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?!

The other thing I used to do was a hills session literally just running up and down a steep hill at the bottom of my road - I think 4/5 attempts up and down again was 5K - any options like that near you ?

@Gloriia

yes, she must. Exercise is an essential , non negotiable thing. Do you think her time could be better spent doing something else? Ironing perhaps? Making granola from scratch for her children’s breakfast?

I could not give a rat's ass what she gives them for breakfast.

I just don't think she should leave kids sleeping and go out, for whatever reason. Parenting involves managing your time and organising things as well as supervising your kids. At the very least be in the house when they are bed.

I'm flabbergasted that these very simple things need pointing out.

To be fair a poor diet in childhood is much more likely to damage them than OP leaving a 14 year old babysitting for 30 minutes.

The 14yr old isn't babysitting, they're asleep!

But I am often in sole charge of my child and asleep. DH even more often as I travel for work a lot. How are we meant to manage it - always have someone awake?

Absolutely fine.

Make sure they all know, doors locked, and they know what to do in the morning (help themselves to cereal, get dressed, brush teeth etc.)

No, there is no need for parents to take turns to stay awake

A sleeping 14yr old should not be responsible for their younger siblings while the parent goes out for a jog. Have you ever tried to wake a teen?!

I'd love to read the replies here if the sexes were reversed. 'I'm at work, dh at home with 4 kids and he's left them alone in bed asleep while he goes to the gym'. There'd be a clamour of posters shouting 'LTB NOW!'

Sorry genuinely don't see the difference between a parent being asleep while in the charge and a babysitter doing so. My DH is pretty hard to wake but DS is quite capable of coming and shaking him if he needs something.

Do you not go to bed every night and trust that your kids will still be alive when you wake up?

Honestly I'm probably a bit of a helicopter parent compared to many on here...I probably wouldn't do this because I'm very very risk averse and detest running but I really do think it's fine.

Yes i do? This thread however is about whether a sleeping 14yr old should be responsible for their younger siblings whilst the parent goes out. Such lax ideas when it comes to parenting on here.

They're not toddlers, and it's the morning not the middle of the night. If your teens are seriously so incapable that their siblings couldn't possibly wake then up, or they'd go wandering the streets in their pjs rather than pick up a phone, then that's on your parenting. It's not typical. Perhaps if you'd been a little more lax your kids would be more capable.

OK I will ask one more time - why is a sleeping 14 year old more risky than a sleeping 40 year old? Assuming you trust the 14 to be in charge generally.

They are both unconscious and the 8 year old equally knows where they are and how to wake them.

OP, isn't just leaving them so if they wake they'll wonder where she is.

She is telling them the night before that she's getting up early to go for a run.
If the 8 yo wakes before Mum is back and while the 14 yo is still asleep then I'm sure they're old enough to entertain themselves for a bit, or wake the 14 yo.

I'm sure if OP goes for her 1/2 hr run and comes back to find the younger ones aren't comfortable with it, or the 14 yo realises they don't want to mind their younger siblings (though I'd argue that to help their Mum out, this could be regarded as just being part of a family where we all do things for each other), then she'll have a rethink.

...and not all teenagers are completely dead to the world until mid afternoon. Neither of mine did that, they've always got up in the morning.

Where could OP possibly live where this wouldn’t be fine? I guess a hostel?

I’m sure the Op has smoke alarms. And has run through what to do with the children if they go off. I did this with my DS from when he was about 5. As you can’t always get to them when there’s a fire and you don’t want them doing something like hiding in a wardrobe or opening their door when there’s fire on the other side. Teach your children what to do in emergency situations then you have both taught them a life skill and you then don’t need to be overprotective.

There’s no difference between a sleeping 14 year old and a sleeping 40 year old. But tbh that’s a red herring anyway as most 8 year olds should be old enough to be left for 30 mins anyhow.

But you’re ok with her going when they’re awake and noones supervising them?

I leave mine asleep when we go to work. So lax. I'll ask my boss if I can bring them with.

I know!
this makes no sense @Gloriia

You can do adult parkrun with kids, they just don't get their times recorded

And charity family fun runs

If the kids ride, they could go out on their bikes and you could run along to keep up with them