parenting & exercising question
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I usually go to the gym during my lunch hour at work... however, since mine is only 2, I will take her with me on walks or I will leave her at home with her dad usually while she is napping.0
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Not a parent yet but I'd say around 12 would be my limit for leaving a kid alone. Just basing that off when I grew up so maybe that will change by the time the issue comes up.0
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Ive got 3 kids 3, 5, 7 I also live next door to my grandparents. I would never leave them by there selves to go work out but If Im going to run up and down the street (small dead end street) My kiddos are either outside or in my grandmas back yard playing. If I leave in the morning before the kiddos get up I lock the doors but My husband is usually home too if the kids need something they can wake him up so I guess no Id never leave them without some sort of Adult around....0
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If it's an option, look into joining a gym that has childcare available instead. My kids love it and look forward to it!0
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My husband and I will leave our daughters (7 and 9) home alone for 30 minutes when we run. We live out in the sticks, and our running route (3 miles max) circles around our neighborhood. They've been drilled and redrilled on safety (when (and when not) to call 911, which phone numbers are safe to answer on caller ID, never answer or even go to the door). We also have a nice big dog with a nice big bark.
In addition to this, we both have our cell phones with us at all times and our cell phone numbers are posted near the phone in the house. We often communicate with them every few minutes on the run.
I doubt I would have left them alone any younger than this, but they are smart girls and I think you've really got to look at maturity as well as age. In my state, there isn't a law determining a minimum age to be left alone. I certainly wouldn't leave them home alone and drive to the gym or the grocery store, but walking around the neighborhood, sure.0 -
My parents didn't leave to exercise, but they left early to go to work. I would stay home alone from 3rd grade until high school. I had to wake myself up, get ready, have breakfast, and get myself out on time to the bus. I would also have to come home let myself in, get a snack and do my homework and my brother would be home @4:30 from sports practices and my parents would get home around 5:30. Kids shouldn't have to take care of themselves so much. But they are certainly capable. Leaving the house, to go run the neighborhood, or go to your gym while they are still sleeping; I see nothing wrong with that. Lock the house up tight and make sure they know where you are and that you have a phone on you just in case they need you.0
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After a disagreement with my eternally pessimistic husband this AM, I have a question....
If your husband is indeed "eternally pessimistic" then it doesn't matter what answers you get because it wont change him from being eternally pessimistic. That's what eternally means.
I'd be hesitant to leave house plants alone with someone that negative.0 -
Can you crate them when you go out?0
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Not a parent yet but I'd say around 12 would be my limit for leaving a kid alone. Just basing that off when I grew up so maybe that will change by the time the issue comes up.
I think this definitely comes into play in terms of a parents' comfort level. Both my husband and I were "latch-key kids" in the 80s, meaning that we'd get off the bus alone in the afternoon and be there until our parents came home from work. I became a LKK when my sister went to college. I was in 3rd grade. Remembering my own comfort level and what I was taught at the time definitely was a factor when testing our kids out being home alone for a few minutes (I don't leave them for more than 30 minutes when I run).0 -
Can you crate them when you go out?
Yes. If you put peanut butter on the bone, it'll keep them good for like... 12 hours.0 -
Can you crate them when you go out?
Yes. If you put peanut butter on the bone, it'll keep them good for like... 12 hours.
If you stick it in the freezer the night before, it'll last even longer.0 -
I workout when my son is at school. This only works because I only work part time though. If I exercise at night I make sure my boyfriend is home to take care of the kid.
I would never leave him on his own. He's only 5 though... 0 -
It's funny to see how over protective some parents are. My mother worked late hours because she owned her own business when I was growing up. Sometimes I'd spend a few hours at a neighbors. But she never had a problem leaving me home alone with my little sister. I was in elementary school and my sister was 5 years younger. If your children aren't little brats, they should be fine. Call and check in. Give them an emergency phone number and make sure they know how to call it. Don't use the stove, don't open the door for anyone, etc. Obviously you shouldn't leave them home alone for probably longer than an hour or so, but I personally don't see the issue.
Now, if they're smaller than 8 or so I'd say it's probably not the safest idea.0 -
Can you crate them when you go out?
Yes. If you put peanut butter on the bone, it'll keep them good for like... 12 hours.
12 hours? That is either a lack of skill or fantastic stamina......0 -
Can you crate them when you go out?
Yes. If you put peanut butter on the bone, it'll keep them good for like... 12 hours.
If you stick it in the freezer the night before, it'll last even longer.
And people say there is no useful information on the forums. Sheesh.0 -
mine are 8 and 12. I've recently started leaving them during the day for a quick store run - doors locked and answer for no one, but me.0
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It’s normal to feel awkward about this as you mention about the pessimistic husband. I recommend home workout as you don’t have to leave home, this is a good point in convenience.0
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I think children should be locked in their room constantly until they turn 18. Then they should be kicked out to fend for themselves.Can you crate them when you go out?0 -
Can you crate them when you go out?
lol, I used to tell my kids I was going to do that. That, or hang them by their toenails in their closets, but I was J/K, in case people are dial happy to CPS.0 -
I am more interested to know what the disagreement was about that led to this post. But anyway, I have an 18 month old and a 6 year old. Sometimes I have left them alone to go take the dog out but I don't go far and quickly return to the house. If I cannot find a babysitter or my husband cannot watch them, I will incorporate my exercise with the kids. I think it is important that we as parents do active things with our children as well or else they will have to fight the same battles that we are fighting today. So I will normally walk around the neighborhood with my 18 month old in the stroller and my 6 year old on the bike or scooter.
I also signed my 6 year old up for dance class at the local fitness center. She would go dance and I would go exercise. I would drop my 18 month old off at the daycare (1st hour was free). Sometimes the daycare would be full. I would always be prepared to walk around the outdoor track or have my son's carrier with me to walk around the indoor track (no strollers on the indoor track). now that he is older he could probably walk around the indoor track instead of me carrying him.
I would also attempt to do light exercise at home. Either find something on netflix, youtube, or if you have xfinity they have a good selection of fitness videos. I would do these while my 6 year old was practicing piano or doing homework. Sometimes she would join me as well and it would be a good time. My 18 month old always finds it funny when I do push-ups or planks, lol.
But you can definitely find a way to incorporate children into your fitness routine without much disruption, if that is what you have to do.0 -
I wouldn't, not if the child is under 13 anyway. Absolutely note. I'd be too worried if something happened while i was out.0
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How do you know how old they are? The OP never mentioned their ages. They could be 21 for all you know. :noway:are you kidding me? I thought it was illegal to leave kids alone, if under the age of 14? I certainly wouldn't dream of leaving my 5 year old home alone just to go for a friggin run. God can't you take them with you , go to the park or something??? newsflash: your kids come first. I am horrified!0 -
I would say it depends a lot on how old your children are, their maturity level and whether or not your "pessimistic" husband has a valid reason for his concerns.
We left our son alone for an hour the first time when he was 11, left him all set up with a video playing on our computer and instructions that we would be home before it ended. Came home to find my browser history full of internet porn and one very embarrassed young man that I had found out. lol
We lived in an apartment complex at the time and had a fantastic relationship with the downstairs neighbor who we made sure would be home and arranged for them to help if he had an emergency.0 -
13mo old and 11yr old. I know, huge gap.
My older kid is very mature and I can count on her (she learned infant cpr. I still feel until my older kid is older, she shouldn't be left home alone for long periods of time. Our neighborhood is okay and we have good neighbors, but still. Too much cray in this world right now. Not the same type of childhood for these kids as we had. When she's 12/13, I'll feel a little better maybe.0 -
We didn't feel comfortable leaving the kids until they were 8 and 12, and even then it was only for an hour at a time. Mostly when the kids were younger I would run our street or around the block if they were sleeping and such.0
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My daughter is 6 and there is no way I would leave her in the house alone for any reason. I do my exercise in the time between putting her on the school bus and starting work.0
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My son is 5 and my daughter is 3. I wouldn't leave them alone in the house to go to the gym because they're too young but I've left them alone while I walked the dog (I can still see the house) I would imagine I would feel comfortable leaving them awake if they were 10 and 12 maybe? I don't know what those ages are like really, I'm just taking a wild guess. Could be sooner, could be later. Sorry, I'm no help! lol0
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Mine are 10, 12, and 14. I started leaving for 30 mins at a time to go run when my oldest was 8 or 9. Old enough to call me if something came up. My neighbors were always home too, so it never worried me. Now, I take them with me. More for motivation than anything. They're great little runners!0
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Can you crate them when you go out?
I tried that once - they tend to escape:
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No way I would leave my 6 year old alone if I was stepping off my property. That being said, I am sure he would be fine on his own before the age of 14. He is smart. I just don't trust our rental house, which I am sure is violating a ton of city codes, or our neighborhood. The people on my street are great but there are a lot of Chicago criminal revocations here. All in all, I think there is no good age and all depends on your kids and home situation.
On the other hand, my #1 peeve with kids is when people leave them in the car to go into a gas station. There is a lady who lives near me who leaves her kindergartner in the car when she goes into the store or the gas station. My son is in kindergarten and I don't even like him being in the front yard alone, let alone in a car or running around the neighborhood. I see it with babies too. If I could carry my infant, carseat and all, into the gas station to get a pop, so can you! I WILL break into a car and call 911 if I see a baby in a car alone.0
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