To leave kids in bed whilst I run

[Wanttodobetter]

I’m a single parent to 4 children, youngest 8 and eldest 14. I want to run for 30 mins locally early morning whilst they’re still asleep. 2 have phones and I’ll leave a number of a neighbour. That’s fine right?!

Yes those very attentive 14 yr olds who would sleep through ww3. Yep, brilliant supervisors of other kids.
They were all asleep officer! I've no idea how this accident/incident occurred I was jogging you see.

We never said it was the same—it’s something to consider as an alternative option, seeing that the XH has form for holding things against OP, and possible concerns of the youngest waking up first. Just throwing out options which might help OP in the short term.

I was responding to a pp who asked if the kids knew the route so they could go looking for her should they require a responsible adult for any reason.

But unless the 8yo is completely incapable, they'd go and wake the 14yo if they needed help. If they trip and fall headfirst into a bucket and can't get out in the pantry....I wouldn't hear them either if I was there because I sleep like a log with the fan on.

Are other parents not sleeping at night in case anyone has an incident and can't call for help?

That's not what they said though. "Locate" does not mean wandering around in PJs... I don't know why you'd jump to that, unless it's what you think your kids would do...

My kids all have me (and I have them) on Snap Maps, so would be able to literally follow my every move if they so wished. Perhaps this is an option (at least for the eldest) if that is a worry.

Personally I'd never leave them alone while they were all sleeping. I would be happy to leave a 14 year old in charge as long as they were up & about & capable of the responsibily.

I did exactly that, OP, when my ds was 10. I ran a circular route so I was never more than a km away from the house. DS knew I went and was happy with that. I was out for about 30 mins and always had my phone with me.

There were two rules. DS wasn't to answer the door and he wasn't to do anything involving heat - boil the kettle etc.

When he was 12, I upgraded to Park Run and was gone for 70 minutes.

@Gloriia

they would get dressed. Why are you acting like children are completely useless and stupid??

They're asleep, not dead.

My partner can sleep through a thunderstorm, a screaming baby, a car alarm. It's extremely annoying. But he'll wake up if someone makes enough noise or if he's shaken awake. Should I not leave our child with him? Does he need a responsible adult with him at all times, too?

I'm a latch key kid and at 14 was getting my sister and I ready for school as my mum left for work at 6.30 and my dad 7. My mum would phone at 7.30 to make sure everything was ok

I'd probably gently wake the 14 yo the first time I went out just to remind them of the plan.
Leave a note with the time you left, the route you are taking and the anticipated time you'll be back as well as contact details

I used to do that, I did tell them the night before so they didn't wake up wondering where I was.

Enjoy your run!

That's not what I meant at all.
I meant that one of the kids could call an adult and report that their Mum has not returned as expected. The kids would be in a position to tell the adult exactly the route their Mum took.

When I left my child alone he always knew to call an adult if there was something he didn't know how to deal with - make sure he's safe and then get help.

It's sensible in any situation that someone knows where you are.

No I didn't say "go looking for her", I said "locate" meaning they would know the route she took.

Ok since you asked for our opinions…

I would personally ensure that the eldest was awake before setting out on my run and I’d do a route which meant I was no more than 10 mins from home, just incase. I’d make sure the eldest had my contact number as well.

They’ll never be a right time for you to go for a run OP according to some people on here because essentially they don’t view you and your mental health and physical health as important

Exactly. The 14 yr old can watch them while they're all up and awake surely.

Sleeping kids left unattended is not a good idea. I bet none of them would hear the smoke alarm for starters

Why would sleeping children be less likely to hear the smoke alarm than sleeping adults

Mental health and physical health is of course important, so is the safety amd welfare of those kids.

I would suggest the right time to go for a run is when they're awake. That's me though safety always came before a jog.

You need better smoke alarms then.

Kids sleep through anything ime, parents tend to be on alert for such things as smoke alarms as it should be their job go be the ones supervising.

Oh, we have very different kids then. Mine sleep through nothing, whereas I'm out like a light.

Kids can get in far more trouble awake than asleep surely?

If they're fast asleep that time of the morning and are aware of where she is, I genuinely cannot see the issue. Of course there are always dreadful extreme circumstances, but that's always the case in life. They're 8 - 14 not the same as a 2 year old waking up and wandering the house looking for you!

I'm just not buying that 4 children and teens would sleep through a regulation smoke alarm. They're so loud! If yours aren't loud enough, get some new ones from a reputable place. Not unregulated amazon junk. Not that a fire is remotely likely anyway...

Children are known to sleep through smoke alarms - don’t do it

Mine have and you may recall the family of 6 children that died because they didn’t wake up - their father had set the fire .