to think you do not leave young children to their own devices...

[LittleGreenMole]

After staying with a friend I'm a bit concerned about her children aged 2 and 5. We stayed for 5 days in a guest house annexe. In that time I witnessed her letting her2 dcs get themselves up each day whilst she stayed in bed, prepare breakfast (ie raid cupboards) and eat total crap, play with the fire etc. She would then leave them unsupervised in garden with huge canal at back and dangerous fencing etc, for one to two hours while she'd have a nap or bath. Having a 3 year old and a 1 year old I found this completely shocking and really worrying. I ended up caring for them each morning/ when she wasn't about, but apparently this is normal whether we were there or not? Aibu to be quite concerned about this?

I don't think at 5 a child needs watching all the time, and I can see how a sensible 5 year old MAY be able to get up and pour some cereal although I wouldn't risk the milk spillage but unsupervised access to a canal certainly doesn't sound good.

I would be concerned too. Is she experiencing any difficulty elsewhere in her life?

It sounds like they are obv used to doing this as I know my 1 and 3 year old (ok a bit younger but still) would be coming into my room every 5 mins to play and whinge at me.

YANBU she is totally irresponsible.

I know I'm a bit pfb with both mine and have go make an effort to let them take risks, so I know I'm often a little over protective but even this doesn't seem reasonable parenting to me.
She is a single mum, but very financially sound and has been on her own since dc2 was born. She seems fine but I suppose looks can always be deceiving.

why is she napping? is she feeling unwell? when i had undiagnnosed hypothyroidism i found it v hard to get up and do stuff. i am sure there are other illnesses that might cause that too. worth a chat anyway over safety etc if you feel up to it

I wouldn't be happy about this either, mainly for the littlest one but having said that I don't really let my dd hang about by a canal on her own and she's 10!

Yanbu. It's very neglectful.

I don't think her financial state is relevant at all. If she is a single mum what support does she have?

Would I let my 2yr old play unsupervised by a canal while I had a bath? No, not for a minute!

YANBU.

The canal thing makes my stomach lurch. My son almost drowned in a pond when he was 2. Can't believe anyone would leave their defenceless little one near a canal with a faulty fence. Just awful

Agree sirzy, just meant its not a worry for her.
Her parents are close and she's a very popular person so out and about alot. Please don't think I'm attacking her, I'm more concerned than anything. We chatted quite a bit whilst I was there and she seemed happy.

This sounds made up but just in case anybody who doesn't take naturally to parenting lands on this page looking for advice, it is not wise to leave 2 year olds to play with fire or run around a canal unsupervised.