to be furious at dh for leaving DD (7) and DS (3) at home for 5 mins?

[toomanyeasterbunnies]

DH popped out to end of road in car to get some bread. He made sure DD knew how to call him and he went out for no longer than five mins. I am furious. He thinks I am over-reacting. Am I?

I think you are overreacting. No doubt others won't.

Nit at all. Its not only what could happen to them it is what could happen to him whilst out.

*not

I wouldn't have done it.

If the shop is that close-could he really not have taken them with him?

I doubt he was only 5mins by the time he parked, shopped, queued...

Sorry arabella but it is a safeguarding issue. So no she's not over reacting!

you are not over reacting

If something had happened to him whilst out how long would the children have then been left alone?!

eh, i'm torn. if he was really only five minutes, it's not really a problem but i can see why you were upset about it.

No your not overreacting I would go mad too.

no yanbu what if something held him up , as diddl said he could of taken them , what if a fire started or some weirdo knocked the door , things like that happen , id be furious too .

YANBU - I would freak out. That's far, far too young - anything could have happened.

7 year old by themselves I would be mad, but could live with. 3 Year old involved, no way.

There is not actually a legal age to leave a child at home alone. I was surprised when I went on a safeguarding course to find that out.

I've not got kids - but I would say YANBU.

I wouldn't leave them, I wouldn't leave my 10 yr old and 4 yr old.

Not worth it.

YANBU, especially for the 3yo. Why couldn't he take them with him? What other safety corners is he cutting?

How often does something happen to someone popping to the shop that it's always used as an argument on these threads?!?!

I would be furious too

YANBU, that is really crap, made worse because a 3yo is unpredictable and a 7yo is nowhere near old enough to handle that.

7 is much too young to be alone full stop but waaaaaaay too young to have to cope with the insane things a toddler can do in 5 minutes.

There is no legal age, but surely leaving a 7yr old in charge of a 3yr old is illegal?

Well, if anything had happened, it wouldn't be the 7yr old being prosecuted?

Was it really imperative that the bread was fetched then-couldn't it have waited until you got in, OP?

Why didn't he take them with him? Lazy and dangerous.

No way! I have a 7 year old and a 3 year old and would never do this in a million years. Totally irresponsible. I would be furious

I'm on the fence on this one tbh. I'd have no problem leaving a 3 year old in the house for 5 minutes while I hang the washing out. And there's probably only minimally more risk in going to the bottom of the road very quickly.

I would leave a 7yr old for five mins (depending on the child but my ds1 and ds3 were fine to leave at that age for a few mins, ds2 not so fine at that age!)

Wouldnt leave a three yr old, well actually my dd is 27mrhs and i would leave her with 13 yr old ds1 but not with a 7 yr okd!

toomanyeasterbunnies

I recall being just 7 walking to school by myself in a less-than-desirable part of East London, holding my brother's hand who was a year younger than me! We had to make it across roads, high rise estates and potential bullying from much older kids.

I survived it all - and now I can say - I can walk down rough parts of any inner city with confidence (and a scowl if required). I'm NOT saying this is right, but back then (in the 80s) this was the norm and loads of kids were out on the street the same. It helped me become very streetwise.

It's worth putting things into perspective as well as using this opportunity to put some ground rules/agreements with your husband.