by changeling 39 Replies latest jw friends
Some 9 yr olds, should NEVER be left alone, not even for 10 min. I think it depends on the child. My daughters at age 9, would have been ok alone, but my son? I would have worried about him getting into things. But isn't it the law, no child under 12 can be left alone????? *forgot*
LINDA
But isn't it the law, no child under 12 can be left alone?????
I'm not sure...I have to look into that. I know that a few of my friends got mad at me for letting my son sit in the front seat. He's about 70lbs and hits the right age for the height of the "law" for kids riding in the front seat. I went to several police stations and asked them if (when air bag is off) if he's ok sitting in the front. All 4 stations said the same thing that he's ok even with the air bag on.
Some people think it's illegal for him to sit in front but I found out that it's not and he's big enough to be just as safe as an adult so I let him sit in front.
Ok, here's what I've found so far.
It seems to be saying that a parent should decide on what they know of their children's maturity and that the "age" limit is 8 years old. I'm gonna do more research but this is a start.
I forgot to take in a left over fish dinner.
http://www.thebladeplus.com/news/2007/0709/News/015.html
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/arizonaliving/articles/0513simple0514advice.html
http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/shlep/2007/02/21/when-can-you-leave-children-at-home-alone/
http://preventchildabuseny.org/homealone.shtml
It seems like it depends on the state and how well the child has developed in their maturity state.
I think I will personally call to make sure it's not a law here. Other than that, my son is very mature and can be trusted so I don't worry so much. Again, I won't leave him with his sister right now. Besides, from reading it seems to be that he'd have to be at least 15 yrs old before he can do that anyway.
But isn't it the law, no child under 12 can be left alone?????
I lived in Saskatchewan when my kids were small. I worked full-time and had some horrible experiences with babysitters. So I had a long talk with my kids, aged 10 and 11 at the time, about safety issues. Plus I spoke with the police. The police told me that it was not advisable for kids under 12 to be left alone. However, they said each parent might want to consider the relative maturity of their children. If something went wrong a parent could be held accountable, depending on what happened. There are many latch-key kids who come home after school, having been coached by the parents on how to safely do the "latch-key" thing, and wait for the parents to arrive home from work.
I took a calculated risk --- and trained my kids what to do to look after themselves --- by walking them through the after school routine. They could have cookies and milk for a snack and they could read, or turn on the tv and keep themselves amused. I figured they were safer at home, being responsible little dub-ites, than being with some of the awful babysitters I/we had encountered up till that point.
The kids did really well, coming home from school and taking care of themselves until I got home, which was about an hour later. It gave the kids a sense of responsibility, plus they felt quite grown up. I was really proud of them.
It was a temporary arrangement, for a few weeks. Then we found a really nice sister at the kingdumb hell who was a stay-at-home mom and she offered to babysit.
*huge sigh of relief*
Bottom line is I felt heavy guilt the whole time my kids were home alone. I worried
wa-a-a-a-ay to-o-o-o much about them. Yet, really --- they were safer at home alone than with babysitters.
For what it's worth --- my 2 cents.
Love to all
ESTEE
Forget a child in a car.....thats insane. Not for a minute were my children ever left in a car. 20 years later I would never leave my dogs in a car!!!!!!!!!!!!
r.
By the time I was 7 my mom was a full blown drunk and I and my brother were left for hours while she visited bars and other alcoholic's homes.
But at 7 we were not babies and we would finally go into the bar and get her. They would yell at her to go home and take care of us. After a while she would drive us all home and pass out on the floor.
With wonderful early memories like this I forgive myself for joining the JWs.
You are right, changeling. I have never understood people leaving their babies in the car in the first place. It is extremely foolish and I can't imagine leaving any very young child alone in a car at all, ever! I think people either consciously or unconsciously have some sort of wish to lose their kids when they do such a thing.
I recently had to explain to a 3-year oId that she could not stay in the car while I ran in and out of her parents' home. She was mystified that I would expect her to come and go with me, rather than sitting in the car. I explained to her that a lady I know had her twin daughters kidnapped when she left them in a car right next to her at the gas station, and besides that it is illegal in this state to leave a child under age 8 unattended in a vehicle ever. I have seen people here arrested for it, and they deserved it, as far as I am concerned.
That reminds me . . . when I was a toddler, my dad left me in the car truck for hours at a time while he went drinking. When he finished drinking, he climbed in and drove home, yelling at me all the way! *shiver*
ESTEE
