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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have woke the children as I had to go to the shop

66 replies

Ilovemyself · 31/08/2013 23:11

Wife has been in and out of hospital for the last week and I have had things on my mind.

We have a prepayment for our electricity and I stupidly forgot to top the key up after it went on to electricity.

It ran out tonight just after our 18 mo twins had gone to bed.

It would have taken less than 5 minutes to go to the shop and top up - but even so I got the twins up and took then and our 6 mo with me. A couple of friends since have said why did I bother waking them - for the time I was gone it wasn't worth getting them up.

WIBU.

OP posts:
WaitMonkey · 31/08/2013 23:12

Are they saying you should have left them home alone ? Hmm

Wonderstuff · 31/08/2013 23:13

I wouldn't have left them home alone. I may have knocked up a neighbour to sit with them for a few minutes though..

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 31/08/2013 23:13

YANBU.

Your friends will be asking what would have happened in those few minutes, but you're obviously of the school of thought that lots of things could go wrong and why take the risk.

I'm with you OP.

ArgyMargy · 31/08/2013 23:14

YANBU, YANBU, YANBU.

Maggietess · 31/08/2013 23:14

Is this a wind up??!!

Of course u should have got them up, how would anyone in their right kinds think it's ok to leave small kids in a house on their own!??!!!

Hopefully these friends don't have kids of their own, as that's worrying...
YANBU not leaving them...

Original poster
Ilovemyself · 31/08/2013 23:14

Yes. As they were all but asleep and I was less than 5 mins they thought there was no real,issue

OP posts:
Blessyou · 31/08/2013 23:15

You did the right thing, PITA for you and them but you won't regret it forever. Had something happened and you'd left them OTOH...

BoozyBear · 31/08/2013 23:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

5madthings · 31/08/2013 23:16

Could you have asked a neighbour to sit in the house whilst you went out?

I wouldn't want to leave little ones ones in bed in the house on their own tho the chances are they would have been fine.

This is why I like the fact my eldest can be left in charge, I can put the younger four to bed ans then go to the shops or go for a run etc.

Silverfoxballs · 31/08/2013 23:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Turniptwirl · 31/08/2013 23:17

Yanbu, better safe than sorry and it was only a few minutes of them being awake

InTheRedCorner · 31/08/2013 23:20

Yanbu although could you to have asked a neighbour?

AppleCrumples · 31/08/2013 23:22

I never post in here but YANBU!

I say this as someone whose dp actuallt forgot about the sleeping baby in a similar situation yesterday! Nothing happened, she was fine and slept through the whole thing but dp is shocked at himself. He will never forget again and i will never leave him in charge again

Its too much of a risk.

StephenFrySaidSo · 31/08/2013 23:24

Doesnt your electric go into 'emergency' credit after 6pm til 8am the next morning?

Original poster
Ilovemyself · 31/08/2013 23:24

Thanks. I can be the over protective father at times so I just wanted to make sure I wasn't being.

OP posts:
Jan49 · 31/08/2013 23:27

I have a prepayment meter and if it runs out there's an emergency credit option which I think gives me £2.50 of electricity so I could manage overnight if necessary. Is that an option for you?

You were absolutely right not to leave them.

Original poster
Ilovemyself · 31/08/2013 23:27

No neighbours in at the time. And you get £5 of emergency - when its gone its gone lol.

It's the first time I have ever had it happen. I felt so bloody stupid.

OP posts:
Bunnygotwhacked · 31/08/2013 23:29

not if you have spent the emergency if i remember right. I would of done the same op would've been a bit huffy with myself but would still of done it. There are hundreds of reasons you could of been delayed at the shop all a teeny chance of happening but still a chance and you can bet the one time you did try to do something would be the one time the shop got robbed/ someone collapsed/car accident needing witness's to stay etc Always better safe than sorry

trashcanjunkie · 31/08/2013 23:30

bloody hell! well done on taking them. You're having a hard enough time with wife in and out of hospital. Give yourself massive brownie points. there are risks worth taking, and this ain't one of them!

CorrinaKedavra · 31/08/2013 23:32

Christ no, YWNBU.

Do you keep a diary or a utility schedule? Having electricity and gas is pretty much in the forefront of my mind after food no matter what is going on.

We're on a meter as well. I top it up once a month but it has to be watched because it only allows £49 at a time on-line. Haven't gone into the emergency credit but you can go out and push a button once it goes off and then pay asap.

Sorry to hear about your wife and I hope she gets well soon.

Original poster
Ilovemyself · 31/08/2013 23:37

Thanks all. I have to say if my wife wasn't such a bloody good mum I would be pulling my hair out by now. But we are lucky to have kids that are always happy and well behaved ( well, 99% of the time lol )

But no brownie points needed - I am their dad and its my job (though not in a bad way)

OP posts:
StephenFrySaidSo · 31/08/2013 23:38

Ah right- mine gives you £1 emergency but if that runs out after 6pm it keeps going til 8am. But i am with powerNI.

ShakeAndVac · 31/08/2013 23:42

YADNBU! Your friends are idiots. 18 months old should never be left home alone. End of.

unlucky83 · 31/08/2013 23:43

YWNBU Whenever I have every been tempted to leave a young DC -even going out to my car (can't park near house - so a couple of mins) I watch this video of how fast a house fire spreads ... that will stop you ever thinking it would be ok - I suggest you get your friends to do the same!

ouryve · 31/08/2013 23:45

You did the right thing - did you ask those friends if they would have been willing to drop everything and mind the babies while you popped out?

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