"Home alone" cases and recommendations

Freedom wrote:That takes me back a few years, Mimi.

It was easy to find a full-time childminder but not one who would take children to and from school.

I had 3 to find a childminder for and what I earned barely covered the cost.

I thought you had 4 boys, Mimi.

I only had the one and I managed okay financially but I can imagine how difficult it must have been for you.

Freedom wrote:That takes me back a few years, Mimi.

It was easy to find a full-time childminder but not one who would take children to and from school.

When my 2 were in high school I had to work till 5pm. School closed at 4 so I paid a 6th year pupil towalk them home and stay till I got home. She was glad of the money £20 for 4 days and they went to my mum on a Friday.
I admit I was very lucky having my mum. Couldn't have worked if she hadn't helped me out. Then I'd have been another single parent statistic.

I must admit that I had no worries about letting my lad come home from school and being there on his own from around the age of 10.

I was nearly tearing my hair out though when he was about to start school (4 years and 10 months) and I had nobody to take him there and back.

I took the first week off work so I could do that and, having explained the dilemma to the headmaster, thankfully he put me in touch with a woman in the next street to me who was able to help me.

Freedom wrote:I thought you had 4 boys, Mimi.

I only had the one and I managed okay financially but I can imagine how difficult it must have been for you.

Yes I do, the 4th one came 10 years after the first 3. I had twins when eldest was 14 months old.

Freedom wrote:I must admit that I had no worries about letting my lad come home from school and being there on his own from around the age of 10.

I was nearly tearing my hair out though when he was about to start school (4 years and 10 months) and I had nobody to take him there and back.

I took the first week off work so I could do that and, having explained the dilemma to the headmaster, thankfully he put me in touch with a woman in the next street to me who was able to help me.

There is a case to be made for a child on their own being safer than 2 or 3 as they tend to be more daring in the company of other kids. My 3 eldest would always fight.

The school holidays seems to be quite a topic at the moment on the radio - parents having difficulties with child care etc. Also parents and registered child minders fed up with government child care allowance rules. Someone has even suggested that the school summer holidays are reduced but apparently Mums still want their kids to have a long break (they must be mad!).

It all depends on the capabilities of the children, I think.

My son was with a minder during school holidays until he was 11, then for reasons that I won't go into, she refused to have him anymore.

We had good neighbours upstairs who could be turned to in an emergency - though I don't recall him ever having to seek help from them. He could phone me if needs be but that was a rare event too.

If there's more than one child and they fight like some siblings do, it wouldn't be a good idea to leave them to their own devices.

I once came home from work to find my two on the floor fighting. The elder girl was beating the daylights out of the younger one with an ice cream scoop. They were 15 and 12. Never again. They had to go to their gran's after that.

Yes I thought of you with your two, Chirpy!

As I say, it does depend on individual circumstances.

Not exactly "home" alone this time.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3585692/Arizona-grandfather-jailed-leaving-5-year-old-desert-gun.html

That idiot should of got a lot more than 6 months.

What would he of got if she shot and killed herself with his gun... Which thankfully didn't happen but quite easily could've done.

A bit more today on that story..

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3818599/Pictured-British-mother-arrested-accused-abandoning-seven-year-old-son-hotel-room-Majorca-partying.html

Snipped:

Hotel staff called the police after discovering the son crying and complaining he had been left alone after by his mother, a restaurant manager.
However, Jones walked free from court and is understood to have been given a suspended sentence, while the child was placed with social services for at least two days.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3886166/Michael-Gove-s-11-year-old-son-wandering-corridors-B-B-ex-minister-left-SIX-HOURS-party-celebrities.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

!!!!

Freedom wrote:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3886166/Michael-Gove-s-11-year-old-son-wandering-corridors-B-B-ex-minister-left-SIX-HOURS-party-celebrities.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

!!!!

Here's link without the gobbledygook

Michael Gove left son, 11, alone in hotel for six HOURS while he went to showbiz party


http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/michael-gove-left-son-11-9155789






snipped from above link a bit about Madeleine McCann thrown in -



The idea of leaving a child alone for any length of time in a hotel room would terrify most parents.
The loss of Madeleine McCann, who was snatched from a Portuguese holiday apartment while her parents had dinner, means mums and dads are generally incredibly careful about hotel security.
The NSPCC advises never to leave a child of 11 or younger for any long period of time, and I’d agree.

A quote from Sarah Vine (Mrs Gove) about the McCanns.

She later wrote about the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, saying the three-year-old’s parents “were only trying to do what countless loving but exhausted mothers and fathers of small children have done throughout the decades: have a well-earned break with their friends.”

But she added: “As the McCanns know, you can be the most loving and most well-intentioned of parents. But life is a risk you can’t avoid.”


Where do we start with that! Even if the McCanns did deserve a break and were loving and well-intentioned (both doubtful in my view) that's no reason not to make proper childcare arrangements. That's if they didn't of course, I feel it was an excuse to explain how Madeleine disappeared.

I an now convinced we are coming to the end. The Mirror, the McCann's only mouthpiece, has the article that the Gove's left their 11 yr old son alone in an hotel for 6 hrs where he was found in a corridor by a porter looking for them at 1 am.
If anyone could post the art, other papers picked it up, inc the Mail who she writes for.

Transferred from a separate topic to here.

I think this is related to how the McCann case is going to be dealt with. Certainly highlighting the issue, child 11, same as twins. Am sure the Goves could have got a special injunction to stop this. Need to have a think. The Mirror is the only mouthpiece left for TM.

chirpyinsect wrote:I once came home from work to find my two on the floor fighting. The elder girl was beating the daylights out of the younger one with an ice cream scoop. They were 15 and 12. Never again. They had to go to their gran's after that.

I'm really shocked by this. I would never have done this to a sibling x

chrissie wrote:

chirpyinsect wrote:I once came home from work to find my two on the floor fighting. The elder girl was beating the daylights out of the younger one with an ice cream scoop. They were 15 and 12. Never again. They had to go to their gran's after that.

I'm really shocked by this. I would never have done this to a sibling x

Me neither.

I'd have used the meat mallet.

Hope wrote:I think this is related to how the McCann case is going to be dealt with. Certainly highlighting the issue, child 11, same as twins. Am sure the Goves could have got a special injunction to stop this. Need to have a think. The Mirror is the only mouthpiece left for TM.

It does seem like that, yes.

The Daily Mirror is a national disgrace.

chrissie wrote:

chirpyinsect wrote:I once came home from work to find my two on the floor fighting. The elder girl was beating the daylights out of the younger one with an ice cream scoop. They were 15 and 12. Never again. They had to go to their gran's after that.

I'm really shocked by this. I would never have done this to a sibling x

My 2 really didn't get on as kids. Both girls btw. Now they are good mates and the elder one stays with her sister when in town. Saves her having to buy or rent a flat when she is between jobs, but call me cynical lol.