The Cafe
Well im a sahm and baby sit some of my friends kids. i just recently started baby am old friends dd, she is 10 month and she has a 6 year old brother. since school was out i told her mom that i would keep the brother as well. so he cam over the 1st day played with my big kids and had a blast. well he didnt show up the 2nd day(yesterday) when i asked the mom where he was today she told me that he was at home. i aksed who was watching him and she said "no one, but if he needs anything he knows the neighbors and how to use the phone" i said ok and tried to push the thought out of my mind. but i just cant do it. i found out from my friend(the dad to the baby and step dad to 6 year old) that this is a normal thing. While yes he is mature for his age, he isnt mature enough to stay at home alone ALL day at 6 years old.
idk if this is worth me calling CPS or if i should just let it go. i know nothing bad has happened but if something does and i know he was at home alone i would feel so bad that i knew and i did do anything to stop it. but at the same time, i love my friend and i dont want to start drama at their house and lose a friend and money because they dont let me watch their dd anymore.
ugh idk what to do.
dad
drops baby off, no brother, asked where he was and he said he didnt want
to come because the kids have to stay in the kids room(where their toys
and movies are, toys are NOT allowed in the living room) i told the dad
that it really bothers me knowing that a 6 year old child is home alone
and he said that was the moms call and he doesnt really have a say in
it. but the neighbors are home and all that.
I have talked to both parents about how i feel and i have also done some research on the age limits of when a child can stay home alone. in my state we have none, they have to demonstrate certain things, and he checks out on all of them. If i know he i home alone again(he is at his dads this week) i will be calling the cop for a wellfare check on the child.
Replies
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How about looking up the laws in your state for when a child is allowed to legally stay home alone and then showing them to her first just to let her know? She may not actually realize that it's not legally allowed-especially if her mom used to let her stay home alone all the time when she was that age.
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Eh not a big deal to me. My parents were letting me stay home alone at six. If he is responsible enough I see nothing wrong with it. -
You ethically and morally needs to talk to her about this. Its against the law and totally unsafe. If something happened to him could you sleep at night? You are defintely in a horrible spot but you have to for him. And if that doesn't change her mind, then you must report her.
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What yr was that because its neglect and plain stupid now a days
Quoting jedwards2009:
Eh not a big deal to me. My parents were letting me stay home alone at six. If he is responsible enough I see nothing wrong with it. -
Really
Quoting GodsAmiga:
How about looking up the laws in your state for when a child is allowed to legally stay home alone and then showing them to her first just to let her know? She may not actually realize that it's not legally allowed-especially if her mom used to let her stay home alone all the time when she was that age.
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Have the police do a well child check the next time you know he's there alone. -
Wow 6 is way to young, IMO at least. I would def say something to her about it. -
I would do this and if nothing changes then I would call the cops or cps and asked for a well check
Quoting GodsAmiga:
How about looking up the laws in your state for when a child is allowed to legally stay home alone and then showing them to her first just to let her know? She may not actually realize that it's not legally allowed-especially if her mom used to let her stay home alone all the time when she was that age.
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Quoting momofacrew:
You ethically and morally needs to talk to her about this. Its against the law and totally unsafe. If something happened to him could you sleep at night? You are defintely in a horrible spot but you have to for him. And if that doesn't change her mind, then you must report her.
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Actually some states allow kids of any age to stay home alone as long as they are not in eminent danger, i looked up CA law when my friend was leaving her son home, i even called the local p.d. To see if it was true and she said"yes but if something goes wrong, believe that cps and the p.d. Will be involved"