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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

510 replies

Snossidge · 13/09/2015 17:19

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?

OP posts:
msgrinch · 13/09/2015 21:21

I agree Costa I doubt any actual parent is that selfish. "oh I fancy a nap" yeah don't we all!

Floggingmolly · 13/09/2015 21:21

They're often outside alone?

Meandyou150 · 13/09/2015 21:22

I too wonder if this is a wind up.

If not totally and utterly piss poor parenting. I too would report you if I knew you sorry

Lara2 · 13/09/2015 21:24

As an infant teacher I'd be mentioning it to our CP person if a child told me that. Sorry, but tough luck - when your children are awake, you have to be there too. Stop trying to convince yourself that it's OK because they could be hurt if they were playing in their rooms and you were downstairs. Yes, that could happen, but merely by the fact that you are awake and being the responsible adult, you aren't being neglectful. Nipping off for an hour or more is neglectful - by being asleep you are effectively absent.

Original poster
Snossidge · 13/09/2015 21:24

I'm not always in the garden if they are playing out there Flogging and the oldest sometimes plays with his friends out the front (though I keep an eye out).

OP posts:
Spilose · 13/09/2015 21:24

Why post if you're not willing to accept that YES, YABU.

I'd doze on the sofa and put a movie on for them.

Bunnyjo · 13/09/2015 21:24

So, if you tend to sleep with one ear open, why couldn't you nap on the sofa instead? That doesn't fit in with your previous assertion of sleeping in a different room so you could get some sleep and have a relaxing nap.

Honestly, I am beginning to agree with Costa on this...

SlowlyGoingINSAINIA · 13/09/2015 21:25

Well hopefully you are awake in the morning with them/ until they are asleep so you can respond faster and that you don't leave them alone for too long. I would also hope that you have removed dangerous items like string etc from their rooms.

Original poster
Snossidge · 13/09/2015 21:25

Because on the sofa they'll want to sit on me, talk to me, get me to fix toys etc.

OP posts:
Costacoffeeplease · 13/09/2015 21:25

I actually put my 5/6 month old kittens in their pen if I go for a nap or go out, as I worry they'll chew through electric cables or hang themselves on the curtains if I'm not keeping an eye on them Shock

Iggly · 13/09/2015 21:25

If my kids were playing for an hour, I'd check in on them every now and then!

Lara2 · 13/09/2015 21:26

I'll say it again OP, tough luck!

Iggly · 13/09/2015 21:26

Your 5 year old plays out front?
Madness

bingandflop · 13/09/2015 21:27

This reply has been deleted

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Original poster
Snossidge · 13/09/2015 21:27

Yes Iggly along with half the kids in his class.

OP posts:
Meandyou150 · 13/09/2015 21:27

"Because on the sofa they'll want to sit on me, talk to me, get me to fix toys etc."

My god poor you! Hmm
This has got to be a joke

Did you not understand what having kids meant when u had them or something?!

Bogeyface · 13/09/2015 21:28

As someone with chronic insomnia who often needs a nap to make it through the day, no I wouldnt do this.

A "relaxing nap" is not something that happens when you have kids in the house, well it does for them but not for us.

Just think about it this way....if anything did happen, do you want to explain the SS where you were and what you were doing when you 5 and 3 year olds were unsupervised to the point of something serious happening?

No? Thought not.

WorldsBiggestGrotbag · 13/09/2015 21:28

I get up when mine get up in the morning, don't most people?

msgrinch · 13/09/2015 21:29

Yes dear that's called being a mother, that's what you do! Your tired? Doze on the sofa and deal with the fixing toys etc, like the rest of us! 6 am is hardly early for children of that age. Take some responsibility for your children, youre a mother now, you can't just nap as and when you want.

SlowlyGoingINSAINIA · 13/09/2015 21:29

Why don't you care about reducing the risk of harm to your children?

Costacoffeeplease · 13/09/2015 21:30

But op said she's happy to say she was upstairs asleep to anyone - it's just the hangover bit she wasn't keen on owning up to

crumblybiscuits · 13/09/2015 21:30

Shock How dare your children want you to actually interact with them instead of neglecting them?

minionmadness · 13/09/2015 21:31

I'll make sure not to nap while hungover in future, just when I fancy a nap, so I have a clear conscious telling A&E about it

Of course you will OP... since your needs clearly override those of your dc!

Meandyou150 · 13/09/2015 21:31

I know crumbly the cheek!

Original poster
Snossidge · 13/09/2015 21:32

6am is too early for me, others are of course free to get up whenever they want. I've always treated anything before 7am as "night time" and luckily we have rarely had to cope with very early starts.

Why don't you care about reducing the risk of harm to your children?
That's a fairly odd thing to ask Confused What kind of response are you looking for? Of course I "reduce the risk of harm" to them in a hundred ways every day, but this particular risk is low enough that I am ok with it.

OP posts: