to think that THIS is bad parenting

[NannyNanny]

A friend of mine leaves her 3 year old DS to watch T.V by himself in the morning until she can be bothered to get up. He can watch T.V for up to 3 hours before gets her lazy bum out of bed.

I cannot spell today...

Interesting how you started the thread with 'he watches tv for 3 hours' and then when everyone didn't immediately respond with 'OMG HOW HORRIBLE' he's now sitting in cereal and bleeding.

What's next? He's juggling knives? Torturing small animals?

Frankly, its none of your business. End of story.

Maybe the mother had a particularly bad night? Maybe she was poorly or just really neeeded sleep?

I used to do that with my older 3. But dd (4) is quadraplegic so you have to get up with her at 6 every farking morning. I dream of lie ins!

I doubt he sits in the coco pops everyday. But generally she mentions things such as 'never guess what he did this morning ...... [insert things such as take everything out of the fridge, eat tobacco, sit in coco pops' 'He is just so cheeky.

Sorry if you think I am being unreasonable but I don't think young children should be left by themselves whilst their parents sleep in.

what a judgey OP from someone who doesn't have kids and hasn't had years of sleepless nights

Well, it wouldn't happen in our house!

DD for a start would prize back our eyelids. And I'd object to the mess cocopops make.

If this was a regular occurence then yes imo not great.

I'm with you Nanny Nanny, not everyday.

three hours tv everyday a three year old is too much, and it must be a bit lonely for him.

I don't have a problem now and again or going to play on their own for abit but not for three hours.

I think most parents have slept in for a at least a bit while their 3 year old watches TV or plays happily alone/with sibling at least some weekends!

There is a huge difference between what you think is right and should be and the actual reality of life as a parent. No one is perfect.

I remember being so exhausted some mornings when ds's were tiny and Dh away n business that I would put a DVD on to grab an hours extra sleep that I desperatly needed and made me a better mummy for the rest of the day for having had that extra sleep.

Are you talking about me? Who said that a parent is someone who gets up at a ungodly hour just because their 3 year old does?

I consider it one of my finest parenting accomplishments to have trained my toddler to creep downstairs at 5am, snuggle into his beanbag and watch Thomas with a drink and a biscuit.

He's 12 now and needs Semtex to get him out of his bed.

I never thought 7 o'clock was an ungodly hour

tis an ungodly hour when you been up half the night with child.

7am is an ungodly hour when you have been getting up at 7am for the past 3 years including periods of waking and feeding at night when a baby. Jeez, I ned a lie in after getting up at 7am mon-fri!

In this particular case, the child is a heavenly sleeper.

everyone needs a lie in sometimes1

I can't wait til my dd is three and can do this..

when you got kids come back and tell us you never ever ever do it.

agreed

My agreed is with 'everyone needs a lie in sometimes1'.

7 o'clock - too early for me.