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How old is Dillon again?
Elissa


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In a message dated 11/7/2002 7:10:28 AM Central Standard Time,
scribblers2@... writes:

> Question for the group -- at what age do you leave yours
> home alone, and for how long, and what sort of things do you consider,
> and when do you consider them old enough/mature enough to look after the
> others? I am sure there will be lots of different answers here, but I am
> curious to what/how/why others deal with this important part of growing
> up?
>

There's a great book, for anyone considering this question. It's called
_Disaster Blasters_ by Laura Szabo Cohen and Karin Kasdin. It's a book about
what to do if you're home alone and certain things happen, like the commode
overflows or something. It's very funny and informative. Some of you might
remember Laura from the old AOL boards.

My older children where in school for 6 or 7 years and I worked full-time.
Starting at age 10 of the oldest, they were home alone for an hour and half
every day after school (latch-key children!). I regret that all now, even
though nothing bad ever happened.

I have a 9 yo now, and I wouldn't leave him home alone at 10 or 11. But
then, he's *alone* with no siblings at all. He has asked me to do it a lot
of times, but there's no way I would. Maybe about 12. Perhaps in the next
couple of years I might run up to the store and to get a paper or something,
leaving him tucked in bed or something. But not for an extended time.

I often leave him early in the morning, sleeping, while his teenage brother
is sleeping in the next room. The teenager always knows I'm leaving, but the
9 yo usually doesn't. He has been known to get out of bed, turn on the TV
and settle in while I'm gone and not even realize that I'm gone. Sometimes
he doesn't even know if the teenager is home. I think he'd be okay staying
home alone for an hour right now, but I'm not okay with it. I would worry
about the house burning down or something. (He hasn't read Disaster
Blasters, yet! ;)

When you're working full-time and trying to make ends meet, those fears and
worries tend to scab over and you don't feel them as strongly. That's how I
was able to do it when my olders were young. That's the only way I can
explain it. I wouldn't do it now.

Tuck


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My now 14 yob started staying home for short periods at about 12. His father
(ex-h) still won't let him babysit his other kids, but he's not exactly the
type to trust.
My daughter who is almost 9, CAN stay at home if she wants to but rarely
chooses to.
In my state, a child under 8 cannot legally be left alone. Even to play
outside.
Elissa


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Shyrley

On 7 Nov 02, at 9:52, Earthmomma67@... wrote:

> My now 14 yob started staying home for short periods at about 12. His
> father (ex-h) still won't let him babysit his other kids, but he's not
> exactly the type to trust. My daughter who is almost 9, CAN stay at
> home if she wants to but rarely chooses to. In my state, a child under
> 8 cannot legally be left alone. Even to play outside. Elissa
>
Can they be left with an older sibling?
I often leave my 9 yo and 7 yo alone while I drop the 10 yo off for
drama or girl scouts.
How does one find out what the law is in a particular state?

Shyrley


"You laugh at me because I'm different. I laugh at you because you are all the same."

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Susan,
My 11 year old daughter started staying home by herself for short periods
of time at age 10 (while I went to the store or the doctor etc). She didn't
want to stay home longer, because noises in the house would start to frighten
her. She is getting better though. My 14 year old was staying home for long
periods at age 12, even at night.
It didn't bother him at all, but one of my oldest, when he was 12, got
terrified at night.
One time he wanted to stay home by himself while the rest of us went out.
When we got home, he was sitting outside with our dog. He was so scared of
the noises in the house, and we live out in the country, so he was scared
outside as well. He used our dog for protection. Now he looks back at that
and laughs. LOL
To me it depends on the child. When they were mature enough to take care
of themselves, I considered them ready. But I also wanted to make sure that
being home alone didn't scare them (I remember my parents leaving me home,
when I was sick, and they went to work. I stayed under their bed terrified
the whole time. I don't remember my age, but I didn't want that to happen to
my kids). Usually, I would start with small periods (run to the store for
milk etc) and then if they did ok, leave them for longer periods of time.
Tammy


> How old is he? Question for the group -- at what age do you leave yours
> home alone, and for how long, and what sort of things do you consider,
> and when do you consider them old enough/mature enough to look after the
> others? I am sure there will be lots of different answers here, but I am
> curious to what/how/why others deal with this important part of growing
> up?
>



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