Don't tell anyone!

[BarleySugar]

I was just cleaning up the kitchen after dinner and I heard two girls in conversation outside my window. They weren't very old, 9 or 10 I would think. I don't know who they were, but we have a footpath in front of our houses, so they could be from anywhere in the village.

Anyway one girl said to the other.....

I'm not allowed to tell anyone this, so you mustn't tell anyone. When we go back to school Mum has a new job and won't be home until after 6 so I have to get the key from 'its hiding place' and let myself in. I can't take the key to school in case I lose it.

I wonder how many of her friends the girl has told/will tell, and how many will pass it on to others. It's worrying to think that she was giving away the actual hiding place of the key, and that she will be home alone for probably 2-3 hours each night.

[squashysu]

OMG that terrible, i hope the child is ok, even though there is no legal age in which to leave your child, i am just hoping she is sensible, but after hearing her, i dont think she is??

[Marthaclematis]

From the age of 12 I was a 'latch-key kid' (as I disparagedly used to put it; I didn't like it) I would get in from school at 4.30 and mum and dad got in at 5.30 - my mum didn't let me take the key to school either BUT - it wasn't hidden anywhere, it was kept with our next door neighbour. Its sad that communities are different these days that that girls mum hasn't got a neigbour to leave the key with.

[zazen999]

I was babysitting my younger brother and step sister from the age of 9 and a half...I grew up pretty fast when my stepfather [hiss spit] - on my first night of babysitting told me - don't let the curtains get too close to the back of the TV, they might catch fire. but if they do, don't worry, just pick up the TV and throw it out the window.

9 and a half...

Do you remember the size of TVs back in the last 70s?

I couldn't lift one now, let alone then.

[Marthaclematis]

Reading your message back, that's a long time for a child to be alone; especially in winter when its dark, poor kid. She'll have to eat her tea on her own. I know a childminder would cost, but it if were my child I'd just have to pay.

[Nicos]

She'll probably sit and watch TV until someone comes and feeds her!

[Marthaclematis]

yeah, or decide she knows how to make chips and sets the house on fire!

[Seahorse]

I would suspect that the most likely scenario is that Mum is between a rock and a hard place with trying to be a loving, present parent and also needing to earn enough to keep the wolf from the door. Of course it's not ideal for a 9/10 year old to be alone at all (nevermind for hours) but it may be the 'least worst' option in the circumstances.

[Alice]

I think you're right Seahorse. The situation is not ideal but the options might be worse. And children are capable of much more than we credit them with. Hopefully this situation is better than it looks. Also looks like the girl is only looking after herself. Many children that age are actually carers for their sick parents, or for younger children.
I hope it all works out well for her and her Mum and together they can make it.

[jackie j]

I have been a single parent of four boys I managed to work part time but I always took them and picked them up from primary school and always home before them when they were at senior school. When I had my daughter I took and fecthed her from school as well. A child needs a parent at home to talk about the day when they get in not a couple of hours later.