Leaving kids unattended in RV all day?

Crowe wrote:
today, a 9 year old can heat a meal in a microwave very safely

And possibly give himself a severe burn.

From a microwave? Wow, that's a stretch.

Crowe wrote:
They can sit inside their RV watching TV and eating microwavable mac & cheese until mom comes home.

Real healthy.

So? Is other people's health now your concern too? This kind of thinking is where the 32oz soda bans are coming from.

Crowe wrote:
Kids don't need to be handling dangerous stuff to get through a single day.

But that doesn't mean they won't.

Leaving kids that age alone is just asking for trouble. Remember, some of those supporting this person are some of the same that scream when parents don't watch their children and they are being disturbed. Out of sight, out of mind shouldn't apply here.

Crowe, you are a reasonable person and I enjoy your posts but please consider that you do have a very personal opinion on this topic based upon a tragic accident in your family. I'm terribly sorry for your family's loss and it shouldn't take away from your opinion, however I'm also a firm believer in not changing mentality or policy as a reaction to a freak accident. There will always be that next thing that someone should have thought of. There will always be accidents. So much of our freedom has been slowly eroded away by well-meaning (but over-reacting) emotional-based decisions.

At our kids' private school, we had a lengthy discussion with the well-meaning principal as to why there were so many over-reaching, specific playground rules. One of her responses about a specific piece of equipment was "someone got hurt real bad once." That kind of reactionary thinking is a dangerous slippery slope.

FunnyCamper wrote:
wow JAX that is unreal story. SS called for your karate lessons others spied on ya in your own home. good gravy!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes. I wish it was the boys that had to explain why they were beating up me..... ;) That would have been funnier.

wow JAX that is unreal story. SS called for your karate lessons others spied on ya in your own home. good gravy!!!!!!!!!!!

Crow I am very happy you are not my next door neighbor. WOW.

I had social service called on me for beating the heck out of my boys. Yes that is right they got called. The SS guy came and was very nice. Even invited me out to lunch his treat.... ok I'll go.

About 10 minutes into lunch he says.. "we have reports from a neighbor that you were hitting and kicking your 3 sons in the garage last Tuesday"... I thought for a minute and said... "Yap your are correct I sure was"... He said... "Why ?" I said .... "it was Tuesday Karate Class, we have karate classes ever Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and this last Tuesday it was to hot to have the garage door closed". Case was dropped after he talked to the boys, but there was still a record kept on file forever. OH yea, from then on we kept the door open even in the winter months...just so the neighbors had something to do.

Don't mind OTHER PEOPLES BUSINESS. Thank you for your time.

heck I know 9-10-12 year olds that are more responsible than some adults who drink and drive, who drug out recreationally on weekends and are overall azzes in life :)

it isn't just about being a kid, it is your maturity level at what age also.

I am in the field of leave the family alone unless immediate help is required, then ya help and back off. the situation is not ideal, but then again the parent could be home drugged up on the floor dying in front of the kids also (sure can easily happen) and then ya think, what situation is better?

darned if you do, darned if ya don't

too many assumptions here big time.

today, a 9 year old can heat a meal in a microwave very safely

And possibly give himself a severe burn.

They can sit inside their RV watching TV and eating microwavable mac & cheese until mom comes home.

Real healthy.

Kids don't need to be handling dangerous stuff to get through a single day.

But that doesn't mean they won't.

Leaving kids that age alone is just asking for trouble. Remember, some of those supporting this person are some of the same that scream when parents don't watch their children and they are being disturbed. Out of sight, out of mind shouldn't apply here.

good god people just cant leave well enough alone. I was 8 years old and home alone while both my parents worked. Had a job as well at that age. you get Social Services involved? That is the worst thing you could do. You really think SS is going to be helpful?

toedtoes wrote:

Crowe wrote:
Turtle, that's an extreme case and a poor example. There are far too many stories of kids getting hurt or killed because of being left alone when they were too young. And sorry, there's no difference if mom is off working or mom is off playing-ultimately the end result is the same, potential endangerment of underage kids. You would all be judging pretty harshly if mom had gone off grocery shopping and something happened, despite the fact that they have to eat.

The more I think about it the more I feel someone needs to find out what's going on. Those kids are way too young to be alone. If my grandmother and mother were alive I'd have them post how they felt after losing a son/brother under similar circumstances.

I do understand your concern AND I am very sorry about what your family has endured.

However, times are different. Nowadays, kids don't have to deal with oil lights/heating/stoves, etc. Today, a 9 year old can heat a meal in a microwave very safely, they can turn on an electric light safely, etc. They can sit inside their RV watching TV and eating microwavable mac & cheese until mom comes home. They can eat cereal, etc., that doesn't even require heating. Kids don't need to be handling dangerous stuff to get through a single day.

Good points. Don't forget that these days Mom is a phone call away no matter where she is, unlike the days before cell phones. That makes a HUGE difference in what kids have to figure out for themselves, yet we as a society are worrying even more.

And, no, I would judge her any harsher if she were out grocery shopping.

Crowe wrote:
Turtle, that's an extreme case and a poor example. There are far too many stories of kids getting hurt or killed because of being left alone when they were too young. And sorry, there's no difference if mom is off working or mom is off playing-ultimately the end result is the same, potential endangerment of underage kids. You would all be judging pretty harshly if mom had gone off grocery shopping and something happened, despite the fact that they have to eat.

The more I think about it the more I feel someone needs to find out what's going on. Those kids are way too young to be alone. If my grandmother and mother were alive I'd have them post how they felt after losing a son/brother under similar circumstances.

I do understand your concern AND I am very sorry about what your family has endured.

However, times are different. Nowadays, kids don't have to deal with oil lights/heating/stoves, etc. Today, a 9 year old can heat a meal in a microwave very safely, they can turn on an electric light safely, etc. They can sit inside their RV watching TV and eating microwavable mac & cheese until mom comes home. They can eat cereal, etc., that doesn't even require heating. Kids don't need to be handling dangerous stuff to get through a single day.