To think my little boy is an absolute sweetheart?

[Maythefoursbewithyou]

I don't drink often, almost never because I'm terrible at it. Anyway, a series of strange events yesterday meant that I ended up very much on the sauce and quite pickled when I went to bed at around 3am.
Husband is very asleep and I woke up about an hour ago feeling bloody rotten. My 7 year old came into my bed with a tin of biscuits and a pint of squash and had put ' call the midwife' on my work computer which doubles as the TV for my bedroom. I just couldn't love this kid any more right now. What a little legend he is. I don't deserve him. Currently smashing my way through some custard creams and watching my favourite show with the cutey next to me and feeling so bloody lucky. Lazy day incoming. Anyone else just get blown away sometimes by how nice their kids are and Wonder where it came from?

Is it not?

what do you drink?

i have a coffee and a glass of weak (sugar free) squash. But always the squash first

@YaMuvva

So there was a story a while back where a mother didn’t drive and her child went into cardiac arrest due to an undiagnosed heart defect.

It was a Saturday night so taxis were booked out, friends and relatives asleep and ambulance didn’t come quick either, she had to go out onto the street to flag down a car and thankfully this person took the child to hospital and saved his life.

We always make sure one of us is available to get our children medical care if needed. If we want to get pissed we arrange for another adult to take responsibility.

So what if he did have biscuits and juice for breakfast. Once won’t kill him. When I’ve been recovering lately and OH has been working my kids have had chocolate bars from breakfast. I’m not the type of person to sit crying and self flagellating about it though.

So you’re criticising other people because you wouldn’t do parenting a certain way even though your circumstances are ENTIRELY different to the OPs?

Who is letting kids roam the streets unattended?

We aren’t supposed to leave them home alone under the age of 12. So why should we be leaving them completely unattended for hours on end without food and supervision?!

According to who??

There is food, and why do they need at age 12 constant supervision? My DD is nearly 12 and it would be extremely damaging to her if I never left her unsupervised!

A story where? Can you link?

Actually @LuckySantangelo35

for my disabled child I have to bring them to the loo with me or have them stand outside the door at home. You do what you have to.

@YaMuvva

It was in a neighbourhood forum where the mother came on to thank the driver and I’m obviously not going to link it as identifying.

She didn’t drive and her kid had the misfortune of having this happen on a Saturday night at circa 3am.

Well, better get her used to using it, then. I was a pretty overprotected child, but even I was regularly using a kettle by age 8 or so.

@YaMuvva

According to who??

The NSPCC… and gov…

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/in-the-home/home-alone/

https://www.gov.uk/law-on-leaving-your-child-home-alone

@Robinni

but op didn’t leave her child home alone. She was right there in the house with them.

I’m not sure the law is as clear as you suggest.

How convenient

She doesn’t drink hot drinks and neither do I really, but I’ll teach her at some point and get a better kettle.

That’s the recommended age, nobody has to follow it.

@Boater

The specialist guidance from NSPCC and referral to this by gov is good enough for me

Gov

The law does not say an age when you can leave a child on their own, but it’s an offence to leave a child alone if it places them at risk.

Use your judgement on how mature your child is before you decide to leave them alone, for example at home or in a car.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) says:

• children under 12 are rarely mature enough to be left alone for a long period of time
• children under 16 should not be left alone overnight
• babies, toddlers and very young children should never be left alone

Parents can be prosecuted if they leave a child unsupervised ‘in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health’.

NSPCC

Infants and young children aged 0-3 years old should never be left alone – even for 15 minutes while you pop down the road. This applies not just to leaving them home alone but also in your car while you run into the shops.

While every child is different, we wouldn't recommend leaving a child under 12 years old home alone, particularly for longer periods of time.
Children in primary school aged 6-12 are usually too young to walk home from school alone, babysit or cook for themselves without adult supervision.
If you need to leave them home, it's worth considering leaving them at a friend's house, with family or finding some suitable childcare. We have advice about this below.

Once your child reaches secondary age, you could talk to them about how they'd feel if they were left alone at home.
Whether they're 12 years old or almost 18 years old, there might be reasons that they don’t feel safe in the house alone.
Just because your child is older doesn’t necessarily mean they‘re ready to look after themselves or know what to do in an emergency. It can help to go over the ground rules and remind them how to stay safe at home.
Remember – you should never leave a child home alone if they don’t feel ready, or if you don’t feel they’re ready.
Sometimes it’s just better to leave them with someone – particularly if they’re nervous or have complex needs. We have advice about this below.

@YaMuvva

I’m sure it’s apparent by now that I err on the side of being conscientious and responsible.

Whatever anyone else wants to do is up to them.

@LuckySantangelo35

passed out drunk 👌

When younger my chaps often brought me a glass of water if I had a hangover. Both strapping professionals now working in respected jobs. Don’t think they were too damaged by it

She was not passed out drunk, she was hungover.

Who was passed out??

Honestly random posters adding to the story is never not deeply embarrassing.

@Robinni

lol op said she had a hangover. Where does she was “passed out drunk”?? You’re just making stuff up now! Why does a woman, a mum, going out and having a good time and having a bit too much drink make you so annoyed and persecutory?

All this over a glass of Orange squash

Re. Passed out drunk.

She finished drinking and went to bed at 3am.

She was woke at 10.20am to son with juice and biscuits.

She would still have been drunk at this point as the alcohol wouldn’t have been metabolised and prior to 10.20am she was passed out from it.

Her DH was still asleep so who was there for the 7yo between 7am when he likely awoke until 10.20am?

it’s not 20-30 minutes it’s 3hrs 20, it’s a long time for a child of that age to not have conscious supervision.

@YaMuvva

Not the case at all.

Just annoying that some are so irresponsible.