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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Leaving kids alone

67 replies

Tictocrobot · 07/03/2022 07:11

Person A gets up early with kids and dog.

Person B fast asleep.

Person A takes dog for a walk (doesn’t disturb Person B) and leaves kids (4 and 7) watching TV.

Person B furious. Person A of the opinion that it’s no different to the kids going downstairs alone if we’re both asleep in the morning.

Who is unreasonable?

OP posts:
Bevvyoc · 07/03/2022 07:13

4&7 are to young to be left alone whilst the only adult in the house is sleeping.

girlmom21 · 07/03/2022 07:14

A. Why didn't they take the kids with them?

PhileasPhilby · 07/03/2022 07:15

I think this is fine but person A should have let person B know they were going out so B could have been on the alert while still dozing.

PamelaFff · 07/03/2022 07:15

I think that’s ok. When mine were that age they would know to come and wake up the sleeping parent if there was a problem.

Pamlar · 07/03/2022 07:15

Of course B is unreasonable.

Billandben444 · 07/03/2022 07:16

If the children usually go down unsupervised while you're both asleep then you're not being unreasonable. How do you stop them coming in and waking you up though - we never cracked that one!

NothingIsWrong · 07/03/2022 07:16

I would have told B I was going but apart from that I don't see an issue

Sweetandsaltycaroline · 07/03/2022 07:19

I'm envious of someone who can sleep through children waking/getting up and partner leaving the house.

misses point if thread

Skyeheather · 07/03/2022 07:21

Person B needs to either get up and walk the dog or get up and watch the kids if they're not happy. They shouldn't get to lie in while person A does everything.

milkysmum · 07/03/2022 07:22

I think this is ok, but if I was A I would have just let B know that I was going out with the dogs So they were aware.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 07/03/2022 07:22

Person B is unreasonable. I think those ages know to wake up the adult if there's a problem.

Sirzy · 07/03/2022 07:23

I wouldn’t be comfy with a 4 year old going down while everyone is alseep so based on that I would have expected a to either wait or wake up b and let them know you where going.

But in a family where it’s fine when both are asleep I don’t see why it makes a difference

Original poster
Tictocrobot · 07/03/2022 07:24

Ok good, I’m not being completely mad! If he’d come to wake me up/tell me he was going out, I’d have got up (or at least listened out whilst scrolling instead of sleeping, ha!)

OP posts:
stuntbubbles · 07/03/2022 07:25

Person A unreasonable but that’s on the basis that DP sleeps like a log so if he were Person B it would be no different to Person A handing the kids a box of matches and some knives and telling them to juggle.

Howeverdoyouneedme · 07/03/2022 07:27

B being a dick. Sounds like a good morning for them.

girlmom21 · 07/03/2022 07:29

@Sweetandsaltycaroline

I'm envious of someone who can sleep through children waking/getting up and partner leaving the house.

misses point if thread

Do you sleep in your living room?
Woeismethischristmas · 07/03/2022 07:47

I assume person B is aware of children and dog, they should be getting themselves up to do their share of the chores. Ime small children don’t want to go out in the cold when they first wake up. Better communication needed all round.

girlmom21 · 07/03/2022 07:54

@Woeismethischristmas

I assume person B is aware of children and dog, they should be getting themselves up to do their share of the chores. Ime small children don’t want to go out in the cold when they first wake up. Better communication needed all round.
Are you never allowed a lie in if you have children and a dog?
Lazypuppy · 07/03/2022 07:56

B is unreasonable

Keladrythesaviour · 07/03/2022 07:59

I think B is unreasonable. If they kids are normally left to watch TV in the morning whilst you both sleep why does it matter if one is in the house and the other isn't?
I think a 7 and a 4 year old (NT) are old enough to sit in front of a TV for 40 minutes and not get into trouble, or at least come and find the sleeping parent if there is a problem!

Sweetandsaltycaroline · 07/03/2022 08:06

Do you sleep in your living room?

No.Confused

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 07/03/2022 08:09

Why was B in bed? Agreed lie in? Worked nights? Was out last nught?

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 07/03/2022 08:09

I can see As train of thought... B is getting their lie in, dog is being walked, children happy. Most children will be fine in this situation too... they know where their parent is, they aren't alone.

A heads up to B would have been courteous though.

Piggy42 · 07/03/2022 08:09

I think B is unreasonable.

OfstedOffred · 07/03/2022 08:10

Are you never allowed a lie in if you have children and a dog?

Probably not, in reality.

If you have young children (4 & 7 is a bit borderline though, 7 fine, 4 really depends on the 4 yo) and you know the dog needs walking first thing, unless the children routinely like a freezing walk at 7am, the other party needs to expect to get up and supervise the kids.