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[quote=Anonymous]1) Absolutely do NOT just leave them alone for 15 mins while you run an errand. Yes, this mom is being crazy, but it’s her kid, it’s her call, and she’s been very upfront with you about her expectations. Additionally, talking to the mom or setting boundaries has some risk to the friendship, sure, but getting “caught” leaving the kids home alone guarantees ending the friendship immediately, it’ll be your fault, your kid will be pissed at you and she’ll be right. Do. Not. Do. This.

2) It seems really manageable, if annoying, to not leave the house during planned times when this girl is over. Run your errands at other times, and if an emergency or something urgent pops up, bring them. That really seems like a manageable thing to tolerate in exchange for this friendship for your daughter.

3) The late pickups are a different story. Once, sure, stuff happens, plans fall through. Annoying, but such is life. You miss your class or whatever and shrug your shoulders. However you say this has happened twice recently? So I’m assuming twice in, say, 5 visits or less? That’s a pattern, it’s super rude, and this would really bother me.

The truth is, this problem isn’t really the “no being home alone” rule. The problem is that she isn’t being picked up on time, and her tardiness is making you late. You’re fixating on the mom’s rule because to you, that seems like the obvious solution to the problem. But there are actually a ton of ways for the other mom to solve this problem without her daughter having to be unsupervised.

So what I would do is, anytimr she is coming over that you have plans after, make it very clear to the mom that you have to leave at a certain time. “Yes, we’d love to have Larla for the day. However, I need to leave the house by 6:15, so you’ll need to have her picked up before then.”

Then, if she cancels or is running late, you put the ball in HER court. “Oh, I’m so sorry her ride fell through! Unfortunately, I have to leave the house at 6:15. How would you like me to handle this? I’m happy to drop her somewhere on my way if you can send me an address?”

Let her solve the problem. If you’ve got a 14 year old who can’t be alone, you’re still operating the way the rest of us were when our kids were 7 - you’ve gotta figure out how to get there or how to get someone there. I would bet good money, since her being supervised is so important, she’ll figure something out.

If she responds with like a “oh gosh there is just no way I can get anyone there until 6:30” when you have WARNED her you had to leave at 6:15 in advance, then you say you’re so sorry, but the kids will not be supervised after you leave at 6:15. You do not have to make her lateness your problem when there is a perfectly legal solution as long as you are completely transparent and upfront about it from jump. [/quote]

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