To leave my 7 yr old home alone for 30mins ?

I find threads like these so interesting.

I was 7 in the 90s, pretty sure it was around that age that I was left at home for short periods. I was also allowed out to play on my own out of sight of the house.

Was this neglectful parenting, or do we monitor kids too much these days and stop them developing independence? Bit of both I think.

7 is probably a bit too young in 2024 though I guess, based on these replies.

Try to go to your son's important day.

You can't leave a sickly seven year old home alone.

Hire a baby sitter for an hour, even if you pay double.
Is there a church friend or friend from a voluteer group you belong to, a work mate?
There must be someone who is trustworthy. .a neighbour?

Your daughter doesn't need to like them as she might not spend any time in the same room, given the Chicken Pox, but someone needs to be in the house or garden. (Do you have a trustworthy female lawn mower?)

She doesn't have anyone to watch her, that's the point

Christ. We had a final y6 assembly. It was probably the same thing. Awards given. Songs sang.

Only my school didn't call it graduation.

It's just a word.

I can’t believe this is even a consideration. Poor kid. They want to be taken care of at the best of times, even more so when they’re ill. My son who is now 13, till very recently used to say “who is looking after me!” When I had to go somewhere. There was always someone. I would never have left him.
You just cannot go unless you can get someone to watch your child. The end.

Definitely too young, and your 7yo is also unwell making it even worse to leave them. Your older child will suffer much less from you not being at this assembly than your younger would suffer from being left home alone when ill at such a young age. Your older child will understand that if they were the ill one, you'd do the same for them.

That’s a good idea!

Do you have a class what's app group? I'm not particularly close to any of the parents in ours but I'm sure a couple of them would take some photos / video if I asked, I'm sure they'd understand

It's absolutely not a "graduation", clearly.

Could your 7 year old sit in the playground, it’s not cold? Or could someone sit with them in the house or even in the garden? Just there in case of emergency

Never heard of a Year 6 Graduation.They seem to make a fuss about everything these days. I can't even remember the last day of primary school though I have vivid memories of my first day.

Nevertheless, the school have obviously built this up as a big occasion to the kids and it will be a big deal to your son. I can see how much it means to you to be there as well.

Is he expecting you to be there or did you prepare him for you not turning up? If you didn't it might be a good idea to try and send a message warning him rather than have him looking out for you and being disappointed.

Hopefully someone will be able to take a photo or video for you. Maybe you could get him a little treat and make an extra fuss of him this evening to mark the occasion.

That sounds like it might work. Fresh air might do the 7 year old some good... and you can be at a distance (with masks?)
I was also going to suggest maybe a special tea when he gets home, make it more of a treat.
Hope you find a way OP.

Everyone saying y6 graduation isn't a thing -so you aren't missing anything are completely missing point. 🙈

Regardless of what the school have arranged OP wants to be there for her son

Shit situation- I've been there as a single parent. Not much you can do except ask someone to video it.

Hope the 7yo gets better soon

OP, aside from really not being okay to leave a poorly 7 year old home alone, I'd be very surprised if you could really be to the school, home again and watch a year 6 leaving assembly all within 30 minuses, regardless of how close you live to the school.

I’d call the school and ask if one of the office staff/floating teachers would watch your DC whilst you go to the leavers do.

Not quite the same, but the teacher on the gate watched one of my DTs whilst I collected the other one when they tag teamed chicken pox this year. I know my school would be happy to do it if there was no other option for me. Worth asking anyway!

Could you ask the school if they could come along and wait in the reception hall or medical room or something similar just for a wee half hour?

Could you and sick 7 year old go and stand outside to watch for them coming out? Keep a good distance from others?

This or a neighbour who could sit in house for 10 mins or an older sibling of someone in class..is there a whats app group you can reach out to.. Such a shame to miss it as of course leaving primary school is really a big thing, I can't understand the people who think it isn't!! If it's tomorow and the spots have scabbed over by then ...you might be able to go ? Hope you can get something sorted x

I suppose the point there is you fully acknowledge you would have to lie to a teacher if they asked and say you had got a baby sitter. So you know yourself it would be completely wrong, and social services referral worthy, to leave a 7 year old at home alone to attend an assembly.

It is rubbish and in an ideal world there would be a baby sitter/family/other parent but if there are none of those things then it simply is what it is, you can’t go.

Could you not facetime one of the parents attending the leavers assembly and have them hold the phone up so you can see and attend virtually? Or ask the school about being sat on a chair as a laptop and attend through Teams or something?

I really don't see how you could justify leaving a sick 7 year old alone who has told you they don't want to be left.

A year 6 graduation might sound daft to some but it is a big deal for the kids and most parents.

Leaving primary school is a big deal.

I’d ask the school if they would allow you a room for you 7 year old to sit away from everyone for the duration. On the understanding that you’d arrive early and leave before/after the other parents/children.

Are they at the same school? Imagine if a teacher asked oh how is so and so?
And you say oh she is fine I am video calling her now as left home alone at 7!.
As if the teacher would think that is OK?? How has common sense not kicked in enough for you to realise this.
Year 6 graduation is daft anyway . Explain to that child you cannot attend .
And nothing at these type of school events is 30 mins. They always run on .