Would you let 15 year old take your kids into DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the responses, it's helpful to hear other's opinions. I'm not American but have lived here several years, still it's not obvious to me sometimes what it is people are worried about.

To clarify - Bethesda is about 8 metro stops/20 mins from DC - it's not alien territory for them. I'm assuming people on this forum are from the DMV area. I work downtown DC and didn't think it unsafe. The babysitter and kids are confident and excited about it.

I planned to print an itinerary and maps/directions for the babysitter and put the Metro phone apps on their phones - they won't be wandering around aimlessly. They have GPS on their phones, even the 11 year old can use that. The only bus would be from Bethesda Metro Station so we're talking Montgomery County buses, not DC. The 15 year old has used buses around Montgomery County.

Can those who think it's not a good idea explain why? Is it DC, or the Metro or the buses? Or the people they'll encounter? I thought this was a safe area.

They could all stay home all week but I thought it'd be nice for them, the 15 year old included, to go out. The dad makes unfounded reports regardless but I try not to let it ruin opportunities for the kids. I'm just trying to determine how founded or unfounded this one would be.

I'm the one who said I'd let my 11 year old take the metro. I can't imagine what would happen traveling the Red Line to the zoo or museums. The unspeakable horror of single tracking?

[Anonymous]

My 12yr old and her 12-13yr old friends take the Metro to the museums on their own this summer. The zoo and lunch once too. Of course I would let her do that as long as she is comfortable. Most people in this area know how to use Metro.

[Anonymous]

Why don't you take your own kids into DC? Sure, just pawn it off on a CHILD sitter.

I will take all 3 of them on the Metro into DC with me some mornings, but it'd be a long day to stay in DC all day. So then they'd go home on Metro and 1 bus.

Is your point that CHILD sitters should only babysit at home or not at all? I thought it's good for a high school student to have some summer jobs.

I can't - I get 10 days vacation. They get 10 weeks off school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the responses, it's helpful to hear other's opinions. I'm not American but have lived here several years, still it's not obvious to me sometimes what it is people are worried about.

To clarify - Bethesda is about 8 metro stops/20 mins from DC - it's not alien territory for them. I'm assuming people on this forum are from the DMV area. I work downtown DC and didn't think it unsafe. The babysitter and kids are confident and excited about it.

I planned to print an itinerary and maps/directions for the babysitter and put the Metro phone apps on their phones - they won't be wandering around aimlessly. They have GPS on their phones, even the 11 year old can use that. The only bus would be from Bethesda Metro Station so we're talking Montgomery County buses, not DC. The 15 year old has used buses around Montgomery County.

Can those who think it's not a good idea explain why? Is it DC, or the Metro or the buses? Or the people they'll encounter? I thought this was a safe area.

They could all stay home all week but I thought it'd be nice for them, the 15 year old included, to go out. The dad makes unfounded reports regardless but I try not to let it ruin opportunities for the kids. I'm just trying to determine how founded or unfounded this one would be.

Because American moms coddle their kids. Sorry but most American kids have low self-esteem, no common sense, are fearful of everything their parents worry them about, and have no way of direction. It is very different in other countries where public transportation and taking care of siblings/kids and going off on your own is very common. Our kids are idiots thanks to us. Next someone will mention that there "could" be a pedophile on the Metro that will snatch all the kids and that is why they don't let them do anything but watch tv and play on an iPad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Why don't you take your own kids into DC? Sure, just pawn it off on a CHILD sitter.

I will take all 3 of them on the Metro into DC with me some mornings, but it'd be a long day to stay in DC all day. So then they'd go home on Metro and 1 bus.

Is your point that CHILD sitters should only babysit at home or not at all? I thought it's good for a high school student to have some summer jobs.

I can't - I get 10 days vacation. They get 10 weeks off school.

I think it would be very good to the 15yr old as well as your kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Why don't you take your own kids into DC? Sure, just pawn it off on a CHILD sitter.

I will take all 3 of them on the Metro into DC with me some mornings, but it'd be a long day to stay in DC all day. So then they'd go home on Metro and 1 bus.

Is your point that CHILD sitters should only babysit at home or not at all? I thought it's good for a high school student to have some summer jobs.

I can't - I get 10 days vacation. They get 10 weeks off school.

Don't bother answering the idiots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are in town this entire week right? And home every night? I think your day plan is ok.

Yes. Example day - I'll take all 3 on Metro into DC with me in morning. Send them to museum (short walk). Meet me for lunch downtown (short walk). I'll take my son to work for a few hours while babysitter takes daughter shopping. He hates shopping and missed out on 'Take your kids to work day'. Then babysitter takes them home (Metro and a bus from Bethesda Station). I'm home a few hours later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are in town this entire week right? And home every night? I think your day plan is ok.

Yes. Example day - I'll take all 3 on Metro into DC with me in morning. Send them to museum (short walk). Meet me for lunch downtown (short walk). I'll take my son to work for a few hours while babysitter takes daughter shopping. He hates shopping and missed out on 'Take your kids to work day'. Then babysitter takes them home (Metro and a bus from Bethesda Station). I'm home a few hours later.

I think this sounds completely reasonable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are in town this entire week right? And home every night? I think your day plan is ok.

Yes. Example day - I'll take all 3 on Metro into DC with me in morning. Send them to museum (short walk). Meet me for lunch downtown (short walk). I'll take my son to work for a few hours while babysitter takes daughter shopping. He hates shopping and missed out on 'Take your kids to work day'. Then babysitter takes them home (Metro and a bus from Bethesda Station). I'm home a few hours later.

I think this sounds completely reasonable.

Me too. The only thing to think about is the museums don't open until 10, and I assume you plan to get to work well before 10. But I think a 15 year old accompanying two tweens on the subway during the day is perfectly appropriate.

[Anonymous]

I would. But i am also not American, and in my view they infantilize children and young adults here.

[Anonymous]

I don't hire a babysitter just for their skill in taking my kid to a museum downtown and back. I hire a babysitter who can handle any contingency, such as a national emergency, which is always a possibility in the nation's capital.

[Anonymous]

I think your idea sounds perfectly reasonable as your kids are choosing what they want to be doing with the sitter. You might consider also having a couple of alternate activities in the house set up such as board games, perhaps baking something simple if sitter does such things should it be really ugly and rainy out all week long.

The one caveat I would have is to maybe have metro fare on one of your kids as well as sitter just in case she happened to lose one of the cards or lost it somehow. The fact you will take the kids in and be meeting up for lunch if fine as you will also be able to judge how the day is going and suggest getting out of the city earlier if one seem a bit bored or exhausted. You are setting a good example by encouraging them to see the city they live so close to. Have you possibly considered a walking tour of one or more of the monuments if it turns out to be cooler.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't hire a babysitter just for their skill in taking my kid to a museum downtown and back. I hire a babysitter who can handle any contingency, such as a national emergency, which is always a possibility in the nation's capital.

Geez, if worrying about people armed with guns wasn't enough, now we need babysitters and Nannies who can handle national emergencies?

How do you interview for a babysitter who can handle national emergencies? OMG there's even a study guide! Are You Ready? An In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness And an exam you can sit. http://www.fema.gov/pdf/areyouready/areyouready_full.pdf


Part 1 Basic Preparedness .....................................................................................13
Section 1.1 Getting Informed............................................................................15
Section 1.2 Emergency Planning and Checklists...............................................23
Section 1.3 Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit...................................................31
Section 1.4 Shelter ...........................................................................................37
Section 1.5 Hazard-Specific Preparedness........................................................43
Section 1.6 Practicing and Maintaining Your Plan ............................................45
Part 2 Natural Hazards..........................................................................................47
Section 2.1 Floods ...........................................................................................49
Section 2.2 Tornadoes .....................................................................................57
Section 2.3 Hurricanes ....................................................................................65
Section 2.4 Thunderstorms and Lightning ........................................................73
Section 2.5 Winter Storms and Extreme Cold ..................................................79
Section 2.6 Extreme Heat ................................................................................85
Section 2.7 Earthquakes ...................................................................................93
Section 2.8 Volcanoes ...................................................................................101
Section 2.9 Landslides and Debris Flow (Mudslide) .......................................105
Section 2.10 Tsunamis ..................................................................................111
Section 2.11 Fires ..........................................................................................115
Section 2.12 Wildfires ...................................................................................123
Part 3 Technological Hazards..............................................................................127
Section 3.1 Hazardous Materials Incidents......................................................129
Section 3.2 Household Chemical Emergencies ...............................................133
Section 3.3 Nuclear Power Plants ...................................................................139
Part 4 Terrorism ..................................................................................................145
Section 4.1 General Information about Terrorism ...........................................147
Section 4.2 Explosions ...................................................................................151
Section 4.3 Biological Threats........................................................................155
Section 4.4 Chemical Threats .........................................................................159
Section 4.5 Nuclear Blast ...............................................................................163
Section 4.6 Radiological Dispersion Device (RDD)........................................169
Section 4.7 Homeland Security Advisory System ...........................................173

[Anonymous]

I can't imagine how bad the constant fear is that you live with.

[Anonymous]

OP, it is definitely a judgment call. I think your plan is fine, however, I bet many people in this area would NOT send their 15 year old on the metro, and thus would not think a 15 year old could also be on the metro with younger children.


Since there is the issue with your ex making unfounded reports, I'd be nervous about going ahead with this plan just for that reason -- basically both parents have to think it is a good idea. Because if your ex complains, you can't guarantee you'll get someone investigating who sees things the way you do.