbergasted it was so young.) I really have no idea. It is going to depend on how much they mature, how dependable they are, how they are when they are left alone together, etc. Maybe 11y? 6th grade for a short bit of time.
I started being a latchkey kid in kindergarten for about 15m before my mom got home. I remember not going into the house (I had a key) because I was scared and sitting on the deck waiting. But starting in 2nd grade (7y) I was hope for at least an hour before my mom got home from work. But I was babysitting regularly (in other people's homes) by 11y, so I was definitely home alone.
It is just a different time now. Plus, I was a mature/responsible kid and we lived in an uber safe gated community where we knew all of our neighbors very well.) We were just discussing when we would let the kids go to the playground across the street from our house alone. Not yet!
Status: Good week this week. Sprout seems to be doing really well in 1st grade (our parent teacher conference is tomorrow so we will see for sure...) and RB is loving preschool. This week's project is getting her off of the sippy cup. Technically we told her she has to be off by 3, but its driving me crazy. I'm hoping today is the day. Daisy is using the toilet a lot more these days! She's transitioned to a pull-up rather than diapers and I'm giddy at the end in sight!!
QOTD: I dont know. Like 2brides I was home alone afterschool in K but things will be very different for my children. Lets just say it'll be a while.
Blogs: Our Growing Family - CT Working Moms
Iz is being Iz and we seem to have found a groove.
Owl's development is exploding; her motor skills have improved, she has developed a very good attachment to me, her sassy 2 year old is coming out, she is signing a lot and is testing speech/vocalizations more often.
Apple loves to have babbling conversations, it's adorable. She still alternates between crawling and walking but prefers walking most of the time.
QOTD: Honestly, I don't know. I have a lot of trust in A but I also know what I was like as a teen and I'm not comfortable with the thought of her doing the things I did. As it stands with Iz, there is no trust and she will never stay home alone if that doesn't change. I will have to wait and see with the babies.
Two Mommies Healing Hearts
Nothing new right now. All testing and follow up has come back fine so we are resting much easier. My official a/s is scheduled for next week so we will have more updates then. I am starting to feel this pregnancy in my back and feel so I am just trying not to over due it.
QOTD - This is something we have discussed. In our state you must be 9 years old to be home alone for more than an hour or 12 years old to be home alone with younger siblings. I remember being home alone for small windows like when my mom went grocery shopping when I was around 9 to 10 but I had two younger siblings that are way younger than me. I wasn't left home alone with them until I was in my teens and they were at least 5. I will say my parents rarely left us home alone until we were much older as my mom was pretty much always around (she was a teacher so home when we were).
For us to leave these two alone I think it will depend on maturity, how long etc. I definitely think it will probably be around 11 or 12 for longer periods and we may do 9 to 10 for short trips like to the store or to pick up dinner etc. Again all hypothetical as they are still baking.
06/12 - BFP!!!!
Beta #1 15dpo - 256
Beta #2 18dpo - 1097
6wk U/S on 07/02 ~ TWINS!!!
EDD 02/21/13
09/10/12 Found out it's two Boys!!!! Sam and Jake
Jacob and Samuel born 1/29/13 at 36 weeks.
I'm so happy to hear this!
AMH 0.5, AFC 5-8, FSH 7ish
IVF #1 - antagonist. Empty follicle syndrome. 1 retrieved, 0 fertilized.
IVF #2 - antagonist. Ovulated early. 3 retrieved, 2 fertilized, 0 blasts
TTC: RE appointment set for November 14th. I'm frustrated there was a 7 week wait to get in, but we'll continue home insems until then. Insemination #6 this weekend.
QOTD: I think it really depends on the kid. 8 sounds about right for short times with a responsible kid. Carolyn grew up in Europe where it's very common for young kids (6, 7, 8) to take public transportation alone and be left home alone, and we both were latchkey kids around 8. Maybe we'll change our minds once we're parents, especially if we still live in the city.
AMH 0.5, AFC 5-8, FSH 7ish
IVF #1 - antagonist. Empty follicle syndrome. 1 retrieved, 0 fertilized.
IVF #2 - antagonist. Ovulated early. 3 retrieved, 2 fertilized, 0 blasts
Status: Babies are good. After a few nights of sleep regression they are back in their normal pattern of sleeping ~12 hours and getting up to eat twice. We're really enjoying watching them play with toys and scootch/roll around - it's just fun to see them 'getting' things and making progress.
QOTD:
I was curious about what our state law was and found this - I can't verify accuracy, but it's interesting.
https://www.latchkey-kids.com/latchkey-kids-age-limits.htm
It appears that the recommended age in Florida is 18, lol.
I remember staying home alone or with my brother in early grade school while my mom drove my dad to work (probably a 45-minute round trip), and then at times here and there later. I have no idea how I'll feel when the kids are getting older but right now I feel like middle school (around 11-12) makes sense for short periods/errands, and 13-14 makes sense for things like mommies going on date night.
TTC:- Tomorrow I go for our 5th insemination. Fingers crossed! If this one doesn't work, we'll take a financial and mental health break until the beginning of the year.
QOTD;- This is a tough one. I agree with those that say it depends on the child. Although I do think some parents take it to the extreme. V's nephew wasn't allowed to house sit for us over the summer that he was 16, even though his parents live less than a 5 minute drive away. We were also asked to babysit him this summer - he is now 17 - when his parents went away. We declined on principle. He is a really responsible kid, and this is ridic. He is moving to New York next year to live in an apartment by himself, and this year they feel that he needs a babysitter....OK, that turned into an in law rant
Apologies!
QOTD: I really don't know. I have mixed feelings on it. My older sister babysat for me when she was 1112ish and I was 56ish. I was home alone after school for a few hours everyday starting in 3rd grade, so 9ish I guess. But I'm sure I was home alone for short periods of time before that. At 67ish I could definitely walk/bike to some friends homes in the neighborhood alone. I get that supervision standards are different now and I'm sure I'll panic at the idea of my own kids being alone... but I also strongly believe that kids of older generations learned a lot of good skills from that independence/trust that today's kids are not getting. We have run into this issue with my clients and in NY state there are no laws on this. But that doesn't stop CPS from indicating cases for lack of supervision.
IVF Oct/Nov 2012
Beta #1 = 77, Beta #2 = 190, Beta #3 = 1044
Cautiously optimistic.
Good luck!
Married to my amazing wife 6/12/10
TTC since 6/11
Unmedicated IUI #1 - 6/28/11 - BFN
Unmedicated IUI #2 - 7/25/11 - BFN
Robotic Myomectomy (Fibroid Surgery) - 11/15/11
Unmedicated IUI #3 - 4/24/12 - BFN
Progesterone Supported Leuteal Phase IUI #4 - 6/21/12 - BFP!!
Baby Boy G Born 3/24/13
On to #2, are we crazy?
IUI #1 - 11/28/14 - BFP! Beta #1 (11DPO) 34, Beta #2 (13DPO) 101, Beta #3 (20DPO) 3043
Ultrasound at 6w4d shows a single, fluttering heartbeat. Say hello to Sticky Ricki!
ATP: going pretty well! Zucchini is definitely regressing to younger behaviors (tuck me in, pick me up, wants to sit on our laps) which can be awkward or annoying. But, I remind myself that I am happy she can do this and that I am happy to be here for her to get her needs met.
Carrot is learning SO much--her vocabulary is increasing (and she was already so smart). Seriously, she will say something so smart it makes me cry.
And Pumpkin is sleeping *a bit* better. Secrets of the Baby Whisperer pickup/put down technique really seemed to work for us. His naps are better, and now he is *only* waking twice a night to eat. Knock on wood. He is giggling at everything. Especially pictures of his family which is adorable.
QOTD: I think this is interesting. I used to teach the Red Cross Babysitting class, and you needed to be 11 to be alone with other kids. So, younger than that (9 or 10) for short periods of time, if all things are "normal". Zucchini has no interest in it. Even for a literal five minutes while I walk across the street. And doesn't want to walk herself to school (yes, it's ok.) I am hoping in a month or so, the girls will be able to walk themselves to school. We'll see.
QOTD: it depends on various variables, the kid, where we live, how long, but I think 11ish is good... I babysat at 13....I don't know what CA mandates. Maybe younger than 11 for shorter times. Eeeeek picturing K being 11??? Sigh...
Late, but I'll play!
Status: Mayan Abdominal Massage is my newest PCP item. I went on Tuesday and started the self-care today. Otherwise, just focusing on taking my vitamins, eating well, and ideally getting more active (today it was kayaking with C after our lunch date).
QOTD: I would say maybe 11-13 depending on their maturity/responsibility, how long we'd be gone, etc. I was probably about 10-11 by myself with lots of rules about staying inside, not using the stove, answering doors/phones, etc. But, we did live in a very safe small town and I was very mature.
I'm SO happy to hear about this! Congrats to you both!
Sorry so late! Not much new here. We're going to a concert tomorrow night that J is thrilled about. A friend of ours got tickets for dirt cheap and gave us first dibs. Hopefully I'll have pics to share for next week!
QOTD: It really depends on so many things. Probably 9 or 10 for short periods of time (depending on maturity, our neighborhood, etc) and 12 or 13 for longer periods (again, depending). I don't mean to be vague, but there are lots of other factors that we would have to consider.
*DS 6/28/2013*
I'm sure it can be annoying, but I'm sure that is her looking for ways to bond and attach. So happy you guys can provide this for her and that she is seeking out attachment - such a good sign!
AMH 0.5, AFC 5-8, FSH 7ish
IVF #1 - antagonist. Empty follicle syndrome. 1 retrieved, 0 fertilized.
IVF #2 - antagonist. Ovulated early. 3 retrieved, 2 fertilized, 0 blasts