Just wondering ..

[sherrardk]

At what age would you leave one of your children at home alone while you did the school run (about 20 minutes) or went to the local shop? Thanks.

[ummmm]

That's different....I wouldn't put mine through that. I'd walk them if that was the case.

[annie0000]

well done Ummmm - i think there are maybe less dangers in the house now than there were. we have no chip pan for instance. I was always left in the house during the holidays and my parents were working and I just sorted myself out for meals etc. I had 6 older brothers and sisters but they were either at work or out with their friends when I was young. A neighbour babysat for us recently and she couldn't believe the difference between having 2 preschoolers to having older boys to look after. they made their own supper and took themselves of to bed - she feelt a bit redundant.

[sherrardk]

Hi what..the? I don't even know where the stop cock is! (ps - don't wish twins on yourself, they are really quite hard work (our youngest are twins) - good company for each other though).

[annie0000]

I dont like walking past his house either. The temptation to give him a hiding and wipe the stupid smirk of his ugly chops may just overcome me one day and I have no desire to end up in jail!

[tyke1]

Try 'children's legal centre/home alone' which basically says it is up to you to take the responsibility for leaving a child alone and the circumstances differ according to the age or maturity of the child/length of time/situation etc etc But ultimately if anything untoward occurs then YOU are responsible.
http://www.childrensl.../Child+law/Homealone/

[what..the?]

thats a shame annie I was bullied, I hope he can pull the strength to get through it and not let them effect his life ongoing, I was always shy and then chose to escape to do my A levels at the college instead of school and left the bullies behind, because it was a new start and new people I had to come out of my shell to meet people, it was the start of my life aged 16 shame about the first 16 years

[what..the?]

so is the carrying and birth of twins that much worse than having to go through two separate births whats the comparison? Ir do you mean nursing afterwards is a handful

[ummmm]

Of course we're responsible...and that's why most of us have a plan B. Mine plan B is the corner shop. We're good friends with them and I never leave my kids alone unless the shop know about it.

[ummmm]

What...the...have one first...lol. I wouldn't say it's the birth...two babies feeding every 3 hours, 24 hours a day..at different times. The thought of it makes me cringe..

[annie0000]

what..the?? I must say you sound like you would make a lovely parent. We are working with the school psychologist at the moment to see if we can build his resiliance and self confidence before he starts high school - we are also hoping to get him and his best friend in to a different school from these boys (where his friend's sister already goes) but it only has a few spaces to offer to pupils outwith the catchment and with him being a millenium year baby there is a bit of a increase in class sizes in general already so there may not be any spaces available. That leaves us the option of trying to move house in the missle of a collapse in the market, or having all the boys baptised as catholic, which we are not. That way they would be guaranteed a space in a 3rd school.

Parenthood definitely is not easy, but nothing worth having ever is.

[sherrardk]

Hi what...the? I was 39 when I had D and F and so I was classed as a bit of an old bird anyway. You have more hospital appointments and scans, checks, etc as there are more chances of complications. I couldn't keep any trousers up as they couldn't cope with how big I was. I found it hard to eat as I just didn't have any space left so I actually lost weight. Because my third child was born really quickly they decided I would have to have a c-section as they couldn't risk me having them before I got to the hospital. I breastfed them so they seemed to be feeding al the time but that soon passes. You just have to think things through so much more than if you have a single baby. How do you go shopping on your own with two baby car seats and a normal trolley, etc. Now that they are older, three next month, they are a tag team of naughtiness. (Although it would probably be easier to have just twins and not three other young children to consider too.)

[ummmm]

Oh look at you Sher...rose tinted specks in your hand :-) x

[what..the?]

this might sound stupid but do they check you are catholic then, can't you just say some of family is catholic? Do you have to have all the paperwork, or do they just force the catholic religion on the children which wouldn't be right for your boy?

[ummmm]

Catholic? Who? Where?

[what..the?]

all true points well pointed out there, I am 29 btw, but really theres not many twins in my family so it's not too likely,.....and there aren't any twin pregnancy vending machines around yet are there, oowww with optional Brad Pit gene's ....?

[sherrardk]

Hi ummm - annie000 is having a problem with schools and is discussing having to become Catholic.

What..the? - they can check everything, including if you actually live where you say you do. In some areas it is really competitive to get into certain schools so parents get desperate and schools get suspicious.

[annie0000]

yes, you have to supply the baptism certificate. I can apply for a space as a non-catholic, but not guaranteed to get it. They don't indoctrinate them in the faith as far as I understand. As it stands, the only school we are guaranteed to get space for my son and his friend is the catchment school where the group of boys are going. his friends mums preference is for him to go to the same school as his sister naturally and they would have more chance of a space than us as they get extra points as a sibling is already in the school. again though they would prefer him to have a friend as he says that he doesn't want to go to high school on his own. The psychologist was horrified at the thought of my son going to the catchment school on his own. So we are kind of stuck really. We are hoping the psychologist can bring a bit of pressure to add to our application.

[ummmm]

Missed that bit...

Annie - Catholic schools do take on non Catholics as well. IMO and experience they are very good schools.

[ummmm]

Get a letter from the psychologist Annie...take it to the head master of the school who then can, if he agrees, send a letter along with your application to the LEA.

[annie0000]

I agree Ummmm - the school has a reputation for being very nurturing which I think would be a good environment for him. I just need to convince the other parents that having their children at seperate high schools would be a good idea :o) - and magically get a space for them both!