A nurse in the hospital here...

[PrincessFiona]

... let her 9 year old babysit her 5 year old. The 5 year old burned the house down by using a lighter to try to make popcorn. The kids are okay. Social services did not investigate.

Kris


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[Meenah]

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So glad they are OK.

[alotofyarn]

How scary! Glad they're OK.

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[Deebs]

Holy cow! That’s terrifying.


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[MrsC]

That's so scary!

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[Vishenka69]

That's scary. Although I was left alone all the time as a 5yr old.

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[gingertormentas]

Oh wow!! How terrifying. In many states, that age is legal to leave kids at home alone. I’ll admit that I leave my 7 yo home alone for an hour or so at a time.


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[MrsK]

Apparently, the legal age to be left alone here is 6yo. I can hardly leave my 9 and 7 yo unsupervised long enough to take a shower.

Has anyone read “Small Animals”? I just finished it. I’d love to hear everyone’s thoughts.


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[fluffhead]

Terrible things can happen to children of any age - adults too. I very nearly burned my house down when I was 13 - my 17 YO brother was with me at the time. My father came home just in time to save the day.
We try to exercise good judgement and hope for the best. I'd be the last person to judge this nurse.

[houseelf]

That's awful, but what Fluff said.

For the record, I was latch key for almost two hours every day after school from age 7 up. Yes, different day and age, but people do what they have to do.

KB

[rufflesanddots]

That's awful, but what Fluff said.

For the record, I was latch key for almost two hours every day after school from age 7 up. Yes, different day and age, but people do what they have to do.

KB

Ditto, down to being a latch key kid at the same age.

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[Elchorrito]

Now that I have kids of my own, I'm a little amazed at what we got away with as kids. When I was 12 I took a babysitting "course" at our local hospital, and then neighbors, etc would PAY me to come watch their infants and toddlers. Would I let a random 12 yo neighbor come watch my guys? Oh heck no! I can't imagine how people trusted me! At least the 9 yo here was a sibling who surely knew the rules and routines of their house. I'm sure if I was babysitting strangers at 12 I was staying home alone several years before that.

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[MrsK]

Now that I have kids of my own, I'm a little amazed at what we got away with as kids. When I was 12 I took a babysitting "course" at our local hospital, and then neighbors, etc would PAY me to come watch their infants and toddlers. Would I let a random 12 yo neighbor come watch my guys? Oh heck no! I can't imagine how people trusted me! At least the 9 yo here was a sibling who surely knew the rules and routines of their house. I'm sure if I was babysitting strangers at 12 I was staying home alone several years before that.

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I think it depends on the kids too. There is no way my 9yo could handle it. Heck, my husband can barely manage the kids. But I've heard that some people have responsible children.

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[Elchorrito]

I think it depends on the kids too. There is no way my 9yo could handle it. Heck, my husband can barely manage the kids. But I've heard that some people have responsible children.

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I used to leave mine with post-call DH until I realized it would be safer to call the 7yo next door neighbor. I came home from a quick run to the grocery a time or two to find the house trashed, DS1 walking along the back of the couch and jumping into a pile of laundry, and DH deep in sleep on the other couch. Oh and milk all over the kitchen floor. Since DS1 can open doors to go outside now, I don't try that.

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[MrsK]

I used to leave mine with post-call DH until I realized it would be safer to call the 7yo next door neighbor. I came home from a quick run to the grocery a time or two to find the house trashed, DS1 walking along the back of the couch and jumping into a pile of laundry, and DH deep in sleep on the other couch. Oh and milk all over the kitchen floor. Since DS1 can open doors to go outside now, I don't try that.

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Sounds exactly like my house. My daughter has cut her hair and drawn on the walls when dad is in charge.

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