To leave my 3 and 5 year olds downstairs while I take a nap?

[Snossidge]

Basically the kids were all up at 6am today, 1 year old wanted a nap by 9am and I had a bit of a hangover. 3 and 5 year olds just wanted to play lego and watch Adventure Time.

Was I unreasonable to leave them alone for an hour while I napped upstairs?

What is lazy about letting your kids get up before you in the morning while you doze for half an hour? They like a bit of independence. My kids get plenty of time with me, they are not short of my company. My 7 yr old is usually up first quite early, and at weekends he is allowed to put the TV on (he comes and asks us first). My 3yr old will usually come in for a cuddle with us first then she usually joins her brother downstairs and then the 9yr old will hear them talking and go down too. We doze a bit, listening out for any squabbles/problems. Children enjoy having a bit of adult-free time too!
Occasionally we put breakfast stuff out the night before or they'll help themselves to fruit but usually we have breakfast together. However I don't mind them getting their own cereal and juice, although they do make a mess!
I remember last year when my daughter went on the week-long school trip (all 8 and 9 yr olds) and the teacher said she was amazed how many kids couldn't even make their own toast. We do mollycoddle our kids I think.

Chompybot That is exactly how it works in our house (even to the ages) After a while though the 3yr old comes back up, sits on top of us and yells 'get my breakfast' until we oblige.

Dixie, thank you, I will have a look into that. My son is 4 1/2, he's a good boy generally. I was just a bit shocked that he'd gone and poured himself juice and put milk on cereal and sat there. It was everywhere, but he just wanted to watch the TV (which he did!). I have also said to him that it's better to wake Mummy first if he wants to get up and my phone hasn't bleeped (he will often run in and switch off the alarm himself!). This morning he went up to his elder sister when he got up rather than run into me...she was delighted...not.

whatwhatinthewhatnow hope your DS is ok

He is fine now, thankyou mathanxiety . Will probably have a scar but it will teach him not to do it again.

It does go to show that no matter how well you risk assess, you cannot think of everything. There may be something completely normal in your front room that can hurt them (my brother - who was always up to something as well - put his foot through the glass door when he was 6)

I can't believe this thread is still going on.

Is it long enough to be an offical "gate"? Napgate? Or even napzilla?

That is so true, Whatwhat. I often thought my DD4's aim in life was to have some sort of law named after her, a Murphy's kind of a Law.