To feel uncomfortable that my friend leaves her dd home alone?

[BocaDeTrucha]

My friend has done an amazing job of bringing up her dd as a single mum and since having my ds, I know even more how hard it must be to do it alone. She has now met a lovely new man and live together. Since meeting him she has become a gym fanatic and is looking great but told me the other day that she goes with dp to the gym in the morning and leaves dd alone in bed with a list of things to do to get ready for summer club. She comes back around 10am, takes dd to summer club then goes back to the gym.

She's not forced to leave dd alone to hold down a job (she's not working at the moment) but chooses to do it to go to the gym. This makes me feel a little uncomfortable. Dd is my goddaughter. Am I being too sensitive and is this normal?

I think things were more lax...there were certainly fewer cars around, and more Mums were at home so if your Mum worked there were probably more 'around' iykwim. That being said, I still remember there being or faces at what we used to call latchkey kids, so perhaps things weren't so different back in the 30-odd years ago.

I think that's too young to be home alone for more than 30 minutes or so. I used to be at home on my own when my parents went for their daily walk, but it wasn't very long at all (and I was more than capable and responsible/mature enough). Have a word!

What will happen when the term starts back?

I think what's also a bit sad is that the DM isn't currently working so no need for the DD to even go to the holiday club, or certainly no need for her to go to HC and to spend the 2 hrs before it on her own.

Before I get flamed I know plenty of people who send their DCs to holiday clubs even if they aren't working, and that lots of DCs enjoy it and need the company.

However as the DM has all blinkin day to herself, you'd think she'd use that time to go to the gym, rather than leaving her poor DD on her own. I'm betting that's when her new man goes to the gym so they want to bench press together.

6!!

I wouldn't speak to your friend about it, I'd be anonymously on the phone to,social,services.

In fact if you don't want to, pm me the details and I will.

Child neglect

Helensburgh the OP doesn't live in the UK. You might have to do it in another language!

Six is way too young!!
My DD is 10 and I've only just started leaving her for half an hour if I have a quick errand to run and she is very sensible!
I would have a strong word with your friend first and tell her its just not on and if that doesn't work report it!

I'm not sure what will happen when term starts again. I hope she'll wait till dd has gone off to school then has the whole day to go to the gym.

An emergency I could forgive, but regularly leaving a 6yr old just to go to the gym!? Really!? Poor kid! Pretty sure it's not legal although I stand to be corrected. (Speaking as someone who has a 6yr old and a 1yr old, the 6yr old is very immature tho)

Crikey, that doesn't sound OK at all. But then I'm gobsmacked to think back now that when I was six, I walked home from school on my own, let myself in and entertained myself for two hours until my mother came home from work. Every day. Scarcely believable now. Were things just a lot more lax in the 1980s

I don't know if they were more relaxed, but sometimes needs must. Your mother had to work and probably didn't have any choice.

Yeah, my parents left us to fall asleep at bed time while they went for a walk, but never to wake up and get ready on our own. I'm watching a 6 year old at the moment and no way would someone her age be developmentally ready to take care of themselves.

Six years old for an hour? Even the most sensible six year old could get into trouble quite easily, let's say she wants some food, puts the oven on and cannot turn it off. Turns a tap on, and forgets to turn it off. Can't find her clothes and panics? Runs out of the front door....The list goes on..