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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to leave the children home alone for 5 mins

117 replies

nancydrewrocks · 27/01/2010 15:16

DD is 5, DS is 3.10.

I am staying with my sister at the moment. The only arrangement for parking is using two hour visitor spaces at the bottom of her road (there is no access to the road either for pedestrians or cars at the other end - may or may by relevant depending on paranoia level)

So if we are in the house I have to move the car every two hours (so maybe twice in an afternoon).

AIBU to leave them unattended in the house for 5 mins whilst I move the car?

OP posts:

luciemule · 27/01/2010 22:24

Actually I just re-read my example of being hit by another car and thought "what was I ranting on about you mad woman".
You're right - you could faint/fall over etc. Think I'm too over protective - I'll shut up.

ToccataAndFudge · 27/01/2010 22:25

how bizarre eggontoast

"By FoShoSTFU Wed 27-Jan-10 19:59:21
Message deleted "

who is FoShoSTFU??? lol.

eggontoast · 27/01/2010 22:27

I think they change your post name when they delete so people cannot tell who has had an entry deleted. problem is, me not wanting to do it again, I want to know what was wrong with it!

smokinaces · 27/01/2010 22:29

Toccata, I admit I used to drink most of a bottle of wine every night - it was enough to help me sleep but not too much to stop me waking. Now I'm trying not to drink (until the weekend ) its harder to sleep. I'm shattered but I cant switch off. I cant sleep - but when I do I literally spark out. Doesnt help I have Chronic Fatigue either.

Original poster

nancydrewrocks · 27/01/2010 22:43

Thanks for the responses - tis interesting to see peoples perceptions.

FWIW we usually live overseas and our house is pretty big (kind of standard for where we are but Mahoosive by UK standards) there are plenty of places in the house where I cannot see/hear the children and would have to to go up down and around three or four flights of stairs to get to them if they wandered off. Never a problem but I think that must be down to the idea that we are all within the confines of the house. For some reason exiting the building seems taboo.

Ah well I think I will move the car on my own but fail to mention this behaviour in company

OP posts:

nappyaddict · 28/01/2010 00:40

eggontoast Your post hasn't been deleted?

ChippingIn · 28/01/2010 06:40

I would leave them, I have done similar and has been mentioned, it takes me longer to hang out a basket of washing at the end of the garden and there's no way I'd make them come while I do that if they are otherwise occupied!

There are risks (as well as the hassle) of taking them and risks leaving them, they are not necessarily safer just because they are with you (regardless of how many I'd never do that' posts you get!).

FabIsGoingToBeFabIn2010 · 28/01/2010 08:19

eggontoast - no, your username is not changed when a post is deleted. Where have you got that from?

princessparty · 28/01/2010 13:57

police officers and doctors seem to be the most laid back parents I know reagrding child safety.Probably because they see cases regularly of real neglect and abuse they can put things into better perspective.
If you left them 5 hours than that would be neglect !

WinkyWinkola · 28/01/2010 14:08

I'd leave them engrossed in a TV prog. I've chatted to our neighbour at the bottom of our drive for 10 mins whilst my two did that. Apart from that, I don't watch them for every second of every minute of every day anyway. Like when I'm on the loo or cooking.

Also, take a big piece of paper with you that says, "To whom it may concern, in the event of an accident, I live at .....and my dcs are in there, watching the box. Make sure they get their tea, would you?"

bumpyboo · 28/01/2010 15:52

I would probably leave them, depending on how childsafe the house is as I think someone else already said.
However, what a pain! I would be going round all the neighbours asking to buy some of their permits, surely there must be some people that won't use up their quota?

redskyatnight · 28/01/2010 16:13

If it literally was 5 minutes then yes I'd do it. My DC are basically the same age and I'd leave them to hang up washing/put the rubbish out/take the car out the garage.

And also to have a shower/go to the toilet.

And also would leave them upstairs when I was downstairs (so wouldn't necessarily notice some of the dreadful accidents that some of you are foreseeing).

Realistically I am more likely to trip over at home and injure myself to a point where I am no use to look after the DC, than being run over by a random car on what appears to be a quiet street.

eggontoast · 30/01/2010 08:29

the post at 1959 was mine - it has been deleted and my name changed! I didn't realise what I wrote was in the slightest bit against the rules!

BrandyAlexander · 30/01/2010 21:18

I wouldn't leave them alone as I just dont think its worth the risk.

CirrhosisByTheSea · 30/01/2010 21:43

I don't think it's worth it either. I'd just park further away where there are no restrictions. and walk.

Oblomov · 30/01/2010 21:43

Ds1 is 6. Ds2 is nearly 1.5
I leave them all the time, for a few minutes: to hang washing out, collect shopping from car etc. I worry not.

Blondeshavemorefun · 31/01/2010 10:20

i wouldnt do it as you are out of the house and something could happen to you, ie hit by a car,fall and bang your head

i know this is very unlikely but no one would know your children were left alone

plus what happens if there are no spaces, you could be driving round looking for one for 15+mins

it is completley different going into garden and hangin out clothes

i would either park your car a few roads away where this is no time limit or take children

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