Do you ever leave your children in their own for a few minutes?

[rickman]

Message withdrawn

[Beansmum]

What else were you supposed to do? drag the kids along the road in the snow too? I leave ds alone while I do stuff like that, hanging washing up, putting the bin out, chasing after the stupid postman who never knocks on my door. If I didn't leave him those things would never get done!

[nnosam]

i always nip out into garden, garage or such like to put bin out, washing out, scream at n/doors cat pooing in the garden. surely its the same as leavng them when you have a shower or go to the loo..
sounds like ex p is looking for something to pick on....

[paolosgirl]

If they are very young, then as long as they are safe (ie, you've not left them in the bath or something!), then I cannot see the problem. He's being picky and trying to belittle you IMO. If they are a bit older - then there's no problem at all.

[JJ]

rickman, you're fine. The way to handle it is to tell the kids never to answer the phone when you're out.

[Pinotmum]

Typical comment of someone who doesn't have to do these things with children around - I'd ignore him and change the subject if he raises it again. Otherwise ask him to come round every week to do your bin bags [angry}

[Freckle]

He's being an *rse. Ignore him and tell the children not to answer the phone in future.

[Nemo1977]

of course kids have to be lef ton their own..my ds is 16mths and there is only me here if i sat constantly watching him then nothing else would ever be done..if i go in kitchen to do washing etc he is usually in living room playing and i have put bin out etc so it is perfectly resonable

[hotmama]

Isn't this normal behaviour? Don't we all do this? It's not like you were going shopping or to the local pub. Are we supposed to strap them into the pushchair or a baby carrier if we set foot out of the house?

Sounds like an arse - ignore his crappy comment

[WideWebWitch]

I do it yes. I know the room downstairs is safe, dd can't get to the stairs and mostly when I leave 15mo dd 7yo ds is there too keeping an eye on her. Once he's at school and as she's clingy atm I do take her if I'm going anywhere for any longer than a couple of minutes. You didn't do anything wrong, I assume you know the room's ok too and I agree with JJ about the phone. Wtf were you supposed to do?

[Freckle]

Anyway, it's hypocritical of him to claim to be concerned about their welfare when he diddles his income to avoid paying a fair amount for them - and leaves you struggling to find somewhere to live whilst staying in a nice home himself.

[coppertop]

It would be far more dangerous to attempt taking small children out to the main road while you're struggling with the bin.

How dare he tell you what to do/not do in your own home!

[charliecat]

I leave mine in the hosue with the back door open to do the garden...you havent done a thing wrong..

thread hijack

[milge]

I would have thought that they would be safer indoors than near a road.. maybe if he is so bothered he could come round and do your bins, afterall, its his kids rubbish too...

[Gwenick]

What an idiot - as long as you left them in a safe place (which I'm sure you did) you did no different to 99.99% of other mothers out there! I have showers, put the bins out, hang washing on the line, come on here (have a smoke outside - shhh) and leave the boys playing on their own. I'm never out of the room or out of earshot for more than a couple of minutes and like you said nothing would ever get done otherwise!!

[Carla]

Oh FGS - as was said, I think he's looking for an excuse to have a go. Crikey, I leave mine playing in the garden and nip upstairs - surely that's the same thing?

Did come unstuck though when dd2 had just turned 3. Had hung out the washing in the garden, came back in and received a call from emergency services. Apparently dd2 had rung 999 (the probability of that happening is beyond me) and told them their mummy was out and that she was 8 years old. Boy, did I get a grilling! But I'm certain that's because they had to make sure I wasn't lying, rather than them thinking I was a bad mum for hanging out the washing!

[Tissy]

I give dd (3) the choice of sitting in front of a video on her own while I go out to the woodshed to get wood for the stove, or coming with me to stand in the cold and dark and risk treading on rusty nails and falling over onto sharp spikes of wood....

I do however take my mobile with me so that if I do myself an injury, I can call dd to come and help me!

Memo- get dh to fix the light in the woodshed!

[jampots]

depends how little they are and whether they can hurt themselves while your gone. Would never leave them strapped into a pushchair/pram for a minute alone though

[rickman]

Message withdrawn

[KarenThirl]

I agree with all the others, rickman. As long as your kids are in no danger I can see no harm in leaving them for a couple of minutes.

[Bozza]

I leave mine while doing these jobs. How did ex p know did the kids answer the phone or did he ring back and grill you?

Was sorely tempted to leave mine in bed and go and buy some petrol last night. Petrol station only 30 secs drive away and DH away overnight and not enough petrol to get to work this am. But in the end couldn't do it and got some on the way back from nursery.

[saintshar]

God, it reminds me of my Mum.

I ran upstairs the other day to fetch a jumper because I was freeeezing. Left DS2 in front of the tv - fixated on his favourite programme. (he is 3 in a few Weeks.)

But sods law, my Mum came to vistit just as I had gone. She peeked through the window and saw DS alone. I must have been gone 30 seconds.

Just as I got back downstairs again she was knocking on the door. She didn't half have a go at me!...."What do you think you are doing leaving him alone like that? Anything could have happened - I never did anything like that when you were little...."

yeh right, i remeember her leaving me and my sis playing in the garden when we were little alone. She has a very short and selective memory!

[blossom2]

i have to take the lift down 7 floors, out of our building and go into the next building to throw our rubbish out. we generally do it when we're going out but twice now there has been so much, i've had to leave DD in the flat (3yrs). i've asked her to come but she said she would rather stay in the flat.

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

He is being ridiculous. Much safer that you sorted the rubbish that way, than trooped all the children out with you to the road to leave the rubbish! He's trying to wind you up and is probably fed up that you're doing a brill job on your own with them, so is moaning about anything, even if it's completely irrelevant, as is the case here.

[Bozza]

saintshar that is ridiculous. Grandmas eh?

[amylou]

just read this message! FGS! what does he do when he has her! does he stay in the same room with her 24 hrs a day??!!

what a idiot! hes just trying to get at you! just ignore him!