MoCo Mom Arrested for Leaving Kids Alone at Rehoboth Beach

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And of course no mention of dad...

She's 55. Dad might be dead. Or 5 years into 30 year old Wife #2. Or he's 59 and afraid to take vacation because the staff in his office are irresponsible. Or she's a single mom by choice who can afford a week-long beach rental --and with two ES age kids and two dogs, she deserves 45 min alone.

So what she can afford to vacation alone? What does that have to do with how much sense she has? Clearly not much - she left her two young children home alone in a vacation rental. What if Laquisha (in the projects) or Brandy (in a trailer park) had done this? Does your opinion change?

This was STUPID no matter who did it. Kids are 24/7. Not just when you feel like it. She should have gotten that 45 minutes through a babysitter or when they went to bed.

At 55, I'll admit that I wouldn't want to be keeping up with two kids that age.

Good grief, 55 is not elderly. Grandparents who are 70+ watch their grandkids all the time.

PP here. I agree, and I do babysit very often. Still working out at a gym as well. That's not the same as being a single parent 24/7 at that age, IMHO.

My own kids were pretty easy at that age. I would have felt comfortable leaving them alone long enough to run out to pick up take out pizza. Especially if we had had a busy, fun, active day and they were settled in and watching t.v. or playing quietly when I left.

PP here. Our two kids were also very easy, but I still work in a school system part-time and see quite a few who are so impulsive and active that it could be hard for one person. Really all depends on the situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey peeps. It was NEVER established that her kids ran in front of a car. If yiu are claiming that, you ARE making stuff up. NP btw

According to the police, the dogs ran in front of the car and the kids were trying to get control of them, so presumably they were in the road even if they weren't running in front of cars.

Chances are guy asks where mom is (aka why are your dogs running in traffic and unleashed and why isn't there an adult helping you get them back) and they say oh, she left to get food.

Not surprisingly, as it is nearly dark, there are dogs running in the road, and kids out in the road trying (and failing, it sounds like) to get them back in, with no parent in sight, guy calls the police and rightfully so. Obviously the situation was NOT under control.

There is a lot of presuming and assuming here. And card stacking. 7:30 in the summer is NOT nearly dark. And even so...so what? My kid has been in the street all alone when he goes to play somehere else and he has been left home alone. He is 9.

If you're assuming things. Why not assume the kids had it under control and the adult, like many of the Hawks here, over reacted?!

BECAUSE THE LAW IN DELAWARE IS 12

It's not "12 unless you're on vacation and the kids are kinda responsible but o shit the dog got out."

PLEASE READ THE LAW BEFORE CLAIMING TO KNOW WHAT IT SAYS.

Q. At what age can I leave my child home alone?
A. While there is no law in Delaware regulating an appropriate age for a child to be left home alone, the Division of Family Services will accept for investigation any report of a child under the age of 12 being left alone. DFS will also accept reports for children age 12 and over if there are any extenuating circumstances (e.g. developmental delays, physical disabilities).

It is best for parents and guardians to take in consideration their child"s comfort level, abilities and overall behavior and to talk to them about potential dangers (fire safety, what to do if someone comes to the door, etc.) before making the decision to leave a child home alone.

That means under 12 is at police and CPS discretion to charge them. Obviously they didn't meet the criteria of level and ability to be alone.

Yes, that does NOT mean that leaving a kid under 12 is always illegal. The mom obviously thought they did meet the maturity level.

Right. But that was a risk she took, because she was wrong. The guidelines clearly state a report will be investigated and parents need to think carefully before leaving kids that young

That is not the same as saying that the law in Delaware is kids have to be 12. When you say that, you make it seem like the mom purposely broke the law. She didn't. She thought her kids were mature enough. Obviously the cops disagreed. The judge will ultimately decide who was right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And of course no mention of dad...

She's 55. Dad might be dead. Or 5 years into 30 year old Wife #2. Or he's 59 and afraid to take vacation because the staff in his office are irresponsible. Or she's a single mom by choice who can afford a week-long beach rental --and with two ES age kids and two dogs, she deserves 45 min alone.

So what she can afford to vacation alone? What does that have to do with how much sense she has? Clearly not much - she left her two young children home alone in a vacation rental. What if Laquisha (in the projects) or Brandy (in a trailer park) had done this? Does your opinion change?

This was STUPID no matter who did it. Kids are 24/7. Not just when you feel like it. She should have gotten that 45 minutes through a babysitter or when they went to bed.

At 55, I'll admit that I wouldn't want to be keeping up with two kids that age.

Good grief, 55 is not elderly. Grandparents who are 70+ watch their grandkids all the time.

PP here. I agree, and I do babysit very often. Still working out at a gym as well. That's not the same as being a single parent 24/7 at that age, IMHO.

My own kids were pretty easy at that age. I would have felt comfortable leaving them alone long enough to run out to pick up take out pizza. Especially if we had had a busy, fun, active day and they were settled in and watching t.v. or playing quietly when I left.

PP here. Our two kids were also very easy, but I still work in a school system part-time and see quite a few who are so impulsive and active that it could be hard for one person. Really all depends on the situation.

True. If her kids (or even one of the kids) had behavior issues the mom should not have left them alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey peeps. It was NEVER established that her kids ran in front of a car. If yiu are claiming that, you ARE making stuff up. NP btw

According to the police, the dogs ran in front of the car and the kids were trying to get control of them, so presumably they were in the road even if they weren't running in front of cars.

Chances are guy asks where mom is (aka why are your dogs running in traffic and unleashed and why isn't there an adult helping you get them back) and they say oh, she left to get food.

Not surprisingly, as it is nearly dark, there are dogs running in the road, and kids out in the road trying (and failing, it sounds like) to get them back in, with no parent in sight, guy calls the police and rightfully so. Obviously the situation was NOT under control.

There is a lot of presuming and assuming here. And card stacking. 7:30 in the summer is NOT nearly dark. And even so...so what? My kid has been in the street all alone when he goes to play somehere else and he has been left home alone. He is 9.

If you're assuming things. Why not assume the kids had it under control and the adult, like many of the Hawks here, over reacted?!

BECAUSE THE LAW IN DELAWARE IS 12

It's not "12 unless you're on vacation and the kids are kinda responsible but o shit the dog got out."

PLEASE READ THE LAW BEFORE CLAIMING TO KNOW WHAT IT SAYS.

Q. At what age can I leave my child home alone?
A. While there is no law in Delaware regulating an appropriate age for a child to be left home alone, the Division of Family Services will accept for investigation any report of a child under the age of 12 being left alone. DFS will also accept reports for children age 12 and over if there are any extenuating circumstances (e.g. developmental delays, physical disabilities).

It is best for parents and guardians to take in consideration their child"s comfort level, abilities and overall behavior and to talk to them about potential dangers (fire safety, what to do if someone comes to the door, etc.) before making the decision to leave a child home alone.

That means under 12 is at police and CPS discretion to charge them. Obviously they didn't meet the criteria of level and ability to be alone.

Yes, that does NOT mean that leaving a kid under 12 is always illegal. The mom obviously thought they did meet the maturity level.

Right. But that was a risk she took, because she was wrong. The guidelines clearly state a report will be investigated and parents need to think carefully before leaving kids that young

That is not the same as saying that the law in Delaware is kids have to be 12. When you say that, you make it seem like the mom purposely broke the law. She didn't. She thought her kids were mature enough. Obviously the cops disagreed. The judge will ultimately decide who was right.

Lol the judge is going to go by the LAW . Which is 12.

[Anonymous]

The very act of having the police called and the mom charged proves the kids didn't meet the threshold of "12 or mature enough." Someone called because they were running around and were not under the supervision of an adult. She was wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey peeps. It was NEVER established that her kids ran in front of a car. If yiu are claiming that, you ARE making stuff up. NP btw

According to the police, the dogs ran in front of the car and the kids were trying to get control of them, so presumably they were in the road even if they weren't running in front of cars.

Chances are guy asks where mom is (aka why are your dogs running in traffic and unleashed and why isn't there an adult helping you get them back) and they say oh, she left to get food.

Not surprisingly, as it is nearly dark, there are dogs running in the road, and kids out in the road trying (and failing, it sounds like) to get them back in, with no parent in sight, guy calls the police and rightfully so. Obviously the situation was NOT under control.

There is a lot of presuming and assuming here. And card stacking. 7:30 in the summer is NOT nearly dark. And even so...so what? My kid has been in the street all alone when he goes to play somehere else and he has been left home alone. He is 9.

If you're assuming things. Why not assume the kids had it under control and the adult, like many of the Hawks here, over reacted?!

BECAUSE THE LAW IN DELAWARE IS 12

It's not "12 unless you're on vacation and the kids are kinda responsible but o shit the dog got out."

PLEASE READ THE LAW BEFORE CLAIMING TO KNOW WHAT IT SAYS.

Q. At what age can I leave my child home alone?
A. While there is no law in Delaware regulating an appropriate age for a child to be left home alone, the Division of Family Services will accept for investigation any report of a child under the age of 12 being left alone. DFS will also accept reports for children age 12 and over if there are any extenuating circumstances (e.g. developmental delays, physical disabilities).

It is best for parents and guardians to take in consideration their child"s comfort level, abilities and overall behavior and to talk to them about potential dangers (fire safety, what to do if someone comes to the door, etc.) before making the decision to leave a child home alone.

That means under 12 is at police and CPS discretion to charge them. Obviously they didn't meet the criteria of level and ability to be alone.

Yes, that does NOT mean that leaving a kid under 12 is always illegal. The mom obviously thought they did meet the maturity level.

Right. But that was a risk she took, because she was wrong. The guidelines clearly state a report will be investigated and parents need to think carefully before leaving kids that young

That is not the same as saying that the law in Delaware is kids have to be 12. When you say that, you make it seem like the mom purposely broke the law. She didn't. She thought her kids were mature enough. Obviously the cops disagreed. The judge will ultimately decide who was right.

Lol the judge is going to go by the LAW . Which is 12.

The point is there isn't an actual law, just a guidance.

However for all practical matters (I say this as someone in the social work field) the "CPS guidance" is what the police, and the judges, use in determining if the kid was old enough or not. It isn't a law, but it pretty much serves as one.

[Anonymous]

I don't think there's anything wrong with the general idea leaving an 8 and 9 year old alone in the house for a brief time while you go to get food. However, it sounds like in this situation it somehow resulted in the 8 and 9 year old running around after the family dogs in the street, which leads to me to question whether these particular kids were mature enough to handle it. I don't agree with criminal charges against the mother, but it does seem like maybe these particular kids were not ready for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The very act of having the police called and the mom charged proves the kids didn't meet the threshold of "12 or mature enough." Someone called because they were running around and were not under the supervision of an adult. She was wrong.

That might be witch hunt standards. But the reality is, most of the time leaving 8/9 year old kids at home alone for under an hour is not an egregious error. Witch hunting on the other hand is pretty awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think there's anything wrong with the general idea leaving an 8 and 9 year old alone in the house for a brief time while you go to get food. However, it sounds like in this situation it somehow resulted in the 8 and 9 year old running around after the family dogs in the street, which leads to me to question whether these particular kids were mature enough to handle it. I don't agree with criminal charges against the mother, but it does seem like maybe these particular kids were not ready for it.

It could have been something as simple as the kids letting the dogs out into the yard, the gate not being latched properly and the dogs seeing a squirrel or a cat - and off they went. The kids saw the dogs take off and being the responsible kids that they were, they ran after their dogs to get them back inside the house.

That would fall under "stuff happens".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The very act of having the police called and the mom charged proves the kids didn't meet the threshold of "12 or mature enough." Someone called because they were running around and were not under the supervision of an adult. She was wrong.

That might be witch hunt standards. But the reality is, most of the time leaving 8/9 year old kids at home alone for under an hour is not an egregious error. Witch hunting on the other hand is pretty awful.

not their home

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The very act of having the police called and the mom charged proves the kids didn't meet the threshold of "12 or mature enough." Someone called because they were running around and were not under the supervision of an adult. She was wrong.

That might be witch hunt standards. But the reality is, most of the time leaving 8/9 year old kids at home alone for under an hour is not an egregious error. Witch hunting on the other hand is pretty awful.

not their home

What does that really have to do with anything? We have rented in the same street in Rehoboth for 5 years. My child.knows that neighborhood.pretty well. I am seeing h no compelling argument that a 8 and 9 year old.suddey become helpless in another venue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey peeps. It was NEVER established that her kids ran in front of a car. If yiu are claiming that, you ARE making stuff up. NP btw

According to the police, the dogs ran in front of the car and the kids were trying to get control of them, so presumably they were in the road even if they weren't running in front of cars.

Chances are guy asks where mom is (aka why are your dogs running in traffic and unleashed and why isn't there an adult helping you get them back) and they say oh, she left to get food.

Not surprisingly, as it is nearly dark, there are dogs running in the road, and kids out in the road trying (and failing, it sounds like) to get them back in, with no parent in sight, guy calls the police and rightfully so. Obviously the situation was NOT under control.

There is a lot of presuming and assuming here. And card stacking. 7:30 in the summer is NOT nearly dark. And even so...so what? My kid has been in the street all alone when he goes to play somehere else and he has been left home alone. He is 9.

If you're assuming things. Why not assume the kids had it under control and the adult, like many of the Hawks here, over reacted?!

BECAUSE THE LAW IN DELAWARE IS 12

It's not "12 unless you're on vacation and the kids are kinda responsible but o shit the dog got out."

PLEASE READ THE LAW BEFORE CLAIMING TO KNOW WHAT IT SAYS.

Q. At what age can I leave my child home alone?
A. While there is no law in Delaware regulating an appropriate age for a child to be left home alone, the Division of Family Services will accept for investigation any report of a child under the age of 12 being left alone. DFS will also accept reports for children age 12 and over if there are any extenuating circumstances (e.g. developmental delays, physical disabilities).

It is best for parents and guardians to take in consideration their child"s comfort level, abilities and overall behavior and to talk to them about potential dangers (fire safety, what to do if someone comes to the door, etc.) before making the decision to leave a child home alone.

That means under 12 is at police and CPS discretion to charge them. Obviously they didn't meet the criteria of level and ability to be alone.

Yes, that does NOT mean that leaving a kid under 12 is always illegal. The mom obviously thought they did meet the maturity level.

Right. But that was a risk she took, because she was wrong. The guidelines clearly state a report will be investigated and parents need to think carefully before leaving kids that young

That is not the same as saying that the law in Delaware is kids have to be 12. When you say that, you make it seem like the mom purposely broke the law. She didn't. She thought her kids were mature enough. Obviously the cops disagreed. The judge will ultimately decide who was right.

Lol the judge is going to go by the LAW . Which is 12.

The point is there isn't an actual law, just a guidance.

However for all practical matters (I say this as someone in the social work field) the "CPS guidance" is what the police, and the judges, use in determining if the kid was old enough or not. It isn't a law, but it pretty much serves as one.

There is no law and no guidance saying 12. What it says is that they may investigate cases under 12. Why can't you people read before spouting off?

Here is the actual guidance:

"It is best for parents and guardians to take in consideration their child"s comfort level, abilities and overall behavior and to talk to them about potential dangers (fire safety, what to do if someone comes to the door, etc.) before making the decision to leave a child home alone."

Link: http://kids.delaware.gov/faqs.shtml

The judge will look at the circumstances and decide if the mother should have known that her children did not have the appropriate comfort level, abilities and overall behavior to be left alone for 45 minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The very act of having the police called and the mom charged proves the kids didn't meet the threshold of "12 or mature enough." Someone called because they were running around and were not under the supervision of an adult. She was wrong.

That might be witch hunt standards. But the reality is, most of the time leaving 8/9 year old kids at home alone for under an hour is not an egregious error. Witch hunting on the other hand is pretty awful.

You think the guy who was concerned about an 8 and 9 year old running in the streets after a dog because mom was gone for an hour was witch hunting?? She used shitty judgment, her kids were not safe alone in the house, they were out in the street and a guy almost hit them/their dog and she was at a restaurant. That's BAD PARENTING.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The very act of having the police called and the mom charged proves the kids didn't meet the threshold of "12 or mature enough." Someone called because they were running around and were not under the supervision of an adult. She was wrong.

That might be witch hunt standards. But the reality is, most of the time leaving 8/9 year old kids at home alone for under an hour is not an egregious error. Witch hunting on the other hand is pretty awful.

not their home

What does that really have to do with anything? We have rented in the same street in Rehoboth for 5 years. My child.knows that neighborhood.pretty well. I am seeing h no compelling argument that a 8 and 9 year old.suddey become helpless in another venue.

If she shares your views and her kids knew the neighborhood, mom can share them with the judge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The very act of having the police called and the mom charged proves the kids didn't meet the threshold of "12 or mature enough." Someone called because they were running around and were not under the supervision of an adult. She was wrong.

That might be witch hunt standards. But the reality is, most of the time leaving 8/9 year old kids at home alone for under an hour is not an egregious error. Witch hunting on the other hand is pretty awful.

not their home

What does that really have to do with anything? We have rented in the same street in Rehoboth for 5 years. My child.knows that neighborhood.pretty well. I am seeing h no compelling argument that a 8 and 9 year old.suddey become helpless in another venue.

That kind of familiarity hasn't been in the news yet, but it would likely make a difference to the judge. Also, no one is saying they suddenly become helpless, but clearly these kids weren't mature enough to stay in the house with their dogs and keep the door locked.