vuduchile 1,941 Posted January 16, 2019 My sons are 11 and 9. Currently, they'e only home alone for an hour each day when my wife and I take the dog for a walk after work. We are always in the neighborhood and just a phone call away. They have lots of 1/2 days at school when I pick them up and they come back to work with me til 4 or 5. They have a little space set up in the warehouse with a tv, fridge, etc. Sometimes they help clean up or move things around. Other times, they're a distraction. I was thinking of letting them have a go at staying home alone on Friday after their 1/2 day. Of course, when I was a kid, there was not even a second thought about where I was or what I was doing at that age. All my parents cared about was if I was home by dinner time. These days, CPS intervenes if kids are walking home from school. What are the geeks doing? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DonS 3,067 Posted January 16, 2019 Ask John Wetteland 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
posty 2,296 Posted January 16, 2019 Why don't you take the kids on the walk with you? Either way it really depends on the child itself... I felt a lot better having my daughter home alone at a younger age than my son because she was much more mature and independent... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fandandy 3,311 Posted January 16, 2019 Obviously, it varies with the maturity level of the kids. I have a daughter so that makes quite a bit of difference. She is mature and responsible and almost 16 and I still rarely leave her home alone. A bit overprotective I guess. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reality 2,710 Posted January 16, 2019 Middle school was pretty much our barometer. Once you are in middle school, you should be good to go at home for a few hours by yourself. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vuduchile 1,941 Posted January 16, 2019 Why don't you take the kids on the walk with you? Either way it really depends on the child itself... I felt a lot better having my daughter home alone at a younger age than my son because she was much more mature and independent... It's about the only time my wife and I have to ourselves during the waking hours. They walk with us on the weekends when we take the dog to the state park or sand dunes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gladiators 1,904 Posted January 16, 2019 As soon as they're done sucking form the nipple. Survival of the fittest. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TimmySmith 2,782 Posted January 16, 2019 These days the house could be on fire and the kids would be distracted by Fortnite. There is very little danger of much happening. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mobb_deep 917 Posted January 16, 2019 Middle school was pretty much our barometer. Once you are in middle school, you should be good to go at home for a few hours by yourself. That sounds about right to me too. 13 or so. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tanatastic 2,061 Posted January 16, 2019 Totally varies on maturity and sheltered puzsy factor. At 11 I was well able to take care of myself if my parents wanted to go out. Even younger than that really. If a kid is in middle school and needs a babysitter, you have raised a useless crybaby who will likely live at home til hes 30. Remember our generation and older? Like Vudu said, home by dinner, do what you want otherwise. Perfectly capable of being the man of the house at a young age. Now? We have parents thinking their 15yr old wont be able to handle a scary movie or god forbid...a BOOBIE! GASP! You think there are a lot of cucks now? Just wait til the kids today grow up. It will be strange to not be a cuck. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vuduchile 1,941 Posted January 16, 2019 Middle school was pretty much our barometer. Once you are in middle school, you should be good to go at home for a few hours by yourself. My oldest hits middle school next year. He's captain of the safety patrols, a straight A student and pretty responsible. My youngest is also a safety patrol and a good student, but much more reckless. His first comment upon receiving his patrol belt this year was "Yay, we're patrols! Now we can do what we want!" During the summer, unless they are in baseball, basketball or beach camp, they come with me to work. I'd like to start giving them some time alone during the summer so they can move right into it after school next year. Work is only 5 min away and I can pick up and get home any time I need to. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vuduchile 1,941 Posted January 16, 2019 These days the house could be on fire and the kids would be distracted by Fortnite. There is very little danger of much happening. Fortnite and all other online video games have been banned at our house. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MDC 5,890 Posted January 16, 2019 As soon as theyre old enough to take a punch to the face by a 65 240 lb man. So 11. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vuduchile 1,941 Posted January 16, 2019 Totally varies on maturity and sheltered puzsy factor. At 11 I was well able to take care of myself if my parents wanted to go out. Even younger than that really. If a kid is in middle school and needs a babysitter, you have raised a useless crybaby who will likely live at home til hes 30. Remember our generation and older? Like Vudu said, home by dinner, do what you want otherwise. Perfectly capable of being the man of the house at a young age. Now? We have parents thinking their 15yr old wont be able to handle a scary movie or god forbid...a BOOBIE! GASP! You think there are a lot of cucks now? Just wait til the kids today grow up. It will be strange to not be a cuck. Good points. They need to be able to fend for themselves a little. I think they'd probably be fine at home by themselves on half days and during the summer. The sticking point is when they want to go outside. I don't want them locked inside all day but I also don't want them roaming the neighborhood if my wife or I aren't actually in the neighborhood too. I've thought about making a rule that they can go outside, but only in our yard. Not sure how that would work. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vuduchile 1,941 Posted January 16, 2019 As soon as theyre old enough to take a punch to the face by a 65 240 lb man. So 11. They can take a punch from any geek here. Two from you. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
edjr 5,556 Posted January 16, 2019 kevin mccallister was 8 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
porkbutt 861 Posted January 16, 2019 a couple years older than iam90sbaby. should be mature enough by then. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gladiators 1,904 Posted January 16, 2019 As soon as theyre old enough to take a punch to the face by a 65 240 lb man. So 11. So in your case, never? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Filthy Fernadez 2,696 Posted January 16, 2019 Don't risk it. Leaving your kid home alone is dangerous and reckless. Instead drop them off at Holiday Inn where kids stay for free. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reality 2,710 Posted January 16, 2019 Good points. They need to be able to fend for themselves a little. I think they'd probably be fine at home by themselves on half days and during the summer. The sticking point is when they want to go outside. I don't want them locked inside all day but I also don't want them roaming the neighborhood if my wife or I aren't actually in the neighborhood too. I've thought about making a rule that they can go outside, but only in our yard. Not sure how that would work. For my son, when he was in middle school, just turned 16, he would have to text us anytime he wanted to visit some of his friends in the subdivision. Safe area but, sh!t happens, so I was always nervous. He didn't know but, we tracked his phone as well. I could always tell where he was and under no circumstances was he to be without his phone. It sucks for these kids but, right or wrong, they'll never get the freedom we got as kids. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jerryskids 5,191 Posted January 16, 2019 Good points. They need to be able to fend for themselves a little. I think they'd probably be fine at home by themselves on half days and during the summer. The sticking point is when they want to go outside. I don't want them locked inside all day but I also don't want them roaming the neighborhood if my wife or I aren't actually in the neighborhood too. I've thought about making a rule that they can go outside, but only in our yard. Not sure how that would work. Outside in your yard is a fine compromise until you are comfortable with their maturity to go elsewhere. If your concern instead is some perv abducting them, you need to get over it and let them spread their wings. Our job as parents is to train our kids to become adults, and ultimately parents. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fireballer 2,379 Posted January 16, 2019 Middle school was pretty much our barometer. Once you are in middle school, you should be good to go at home for a few hours by yourself. This pretty much. My girls are 13, son is 10. They stay home 3-4 hours by themselves. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Honcho 4,016 Posted January 16, 2019 Wow, in our house it was the exact opposite, our parents wouldn't leave us home alone after the age 14. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Patriotsfatboy1 1,432 Posted January 16, 2019 6 months Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hardcore troubadour 12,626 Posted January 16, 2019 They can take a punch from any geek here. Two from you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
edjr 5,556 Posted January 16, 2019 Wow, in our house it was the exact opposite, our parents wouldn't leave us home alone after the age 14. I begged and pleaded and acted sick and they still wouldn't leave me home when they were going out of town to see family Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wiffleball 4,639 Posted January 16, 2019 Was a latchkey kid starting in the first grade. No worries. But why aren't you taking your kid to walk the dog with you? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NorthernVike 2,080 Posted January 16, 2019 I'd say it depends how close they live to Giants Fan. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vuduchile 1,941 Posted January 16, 2019 Was a latchkey kid starting in the first grade. No worries. But why aren't you taking your kid to walk the dog with you? As stated above, it's basically the only waking hour my wife and I have to ourselves, and we don't even get to do it every day. They're up with us at 6, and we all have sh!t to do in the morning before we're off to work/school. I pick them up from school, wife gets home at 5 and we walk from 5-6. 6-7:30 or 8 is make and eat dinner. Then homework and get sh!t ready for the next day. 8:30-10 is watch tv, play games, play with the dog, hang out. 10 is bed time. If we sex it up, we'll be up til 11 ish. Add basketball, football, baseball practices and games, special events, church, their friends coming over, our friends coming over, and it's gets even harder for us to find adult time together. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wiffleball 4,639 Posted January 16, 2019 Interesting article on how kids bath time can actually help restore some balance and free time to your marriage. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_Yates Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wiffleball 4,639 Posted January 16, 2019 Also, for realz, get a sitter Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DonS 3,067 Posted January 16, 2019 Interesting article on how kids bath time can actually help restore some balance and free time to your marriage. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_Yates Damn Wiff, you've been killing it recently. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gladiators 1,904 Posted January 16, 2019 Interesting article on how kids bath time can actually help restore some balance and free time to your marriage. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_Yates You are one sick fock Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vuduchile 1,941 Posted January 16, 2019 Also, for realz, get a sitter We drop em off at Grandmas sometimes. For the most part, we like doing stuff as a family and so do they. At some point soon, they wont. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kutulu 1,545 Posted January 16, 2019 Any age as long as they are heavily armed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brad GLuckman 518 Posted January 17, 2019 Interesting article on how kids bath time can actually help restore some balance and free time to your marriage. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_Yates I clicked on it thinking I'd get a good tip for our 2 and 4 year old. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gladiators 1,904 Posted January 17, 2019 I clicked on it thinking I'd get a good tip for our 2 and 4 year old. Same. Come to find out it isnt an article. Focking liar. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
titans&bucs&bearsohmy! 2,745 Posted January 17, 2019 Well played wiff. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites