MB leaves children home alone

[Anonymous]

My MB just doesn’t not think. She will leave the children home alone, to run errands when she knows I’m otw there for take over. Granted I live 5 minutes away, it is still irresponsible and dangerous. I came to her home one day, to find one of my charges on the toilet, bathroom a wreck because he pulled everything from out the cabinets and tossed it everywhere, while and he other charge was laying around watching tv and a pot of food was on the stove, and neither of the children are old enough to be home alone. I was furious, and told her that was a stupid thing to do. Anything could’ve happened while no one was there. NTM, he teenage son stayed home from school one day, and started playing with matches and threw a lit match in the trash can and almost set the upstairs on fire. Had I not come into work, God knows what would’ve happened. I’ve immediately started looking for work elsewhere, because I refuse to work in such an unstable, and dangerous home.

[Anonymous]

How old are the children and was the teenager present when the younger ones were left alone? If the MB is not breaking any laws, I don't know what you can do except quit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old are the children and was the teenager present when the younger ones were left alone? If the MB is not breaking any laws, I don't know what you can do except quit.

They were of elementary and day care ages, and the teenager was not present at the time. It was two separate scenarios. Sorry for not mentioning that above.

[Anonymous]

Check the laws in your state. But aside from turning her in and quitting, what else can you do?

[Anonymous]

How old exactly? Elem age is a bit vague.

FWIW I left my 5yo alone in the house this morning for 8-10 mins while I walked the dogs. She was comfortable with it, she wasnt eating or drinking and it was fine. I know that legally 5 is too young but sometimes we make decisions based on our kids comfort level, not what the law says.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old exactly? Elem age is a bit vague.

FWIW I left my 5yo alone in the house this morning for 8-10 mins while I walked the dogs. She was comfortable with it, she wasnt eating or drinking and it was fine. I know that legally 5 is too young but sometimes we make decisions based on our kids comfort level, not what the law says.

7 and 3. I personally do not think it should be done. Anything could’ve happened, and to leave food on the stove at that. What if the child pulled the food off and burned his/herself, and the other child had no way of helping them or knowing what to do. It’s just unsafe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old exactly? Elem age is a bit vague.

FWIW I left my 5yo alone in the house this morning for 8-10 mins while I walked the dogs. She was comfortable with it, she wasnt eating or drinking and it was fine. I know that legally 5 is too young but sometimes we make decisions based on our kids comfort level, not what the law says.

7 and 3. I personally do not think it should be done. Anything could’ve happened, and to leave food on the stove at that. What if the child pulled the food off and burned his/herself, and the other child had no way of helping them or knowing what to do. It’s just unsafe.

This is the PP. I do think it is wrong at those ages to make a habit of it. A one time thing I might be ok with if you were literally mins away, but not an ongoing thing.

[Anonymous]

A 3-year-old just killed 14 people in New York playing with the stove. There is a reason this is illegal. I would have a very hard time staying in this position. Anything could happen; I wouldn't feel responsible, since she's the one who left, but I would feel terribly sad.

What if you're in a fender-bender on your way there or something?

Unless the children were always sleeping during this time, I think it would make me increasingly uncomfortable, and I would have to quit.

Why not ask MB if she needs to move your start time up by 15 minutes?

[Anonymous]

Parents, please don't leave your children alone unless they are at least 10 -12 years old (and reasonably mature) and have been drilled on what to do in an emergency like a fire. Even if you never leave kids alone, you need to do this as a safety precaution.

More here, but it's more than a legal issue, it's your family.
http://family.findlaw.com/parental-rights-and-liability/when-can-you-leave-a-child-home-alone-.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parents, please don't leave your children alone unless they are at least 10 -12 years old (and reasonably mature) and have been drilled on what to do in an emergency like a fire. Even if you never leave kids alone, you need to do this as a safety precaution.

More here, but it's more than a legal issue, it's your family.
http://family.findlaw.com/parental-rights-and-liability/when-can-you-leave-a-child-home-alone-.html

This. I don't understand taking the chance when there's a babysitter on the way!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A 3-year-old just killed 14 people in New York playing with the stove. There is a reason this is illegal. I would have a very hard time staying in this position. Anything could happen; I wouldn't feel responsible, since she's the one who left, but I would feel terribly sad.

What if you're in a fender-bender on your way there or something?

Unless the children were always sleeping during this time, I think it would make me increasingly uncomfortable, and I would have to quit.

Why not ask MB if she needs to move your start time up by 15 minutes?

Fires start when people are sleeping. I cannot fathom this at all!!!! And the person who leaves their 5 y/o at home... What if she turned in the stove? What if an electrical fire started? What if a nosey neighbor called the police? What if LO was doing gymnastics and broke a body part? 5 year olds do not have the ability to handle an emergency.

[Anonymous]

OP here, I agree with you all. I’ve offered MB to come I. Early if she ever needs to step up for whatever reasons and she will use that advantage, but still rushes out of the house flbefore I arrive, and it’s down right ridiculous. As stated before anything can happen, and the oldest child just learned how to use a telephone, but that still doesn’t make up for whatever else could possible occur in an emergency situation. MB is at fault. Because nothing could be that important to leave your children home alone for even 5 minutes, whether someone is otw or not.

[Anonymous]

I would put something in an email or text about leaving them alone and the bathroom incident to protect myself. On e of these days something terrible may happen and this will document her leaving them alone. CYA!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would put something in an email or text about leaving them alone and the bathroom incident to protect myself. On e of these days something terrible may happen and this will document her leaving them alone. CYA!

I think I would find another job, quit, and call CPS, frankly. When something terrible does happen, I would want to know I tried to protect those children.

[Anonymous]

What you are describing is very dangerous to these kids and others. You have a duty to report this family.