9 year old babysitting sibling all day

[Glitteryone]

My daughter has just told me that one of her 9 year old friends from school was off yesterday as she was babysitting her 5 year old sibling whilst they had norovirus!

They live in a very remote area - 20 mins drive to the nearest village or town, no neighbours nearby.

Apparently the girl spent the day cleaning vomit and her mum rewarded her with a bar of chocolate for doing so.

The mum works full time and given their remote location she would have been out of the house for 10 hours in total!

The dad is in another country at the moment on a work trip.

AIBU to be completely shocked by this?

Surely this isn’t acceptable

It may not be true. Her friend could be telling a white lie.
Then again it could be if DM was desperate. Even if she was desperate it is not a good enough reason.

Shocking, I hope your child got the wrong end of the stick somehow

Sadly, this is surprisingly common.

That's so shocking I would think it unbelievable.

Honestly, I would take that with a pinch of salt. If you're concerned mention it to the school discreetly. They'll have a better idea of the child's family situation and be better placed to do a bit of digging. Please don't gossip about it at the school gates though because it could be bollocks!

Speak to the safeguarding lead at school op. It’s probably not true but please don’t ignore it.

My first thought is your childs friend is exaggerating or your DC has picked up the story wrong.
Maybe mum was there and also ill or working from home?
If your gut instinct is this is true then in would mention to school staff.

I wouldn’t leave a child being sick and I wouldn’t leave 9 year old on their own even if they were well nor with a 5 year old.

I do leave my secondary age year 7 and year 8 children home alone in school holidays and occasionally leave my 9 year old (year 4) child with them if just popping to the shops etc but I wouldn’t leave any of the children if they were being sick or were unwell - high temp etc as you just never know when they might go down hill.
I do work a 5 minute drive away so know that if anything goes wrong I can be home ASAP. I wouldn’t leave them if going far away or at night as the risk of the power going out is greater etc (well the risk isn’t greater but trying to sort things out in the dark is much worse and more frightening then in the daylight when they can just read a boom or something until I get home.