Comments on: Just as a f’r'instance

By: Heather

Heather — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:20:38 +0000

It does depend on the child. But I err on the side of not leaving ANY kids alone for any length of time. Call me paranoid. Go ahead. Here, let me capitalize it for you Paranoid!

I have been tempted for sure. But no, I haven’t done it.

By: Julie @ The Mom Slant

Julie @ The Mom Slant — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:14:53 +0000

Tacy, yes. CJ, no.

And I agree that it completely depends on the kid.

By: Alex Elliot

Alex Elliot — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:35:16 +0000

Depends on the kid. I don’t know if this is true, but a friend who ‘s a social worker told me that’s why there isn’t a specific age in most states when you can leave your child home alone. It just depends on the kid.

By: patois

patois — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:32:15 +0000

Screw hypothetically: been there, done that. When sick kid was about 5. Yeah. 5. And the super-trustworthy-but-not-scaredy-cat-child-like-her-older-brother-was.

By: Gretchen

Gretchen — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:07:47 +0000

I’ve done it.

I’ll do it again.

I have practiced with each of my kids how to dial my cell phone and make sure there is a copy of it by the phone. Also, they know where to go in case of a REAL emergency – like the house is on fire. Oh – and the usual:
Do not answer the phone (unless it’s me – they can tell by caller id)
Do not answer the door (yes – they usually act like pavlov’s dog)
No cooking – toaster, microwave, or otherwise.

I go over every one of the rules before I leave. Lest it sound like I leave them home alone alot -I don’t – I just don’t want to hear “But I didn’t know…”

By: nonlineargirl

nonlineargirl — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:32:59 +0000

Definitely tempted. I’d probably force a neighbor to walk my kid to school, but I am lucky to have lots of neighbors with kids.

By: Lady M

Lady M — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:23:43 +0000

Very, very tempted. If they were just a bit older, even more tempted.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:01:49 +0000

I mean the well child.

Er. That was an … interesting slip.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:01:12 +0000

I would be sorely, sorely tempted. And then I would call my mother-in-law and beg her to take the sick child to school.

By: bea

bea — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:05:27 +0000

I would, hypothetically, leave the sick child on the couch while I walk the other child to the bus stop, wait 5 min. for the bus and then walk back home again. Of course, it helps that I can actually see the house at all times in that case.