To leave my 7 yr old home alone for 30mins ?

[confusedwithschool]

My 7 yr old DD has the dreaded chicken pox ( she’s on day 5) but still absolutely covered. Half of his class are out cos of this

Tomorrow is my DS’s year 6 graduation and there is no one I can call to babysit ( that’s even if they would want to )

I can’t take her there as I would be exposing other kids but at the same time how can I miss my sons grad?

im torn . I plan to be on video call with her while there and the school is just down the road , a 2 min walk

not sure what I can do ?

That's crazy. Maybe the fact it was ill-attended should make the school realise a big event every single year is unnecessary.

The fact something is significant doesn't mean it has to be turned into a big show. It's too much and not helpful for many kids.

What would you do if the child was 3. You're year 6 child doesn't need you there. Your 7 year old does.

You're year 6 is only finishing primary school. No big deal. It's not graduation. And even if it ws university....You're a parent and you still have to out younger ones first.

I agree. That’s why we are all different, what matters to me definitely won’t matter to you and vice versa 🙃

Very rude. OP didn't choose to call it Graduation, and whether you think it's ridiculous or not, it's an important event for OP as it's important to her DS.
FGS.

Take them with you and see if they can wait on the playground.

Kids used to go up chimneys. Your point is?

I’m a laid back parent, but leaving a sick 7 year old on their own in a bit neglectful. The sick kid needs priority over a going to a school ceremony.

I leave my almost 12 year old alone for 30 min if absolutely need be but not if he was ill. No way should you leave a 7 year old alone especially not when they are ill.

Seven is very different from 11 and if the worst was to happen and the child was badly injured or god forbid, died, criminal charges could be brought against the mother. Even for something fairly minor, social services would be informed and do assessments etc. it’s not even as if the thing she wants to leave her child for is really important! As one mum said, not even really a thing. You should not be prioritising one child’s minor event over your other, poorly child’s, wellbeing!

Do any of your friends have a teenager who has finished school for the summer who could sit at your house for a few quid. You could ask your 7 year old to stay upstairs and shout down if they need anything to avoid chickenpox exposure. Gutted for you. For those saying year 6 graduation is not “thing” - we had our leavers assembly and 3 of the girls cried all the way through it as their Dads had not appeared despite promising they’d be there 🥲

I know this is hard, really, really hard. Being a single mom if that is the case is very hard. Car is a BAD idea, not only could the child overheat, but you will get in trouble by many local authorities. The child that has the special day, how about if you arrange with another parent to hold the phone up so she can see you. You need to connect with another parent or the teacher herself. Perhaps they have other ideas. You can be live with the healthy child, but your sick child takes priority, and then to have something special, have a graduation box waiting for her at home with a favorite movie, snack a special certificate and even video of her graduation, if you live stream it record it. But you need support. Talk to the teacher and find out if any parents will be there for you a teacher's aide and perhaps send flowers to the school to have her teacher give to her.

I was left at her age. A pipe burst in the loft. Water started pouring out the light fitting in my bedroom. I was too young to understand about water and electricity, thought that turning the light switch on and off might stop the water. Sheer good luck I didn’t get electrocuted. Don’t leave her, the risk is far too great.

As a lone parent I would and did leave my 7yr old alone for max an hour. At what age you leave your child alone is really dependent on their maturity. If they know what to do in an emergency, they follow rules, responsible, confident and happy to be left at home. The law really states that you should not put your child’s safety at risk. So if you feel there is no risk go ahead for half an hour while you are 2mins down the road. My son didn’t even move in that time. He knew he wasn’t allowed to cook, open the door, and I trusted him to obey them rules cause he’s lazy af causing trouble would take effort lol we had a house and mobile phone and he knew how to call 999, myself, nan or go to a neighbour’s if needed and he never had to. Your child your decision. No laws for a reason, cause my second child I would not trust at home alone till he’s probably 18 🤣. He’s now 13 and called while I was at the docs to ask if he could put a bowl in the microwave. He’s very cautious.

Very unfortunate but you can't leave a sick DC of 7 home alone even for 5 minutes. Don't the school record it? Do a video call.

I asking not to be rude but a genuine question. You say there is a breakout of chicken pox in your child’s class. Do you not have the chicken pox vaccination approved there?
Anyway I'm glad you figured out a way to go to your other childs event.

That's about general knowledge and maturity not age.

Day 5-6 they’re no longer contagious (if all spots are scabbed over) xx

Bit harsh. It is asking a lot of a seven year old to deal with that kind of emergency. Even if they have the “general knowledge” and I’d debate how many 7 year olds would, employing that knowledge in an emergency is a whole other ask.

It is illegal!

Plenty of people miss significant events due to sick young children, that’s just life.

Oh dear. I'm definitely guilty about leaving my daughter at that age for 20+ minutes. She was fine with it. Knew to call me if needbe,but more than happy watching TV whilst I nipped out to collect her brother

There are 7 year olds who would know to go straight to the stop cock as they have been taught and 11 year olds (and some adults) who wouldn't know what to do.

Children must never be left alone. What good is a phone/video connection if someone breaks into the house? You will do her more harm to leave her than to take her with you.

Wrap her up, cover the visible spots and take her with you. Time was when parents welcomed the chance of getting chicken pox. Sit as far away from others that you can.

Chicken pox is MORE contagious BEFORE the spots appear. There is a good chance that if it is likely to be passed on, that has already been done.

What is? And what law?