At what age? - Debates

OliveJuice · 10-16-2009, 08:14 AM

Scenario:

Your child has the flu. Nothing serious, he/she has been checked out by a doctor and been given meds and told to get some rest.

Question:

At what age would you leave your child at home to rest on their own while you go to work?

----------------------------

Reason for asking:

I have a co-worker who has a junior in high school and an 8th grader. They are both very good kids and capable of taking care of themselves when they are sick but their mother (my co-worker) takes every day off that they are sick. It boggles my mind that she still has sick leave and honestly, it annoys me. I think they are old enough to sit at home and rest for 8 hours while she's at work.

Heather LB. · 10-16-2009, 08:15 AM

My mom left my 11 year old brother at home when he had the flu after he saw a doctor, but my 17 year old brother was home with him.

Miss.Maggie · 10-16-2009, 08:16 AM

I would say about 13 depending on the kid. I was able to stay home at that age not all night but while my parents were working. I knew the rules. No friends over, no leaving the house, ect.

danyell · 10-16-2009, 08:16 AM

If she has paid leave where she can take off then I don't see the problem. I don't think her children NEED their mom, but who wouldn't want some company while they are sick?!

I am a firm believer that I EARN my leave and I should be able to take it when I see fit.

OliveJuice · 10-16-2009, 08:33 AM

Man I was left at home when I was in grade school still! Fully able to heat up a can of soup, lay on the couch and watch tv/sleep. I do not see why a responsible/good kid needs to have supervision when all they are doing is laying around getting better.

Yes, I do get what you are saying danyell but it's just really frustrating when we are So busy here at work and the only reason why she is gone is because her kid (who can take care of himself) is sick.

~~felifreshh~~ · 10-16-2009, 08:33 AM

Originally Posted by danyell

If she has paid leave where she can take off then I don't see the problem. I don't think her children NEED their mom, but who wouldn't want some company while they are sick?!

I am a firm believer that I EARN my leave and I should be able to take it when I see fit.

I think it depends on the child.. I can't honestly say and my grandma always stayed home with us till I was in highschool

SezzySue · 10-16-2009, 08:35 AM

I think if you are capable of staying with them you should, but if you can't get out of work to be there for them then I would say 12 or so

Jilly · 10-16-2009, 08:37 AM

I think it depends on the kid. I was 10 when I was allowed to be home by myself, but I have an older brother. But by the time they are in junior high, like 12,13 I think it would be okay for them to stay home alone when they are sick. They know how the system works obviously and can handle it. If it's a flu, where there is vomitting, then I would stay home. But if it's just bed rest and nothing too major. I would probably be at work.

guess I"m not much help, since I haven't reached that stage yet!

danyell · 10-16-2009, 08:37 AM

Originally Posted by OliveJuice

Man I was left at home when I was in grade school still! Fully able to heat up a can of soup, lay on the couch and watch tv/sleep. I do not see why a responsible/good kid needs to have supervision when all they are doing is laying around getting better.

Yes, I do get what you are saying danyell but it's just really frustrating when we are So busy here at work and the only reason why she is gone is because her kid (who can take care of himself) is sick.

And I do understand that as well. My boss is VERY lenient with us and we all work as a team. If someone wants to take off it is almost ALWAYS granted. It is the rest of the teams job to pick up the slack. The only time we would be denied is if we were so swamped that they truly needed all of us. And if that is the case then maybe it's time to expand the amount of employees. I think it's just a slippery downhill slope when questioning the correct time to take leave.

Now, with that said, it is also important that employees taking leave consider their co workers. If they are taking a day off that isn't really needed and they KNOW that it is insanely busy at work, I would like to think they would reconsider. At least, I would.

Some parents can't bear to see their kid sick. They want to baby them and take care of them and keep them company. I can't fault anyone for that.

His*PITA* · 10-16-2009, 08:38 AM

To be honest I dont think there is a general acceptable age... It really does depend on the kid. My parents could trust to leave me home in middle school, but my younger sister could not be left home alone until later on in high school...

If the co-worker has the leave time, I really dont think it matters why she is taking off, and even if she didnt... different parents have different feelings about when their kids are sick... Some are fine letting them fend for themselves at home, and some want to be there to make the soup and take the temp, no matter if they are 6 or 60...

10-16-2009, 08:14 AM	#1 (permalink)
OliveJuice I'm a dirty martini! ;) Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Me:Kansas / DH:Georgia (for now) Posts: 5,196 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 67% Longevity: 11%	At what age? Scenario: Your child has the flu. Nothing serious, he/she has been checked out by a doctor and been given meds and told to get some rest. Question: At what age would you leave your child at home to rest on their own while you go to work? ---------------------------- Reason for asking: I have a co-worker who has a junior in high school and an 8th grader. They are both very good kids and capable of taking care of themselves when they are sick but their mother (my co-worker) takes every day off that they are sick. It boggles my mind that she still has sick leave and honestly, it annoys me. I think they are old enough to sit at home and rest for 8 hours while she's at work. __________________ I want something good to die for, to make it beautiful to live. Lovin my wify's; Amber Lu, withyounear, Jilly and goincrazixo!

10-16-2009, 08:15 AM	#2 (permalink)
Heather LB. Hayden's Mommy Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Alexandria Bay, New York Posts: 6,513 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 60% Longevity: 12%	My mom left my 11 year old brother at home when he had the flu after he saw a doctor, but my 17 year old brother was home with him. __________________ wifey to xocassandralee

10-16-2009, 08:16 AM	#3 (permalink)
Miss.Maggie I am iowa_lady Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bartonville IL, his Unit is out of Chicago Posts: 15,095 Blog Entries: 9 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 97% Longevity: 33%	I would say about 13 depending on the kid. I was able to stay home at that age not all night but while my parents were working. I knew the rules. No friends over, no leaving the house, ect. __________________ I am iowa_lady we're the ** Thanks Ducky for the Siggy**

10-16-2009, 08:16 AM	#4 (permalink)
danyell Have you had your daily dose of Danielle? Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: His location: VA Beach, finally! Mine: Patuxent River, MD Posts: 8,575 Blog Entries: 1 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 75% Longevity: 22%	If she has paid leave where she can take off then I don't see the problem. I don't think her children NEED their mom, but who wouldn't want some company while they are sick?! I am a firm believer that I EARN my leave and I should be able to take it when I see fit. __________________

10-16-2009, 08:33 AM	#5 (permalink)
OliveJuice I'm a dirty martini! ;) Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Me:Kansas / DH:Georgia (for now) Posts: 5,196 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 67% Longevity: 11%	Man I was left at home when I was in grade school still! Fully able to heat up a can of soup, lay on the couch and watch tv/sleep. I do not see why a responsible/good kid needs to have supervision when all they are doing is laying around getting better. Yes, I do get what you are saying danyell but it's just really frustrating when we are So busy here at work and the only reason why she is gone is because her kid (who can take care of himself) is sick. __________________ I want something good to die for, to make it beautiful to live. Lovin my wify's; Amber Lu, withyounear, Jilly and goincrazixo!

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10-16-2009, 08:35 AM	#7 (permalink)
SezzySue Photographer in Southern CA Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Victorville, CA Posts: 18,371 Blog Entries: 4 Classifieds: (6) Activity: 51% Longevity: 56%	I think if you are capable of staying with them you should, but if you can't get out of work to be there for them then I would say 12 or so __________________ Dear God, I'm losing patience ~ TTC blog My Photography Blog

10-16-2009, 08:37 AM	#8 (permalink)
Jilly Sexy momma Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Suffolk, VA Posts: 2,139 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 36% Longevity: 21%	I think it depends on the kid. I was 10 when I was allowed to be home by myself, but I have an older brother. But by the time they are in junior high, like 12,13 I think it would be okay for them to stay home alone when they are sick. They know how the system works obviously and can handle it. If it's a flu, where there is vomitting, then I would stay home. But if it's just bed rest and nothing too major. I would probably be at work. guess I"m not much help, since I haven't reached that stage yet! __________________ Life's short. Live, love and laugh now. I have a crush on my wifey OliveJuice! Rockin' with my harem of amazing wifey's CrckrKuesadilla, Knehr, Lee77, Redhead_navygf and Angie113!

10-16-2009, 08:38 AM	#10 (permalink)
HisPITA Auntie to Jens Kids, Snooty O Wife to Settles Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Kuwait Posts: 19,019 Blog Entries: 1 Classifieds: (7) Activity: 94% Longevity: 21%	To be honest I dont think there is a general acceptable age... It really does depend on the kid. My parents could trust to leave me home in middle school, but my younger sister could not be left home alone until later on in high school... If the co-worker has the leave time, I really dont think it matters why she is taking off, and even if she didnt... different parents have different feelings about when their kids are sick... Some are fine letting them fend for themselves at home, and some want to be there to make the soup and take the temp, no matter if they are 6 or 60... __________________ She will be mine.