I think you should do the course. Your children will be fine as long as you can trust them. Maybe it will help them feel more responsible being at home and if its only for an hour it cant hurt. just make sure they have your number and know what to do in an emergency and who to call.

Monday 8th August 22.14pm

Hi Amy, Thanks for your message - much appreciated. Yes, it would only be for an hour and I agree, it would help them feel more responsible. As you say, as long as they have my phone number and know what to do in an emergency, who they can call etc, they should be ok for an hour. I know that I cannot stop the hairdressing now that I have done my first year. I want my level 2 certificate on the wall in here this time next year. Quite apart from getting my qualification, the course has been a god send. It has got me out of the house, into company and involved in something extremely rewarding and interesting - in fact it has kept me sane this last year! Thanks again for your post.
Shirley

I think it is very importaint for you to concider your childs level of maturity I have a 12 year old that i would not leave home alone for that leangh of time with no body near by to watch her where ever I go I take Kamy with me and if I cant take Kamy I dont go

I understand that this is to do your school work but you must take into account your children, after all it is no point in going to school in order to give your children a better life if by leaving them home alone you have no children to give a better life to

I am sorry I am not trying to scare you or make you upset but I please ask you consider the area where you live what the people are like in your area and your child and their maturity please also consider that at 11 they may seem grown up but they are not and the chances are that they would be afraid to be left compleatley on their own even for that short time

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Replying to:

Monday 8th August 22.14pm

Hi Amy, Thanks for your message - much appreciated. Yes, it would only be for an hour and I agree, it would help them feel more responsible. As you say, as long as they have my phone number and know what to do in an emergency, who they can call etc, they should be ok for an hour. I know that I cannot stop the hairdressing now that I have done my first year. I want my level 2 certificate on the wall in here this time next year. Quite apart from getting my qualification, the course has been a god send. It has got me out of the house, into company and involved in something extremely rewarding and interesting - in fact it has kept me sane this last year! Thanks again for your post.
Shirley

Hi, I agree with Amy. I have an 11 year old who has only just started to walk home without us collecting him from school and on occasions he has had to come home to an empty house for just an hour but this is not a regular thing. The rules laid out are quite clear, no answering the door to anyone, no answering the phone (we get him to put his mobile on so only we can contact him) and I think this responsibility has given him added confidence and maturity. He rings me when he gets home and I ring him just as I leave work and it has worked out well. So I would say give it a try, only you know your own children and their maturity and I wish you luck with your course etc.

Hi all, After a very unsettled afternoon with the kids today, I have decided that I will not allow the kids to be home alone, not even for an hour, once a week. I told hubby that I would speak to the college to see what they had to say but he then said that he would try and get home definately an hour earlier from work every Thursday. He does enough unpaid work for the company so an hour, once a week should not be too much trouble. Many thanks for all your messages - much appreciated.
Best Wishes
Shirley 5pm Sunday 14th Aug 05

i felt that most of my children were mature enough to be left home alone at age 10 - - and i've other teens that i feel need to have closer supervision.

We started leaving the kids home alone during the summer (oldest one 15) - - it was working out well until they got a prank phone call and disobeyed me by answering the phone (not screening the calls thru the answering machine like they were instructed). They paniced, left the house, and went to a neighbors' home. I left work and then realized that they needed this (luckily harmless) 'test' to learn a lesson of how to behave when we're not home.

My suggestion, you need to increase your confidence that they will mind the rules when you're away - - maybe a 'test' would help you there.