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RE: Getting off the bus with no one home - 9/23/2008 3:20:17 PM
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PrincessDonna
Posts: 10421
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Cow country, Upstate NY
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Tamara, I wouldn't leave my two close in age boys home alone together for a while. Probably at least 5 years and I'm not even sure then. In our case, I think ONE alone is much safer than two. Would you think that the case with your boys too?
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RE: Getting off the bus with no one home - 9/23/2008 3:49:02 PM
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2shaye
Posts: 5416
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: So. Cal.
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Would he know what to do in the event of a natural disaster?
My dd, 13, babysits all the time and is left home alone for a few hours from time to time. One time, I was down the street at the park with my dc kids and we had a pretty strong earthquake. I immediately called her and she was very, very upset and scared. She knew exactly what to do, but was very scared. Minutes later, no one could get through by phone (lines overloaded), so since then, we've worked out ANOTHER plan when that happens. So, even though she is mature and fine alone, or caring for kids, she got freaked by a natural disaster.
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RE: Getting off the bus with no one home - 9/24/2008 2:21:28 PM
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danas_mom
Posts: 554
Joined: 6/17/2005
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We live in the country too and know most of our immediate neighbors well enough that if the kids were to get off the bus and nobody was here (it's happened on a Friday before when I was running late getting home from the grocery store) and we don't get home within a few minutes, the kids can go to a neighbor's house and wait for us. Dana is in 4th grade now and we're going to get her a house key soon to keep in a hidden place so they can at least come in the house and lock the doors behind them, if it ever happens again. I wouldn't mind them waiting here alone for 20 minutes or so, the worst they would do is fight too much and make a mess trying to fix a snack, LOL.
If it were a regular occurence though and not a fluke thing, I think I would probably have a list of neighbors who would be willing to meet the bus and either take him to their house, or bring him home and wait with him until you get back, if you're running late. You could keep a key hidden somewhere in the yard and let them know where it is. And you could call them the day before the appointment and make sure they would be home at that time in case you need to call on them.
Good luck, it's a tough situation I know. Hubby works the graveyard shift on the weekends, so he stays home to sleep on Sundays while we go to church. Sometimes I let Nathan (7 yo) stay at home too if he's not feeling well. He plays in his room most of the time (I remind him not to go outside until I get back home) and fixes himself a sandwich for lunch at noon. He does fine "alone" - but hubby IS here if there was a fire or something. I don't think I would be comfortable leaving him here completely alone at this age, all it would take is one true emergency and things could get really messy really quick, even if he weren't hurt.
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I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing. ~ 2 Samuel 24:24
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RE: Getting off the bus with no one home - 9/24/2008 3:48:42 PM
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Auben
Posts: 1615
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
Status: offline
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quote:
Tamara, I wouldn't leave my two close in age boys home alone together for a while. Probably at least 5 years and I'm not even sure then. In our case, I think ONE alone is much safer than two. Would you think that the case with your boys too?
Not in my case. I don't find that they egg each other on as much as they both make interesting creative decisions that seem good on the surface (what's on top of the refrigerator? let's find out! Let's invent a mind control machine! Where's the wiring?) but could be dangerous or messy in the long run.
It might be fine with a list of approved activities (get snack, watch tv, play X game, do your homework, etc.) if you trust his ability to follow that list.
Other possibilities are asking a neighbor to look in on him occasionally during that time (letting him know which neighbor of course but not exactly what time she/he might show up). That might help him self-censor some of his sillier ideas.
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Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
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RE: Getting off the bus with no one home - 9/29/2008 12:23:25 PM
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1love1God1way
Posts: 2415
Joined: 5/16/2005
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I started staying home by myself when i was probably 8 or 9, and i started babysitting my younger sister (4 years younger) when I was about 10 or 11.
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