Okay to leave 9yo in house alone while I run 6-7am?

[bigbrit]

I'm wondering if it's okay to go out for an hour, to run, before 9yo wakes up? I'm a fat single, home educating mum and it's just the two of us 24/7. We live in a safe area.

What do you honestly think?

Yes, I think I would have been fine at that age. But only you know your 9yo.

Thank you Katieana.

I think it's fine. Do you carry a phone with you when you run so she can call you if she needs you?

I think this is fine too. It's too early for her to need to do anything other than sleep or sit on the sofa watching TV/ reading school book and eating cereal. Then when you come back it can be shower/ teeth/ getting dressed time etc.

As long as DD knows where you are and when you'll be back I think it's fine.

Good on you for doing something for yourself :)

I haven't started running. Never left him alone before. DS lacks confidence and initiative. But we could have a mobile phone each for this purpose. I would run very close by.

Yes I think so if he was sensible, most likely be asleep, knew what to do in an emergency etc.
Good for you

I think it's a pretty ideal first try at home alone - because you could adapt length of run to his confidence & get used to it before you 'have' to.

I would say that it is essential for him to have a backup contact in case he can't raise you/you have an accident.

I gave my DC several backup plans for various 'emergencies' - and set clear rules (no cooking; no door answering etc). Don't assume common sense more than you have to!

Perhaps if DS is nervous you two could go on a walk around the circuit that you're planning to take, so that if he calls you you can tell him where you are and he'll be able to know exactly where that is and how quickly you'll be able to get back?

What time does he normal wake up? I would be happ to leave a 9y old if I was just running around the local streets and could be home ASAP.

But if he's nervous he may need starting off slowly so once hes awake you go up and down the street for 10m etc so he gets used to how the house feels on his own. Can be scarey for a nervy 9y old if it's still dark outside or it's windy and their imagination starts going over board. Long as he then feels happy waking up coming down to watch tv (if you leave lights on etc) then sounds good.

He will surprise you!! DS is very sensible given the chance

I think it's fine, but I would pick a figure of eight type circuit which took me past the house at the mid point - so you're never further than 15 mins run away if he calls.

Thank you ladies for all the kind support and advice. I will use all of your suggestions and ease him into being confident home alone.

This is the first time I have asked for advice online and I'm so happy to receive positive responses. Feel so relieved. Someone once me you shouldn't leave a child alone under the age of 12.

Someone once *told me you shouldn't leave a child alone under the age of 12.

I'm not sure I would ,it depends whether the child is happy to be left , as you are HE I can't see why you don't incorporate a run together into your day , or you run and he cycles .

I would, in fact I do offer my 9 year old the chance to stay at home when I run his older brother to scouts on a Friday night, it's 30 min round trip, sometimes he says yes sometimes he says no. I would have no qualms at all about leaving him in the morning whilst I ran.

I originally thought about me running and he cycling with me. We tried it once. But it wasn't fun. He kept stopping and calling for me to stop. He's not confident on bike. Also, I felt I wouldn't be able to rely on him to be up and ready for a quick run every morning.

I want to exercise alone. No one to bring me down saying they want to go home. None of that "come on. get your shoes on. get your coat on. etc etc"

Good luck with your running. I'm sure your ds will be just fine - you've obviously thought it through and the fact that you're asking advice is great.

Sorry about calling DS a DD. I thought I'd read it up thread.

Thanks everyone. I appreciate all your comments.

I've just gone out for a walk around the block for five minutes. DS watched TV. He was totally fine. He said it's just like when he wakes up before me in the mornings.

Will go out for 10 minutes tomorrow.

I have no qualms about leaving a sensible 9yr old who is happy to be left, and could contact me. Good on you for taking up running - I don't blame you for wanting to exercise alone either.

I might be a bit reticent to leave them while they were asleep though - I'm not sure why. Possibly the risk of a fire (which I am a bit flappy about)- and them being upstairs alone in the house. I think I would prefer they were awake and aware when I left them iyswim.

I wouldn't. But I think it's personal choice. I too think we live in a safe area but we were burgled before Christmas at about 4 pm on a Tuesday. I dread to think what would have happened had my 10 year olds been home alone.

Agree with Greenwood. I'd be happy to leave him awake but not asleep because the biggest "risk" is probably a house fire. I'd just go in the day.

Yes, I think awake is just about ok if he is happy with it, asleep is a definite no-no.

I would run when he is awake - I've never had any real dramas at 6 am, but I have had children waking up with a stomach bug or full of a cold.

Apart from that, as previously suggested, if you run circuits there is no reason to run any further away than 10 minutes and presumably he can phone/text/email/message you.

I think it's a good introduction to slightly more responsibility.