Tween Parents

ready-or-not · April 2014

I'm sure this has been discussed before, but at what age would you feel comfortable leaving your tween at home? My daughter is 12 & out of school on spring break & we have run into a little issue on the "babysitter" subject. Tomorrow is the only day I can not find anyone she can stay with & am torn on leaving her home alone all day.....She has stayed alone before, but for no more than 30-45 minutes while I ran to the store or something while she was doing homework. This will be for about 7 hours.

missyishere · April 2014

I think it really depends on the kid. If it's your only option, ensure there are safety procedures in place.

NotSharknado · April 2014

I have a 13 1/2 year old and I'm still not comfortable leaving him that long. It's legal but is rather wait another year or 2.

It also depends on the maturity of the child.

pdh2008 · April 2014

It would definitely depend on the kid. While I was left alone at 12, it now seems young to me, especially for all day.

Is she a mature, responsible kid? Does she have a cell or do you have a house phone that you can check on her throughout the day?

CinemaGoddess · April 2014

I really thought this would be about tweens being parents.

My hackles were already raising.

pdh2008 · April 2014

CinemaGoddess said:

I really thought this would be about tweens being parents.

My hackles were already raising.

me too

ready-or-not · April 2014

Lol sorry to disappoint but thank God no, we're no where near that subject!

She is not overly mature, but somewhat mature, if that makes sense. Like I am more concerned with her eating everything in the pantry & making a huge mess/leaving the milk out all day than I am her burning the house down. She would be left with a phone & strict instruction on what she could/can't do, & I am pretty sure would follow them, ESP if she ever wanted it to happen again. But still, pretty torn over it. Which I guess means I should go with my gut, right?? But on the other hand we are really stuck as to a second option & it's one of "those" days that DH & I both have requirements at work going on that would be frowned upon missing.

Ahhhh this sucks. Being a SAHM really should be a government paid job!!!

NotSharknado · April 2014

Always go with your gut. You don't feel comfortable so don't do it.

To me, this is the type of thing you ease into. Start off with leaving her for a couple if hours and so on.

missyishere · April 2014

Could you leave a list of what nots? Not that she'd follow, but it may relieve some worries if you have a game plan.

missyishere · April 2014

Reading your last, if you're not comfortable-- I wouldn't do it. Maybe do a test run for just a couple hours in the future and work your way up in case this happens down the road.

pdh2008 · April 2014

Could you take a 1/2 days at work? It would be like a trial run.

ReeseFox · April 2014

My oldest just turned 12 and has been a latchkey kid since about a month after she turned 10. Last summer we let her stay home by herself while we were at work. She was in summer school for three weeks and got herself to and from the bus everyday without incident. That said, it really depends on the kid and the circumstances. I know mine knows all the safety rules and takes them seriously. We also live in a small (2 street), close-knit subdivision with SAHMs next door and across the cul de sac that I know she can turn to in the event of a problem or emergency.

[Deleted User] · April 2014

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lildevil968 · April 2014

My DD is 10, and we are considering letting her stay home by herself for a little while a few days a week. Right now she does running club 2 times a week after school. We would have someone pick her up, and drop her off at home. She would be by herself for about 30 minutes each time. The rules are: She doesn't go outside, and under no circumstances opens the front, or back door. DH and I are installing a locks that we found at Lowes this weekend. I believe they are called Nest locks, and you can lock them from your smartphone, it will also tell you if the door is unlocked, and what time the door was unlocked. They are pretty neat, and help me feel better about leaving her for a while.

ready-or-not · April 2014

Yea we have SAHPs on both sides of us & 3 cops living on our street (live on a 1 road 15 house subdivision street), & I would def go home at lunch & have text/call check ins during the day. I'm only 15 minutes from the house at work. My DH says she will be fine & I am only hesitant because she is my 1st born & my baby & we've never done it before, but that she is fully capable of handling 1 day alone. He's at least partially right, but this is proving to be a really hard thing to convince myself it's ok to do!

ReeseFox · April 2014

lildevil968 said:

DH and I are installing a locks that we found at Lowes this weekend. I believe they are called Nest locks, and you can lock them from your smartphone, it will also tell you if the door is unlocked, and what time the door was unlocked. They are pretty neat, and help me feel better about leaving her for a while.

That sounds really cool.

ReeseFox · April 2014

ready-or-not said:

Yea we have SAHPs on both sides of us & 3 cops living on our street (live on a 1 road 15 house subdivision street), & I would def go home at lunch & have text/call check ins during the day. I'm only 15 minutes from the house at work. My DH says she will be fine & I am only hesitant because she is my 1st born & my baby & we've never done it before, but that she is fully capable of handling 1 day alone. He's at least partially right, but this is proving to be a really hard thing to convince myself it's ok to do!

There's probably a lot of truth in this.

As long as you prepare her as much as you can with rules and safety precautions, let the neighbors know she's there, and check in on her periodically she will honestly be fine.

lauralew · April 2014

I remember, like other PPs, staying home alone around 10 or so. I also had older siblings who were in charge of watching me when they were probably 11 or 12. It's funny how perspective changes when you're a parent...if someone asked me this prior to kids I'd be like "I was babysitting five kids for several hours at 12, so of course it's fine if she stays home alone!" I agree with PP to follow your gut/comfort level. I also wonder if you could just go to work to fulfill your requirements and then leave? I know not every job is that flexible, but thought I'd throw it out there.

ready-or-not · April 2014

My job is pretty flexible & normally I could do a 1/2 day or just take the day off, but my requirement tomorrow is filling in for another girl out on vacation so that changes things. DH is working on taking a 1/2 day but isn't sure yet what time he could get out.

ready-or-not · April 2014

Omg. LET IT GO. Totally different topic but you just couldn't resist could ya. I posted a question on OTC vitamins a while back, make sure you go link it to that one too! Get a life.

thetheisens · April 2014

My 11 year old has stayed home alone all day. I called and checked on him through out the day. It depends on what you are comfortable with, the child's maturity, and the extent to which you trust your child when they are home alone. I do think 12 is not too young for the majority of kids, but do what you are comfortable with.

missyishere · April 2014

Orly?!

ready-or-not · April 2014

#ormoveson

NotSharknado · April 2014

Well this got weird.

DreadLoc · April 2014

holy shit. lolololololololol

ready-or-not · April 2014

@Darbie914‌:
You should probably try it. Maybe it would give you ideas for better things to do with your time than hijacking post just to start crap.

Thanks for the responses! We are going to try her out alone in the morning from about 9-11:30. I'll come home for lunch & assess the situation. She can go back to work with me for the afternoon if need be.

MrsT0514 · April 2014

Well then. So the plot thickens.

ready-or-not · April 2014

Your not "telling it like it is". Your dragging shit out from a month ago just to stir the pot (no pun intended).

TiffanyBerry · April 2014

I was doing that by the time I was 11yrs old every single summer. Summer's sucked.

pandaglitter · April 2014

@ready-or-not‌ are you Janelle from teen mom??? Or is anyone from your other post Janelle??? She uses the bump and I NEED TO KNOW.

pandaglitter · April 2014

YOU NAMED THIS THREAD TWEEN PARENTS. ITS A SIGN.

It's @Niasiagraham‌ isn't it. Or possibly @KellyBelly5569‌. But I'm betting on the first. TELL ME.

ready-or-not · April 2014

Lmao no. I am not janelle, promise lol although I am addicted to that show & would love to slap that crazy bitch a couple times. & am SO OVER hearing Leah whine about her husband leaving for work while she sits on her ass at home!

ready-or-not · April 2014

Nor am I Kellybelly or any other person. I've been ready-or not since 2004-2005 when I got engaged & joined the knot. I am who I am, I don't do alter egos.

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