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Would you leave your 5 years old all alone for all morning under the pretex you have to go food shopping...

99 replies

Ploufplouf · 12/04/2008 19:03

and taking him would make things difficult ? My Sil did it, he didnt want to come, so he became stroppy resulting in My Sil leaving my nephew behind..for 3 hours playing with the wii..Just a rant, I know nobody in their right mind whowould do that.

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lulumama · 12/04/2008 19:20

speak to your brother, the safety and well being of your nephews are at stake... i would not ignore this. it would be horrific if soemthing happenend when the DCs were alone

LittleWonder · 12/04/2008 19:21

What she needs to realize is that she could have a traffic accident - anything unexplained could happen to HER - she has probably not considered that.

Ploufplouf · 12/04/2008 19:21

The 1rst step is to have a confrontation with them before doing anything more serious about it..but knowing them, they are going to tell me to F°°°° off, and I hate confrontation.

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NickiSue · 12/04/2008 19:22

OMG sorry but that is horrendous! I would def mention it to your .DB, youd feel awful if you didnt at least do that and she did it again and the lo had an accident

NotABanana · 12/04/2008 19:23

You can't do that to your brother but you can stay silent when you know your 5 year old nephew is being neglected?

Ploufplouf · 12/04/2008 19:23

OMG it's true, anything could have happened to her..I didnt think about that, was just focused on my nephew. You are all right about your comments, I'm going to talk to them, it's just too wrong to let it go..they'll probably think I'm being patronising but oh well...

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Ploufplouf · 12/04/2008 19:24

Thank you, I needed to get that out my chest

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ItsPotatoesForYouMyLad · 12/04/2008 19:31

i don't know the situation in france. but i do know that in england this would be taken seriously by social services. in fact the last cp training i was on was on this exact scenario. a 5 yo left at home while mum 'popped' to local shop. however, we were asked to consider all the 'what ifs' - e.g. she has a rta and doesn't make it home; someone knocks at the door; child has accident; child tries to prepare a hot drink or use cooker.
i hope you find a way of passing your concern on to your brothers family.

Ploufplouf · 12/04/2008 19:34

I have just spoke to my mum and she going to do it with me !

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calvemjoe · 12/04/2008 19:59

that is so bad.

Piffle · 12/04/2008 20:01

shit my ds1 is a very sensible 14 yr old and 3 hrs is as long as I'd ever leave him...

morningglory · 12/04/2008 20:02

Agree with all that this is shocking, and might be against the law (at least in several US states).

pedilia · 12/04/2008 20:02
Shock
Nyeh · 12/04/2008 20:04

I have a nearly 5 yr old, and dozing off on the sofa for 30 mins whilst she plays on the computer worries me enough!!! This is a child who I trust not to play with matches/knives/toasters (or any combination there of).

I wouldn't even leave her alone for the 2 mins it takes to get milk from the corner shop.

Meandmyjoe · 12/04/2008 20:07

Crazy, anything could have happened to him. Doe s she realise the severity of hat she has done? What if someone had have come in the house and taken him or hurt him? If he was locked in, what if there was a fire? What if he's fallen and hurt himself? Madness! Surely it counts as child neglect or something. I thought it was illeagal to leave kids til they were 12 years old. Even then I would be reluctant!

DoubleBluff · 12/04/2008 20:09

Her behaviour would constitute an offence nder child cruelty law in this country.
There is absolutley no excuse for what she as done. To avoid a tantrum?
Outragesous. I am so cross just reading this.
I work in child protection in thiis country and this would be dealt with very seriously bleieve me.

EffiePerine · 12/04/2008 20:09

Well done for talking with your mum and trying to sort it out .

barking · 12/04/2008 20:20

Ploufplouf, I hate confrontations too (think of it as holding a mirror up to her behaviour!) please tell your sister my experience:

Last year, I went outside to talk to one of the neigbours (I was standing outside my house) and my ds2 and ds3 aged 4 and 2 managed to turn the cooker on, thank god I was only 10 minutes as when I stepped back inside the whole of the downstairs was full of black smoke. I still shudder now thinking about it

Tell her that if that is the one time in the week her son gets treats then so be it. squeeze him into the trolley and let him feast on chocolates, sweets, grapes whatever it takes to get them both through the shopping hell.

halogen · 12/04/2008 20:49

That is absolutely appalling behaviour and I think you are quite right to have a word, Ploufplouf. I understand that confrontations are really hard for some people, but think how you would feel if you didn't say anything and something really awful happened! Good luck.

squilly · 12/04/2008 21:00

No responsible adult should (or would) leave a child alone in a building EVER for any reason, for any length of time.

Recent history has shown this is a foolish, foolish thing to do, whether you're off to the supermarket or out for a night out around the corner with your mates.

Totally, totally unacceptable and ludicrously dangerous.

Good luck in raising this with your brother and sil.

Nighbynight · 12/04/2008 21:48

No I wouldnt! Were they not reading the news last year??

Nighbynight · 12/04/2008 21:49

my youngest 2 are a supermarket nightmare, shaming me in front of the entire town every friday. I do not leave them at home. I do not fancy being "CHILDREN BURN TO DEATH WHILE MUM CAROUSES IN ALDI."

3kidsisquiteenuff · 12/04/2008 22:08

i have never left my kids ages 10 ,7 ,and 20 months.that is unforgivable anything could of happened .didnt anyone learn from the maddeline case??
my lot give me so much hassle when i have to take them anywhere with me and it drives me bonkers but at least i know they are safe

PSCMUM · 12/04/2008 22:12

o my god - are you going to have a word with her? or your brother?
that os 1--% not on. ITs dangerous!

My neighbour leaves her 8yo to get a buis home from school on his own, with his door key, and come home to an empty house. SOmetimes he forgets his key and come in to us, and stays here til 7/8pm, until mum home. SHe has never even waid thank you. I am seriously considering social services but I feel so sorry for the kid and I'm not sure I'd help. but if it was my SIl id have a chat with her.

lucy261101 · 12/04/2008 22:48

Sorry, but Kate and Gerry McCann spring to mind, she's just lucky no one walked off with the child. These irresponsible people make me so mad. If something had happen she would probably blame someone else - !!!!