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And the repercussions of 60 parents to deal with???? In a mob coming to pick up their kids, the fighting, the drama etc etc???
No way. Not me. Let the cops deal with it. EVERY SINGLE ONE of those kids knew they were tempting fate and will think twice in the future. It may not be over for these parents, having left them there for three days but at least they can show the court they took it seriously.
Being "charged" will have no permanent scar on the children's records, likely there will be a conditional discharge if they do whatever they're told to do and stay OUT OF TROUBLE for whatever time the court decides. They obviously had NERVE throwing not one, not two but THREE of these parties.
Once I found out a neighbor's kid was having drunk pool parties in the home of my pet sitting client while the family was away. The neighbor daughter had the garage combo code from a year before when she watched their cat and there was a falling out for a dispute between the two families over something.
I thought I was losing my mind because the house had a laundry room light off every time I came in for four days, that I had left ON...for the cat...and then the client called me from out of town to tell me what happened. I was actually getting ready to call her with the phone in my hand when she called me. Because I KNEW there was no way she could have an overhead light on a timer, nobody ever does that. (She said someone went in her yard to cut the grass and found the kids with booze partying in her pool). I assume the kid was turning the light OFF after drying towels/clothing in the dryer, out of habit or assuming she actually turned it on to begin with .
All I could imagine was finding a dead body in that pool if the guy didn't put a stop to it. Or a dead cat.
And some sarcastic moron (likely the teenager) placed one strategic bottle cap of Bud Light on TOP of the empty outside trashcan 3 days after the party was broken up and action taken. I know what was on or in the trash can because I was using it and taking it out to the street so that was NERVY, TOO!
No, I would never in a million years leave my kids alone like that but they did and now everything has changed for EVERYONE in that family. What a mess.
The parents were smart to call the police. First of all, who knows whether the kids WERE left home alone? They could have been left sleeping over at friends' houses, then lied to the respective families hosting them, saying they were each sleeping over at another friend's house. The house could have been left locked up, and they could have gone in without permission. You don't know the circumstances. Secondly, parents have been arrested in that town for allowing their children to host alcohol parties, and for providing the alcohol. If the parents had not called the cops, and another kid's parents DID call the police, complaining that their child had been given alcohol at that house, the PARENTS could have been arrested. Better that the teens get arrested than the parents. Thirdly, those teens now know that their parents mean business - break the law, and we'll call the cops.
Good for them. Best course of action.
When I read this and other parenting forums, I can only be sort of scared/shocked at how naive the parents of a lot of teenagers are. This behavior should be dealt with very strongly. Calling police was totally appropriate.
I live next door to a hi-$$$ catholic college. Come to my neighborhood this weekend where you can see the results of "I taught my teen to drink responsibly"
Location: Huntersville/Charlotte, NC and Washington, DC
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mamacatnv
The biggest issue I see with a mindset to punish to this extreme is you have no more leverage for several years. It makes no sense to me to dole out a punishment that is so all encompassing for the rest of their years under your roof. Plus, comeonnow, this is not realistic unless you and your DH intend to give up having a life.
I am not sure what I would do, I don't think I would call the cops but then again I don't think I would leave two teenage girls at home for a weekend without a trusted friend/neighbor keeping a really close eye on things.
Plus, it could lead to other extreme and more dangerous behavior (running away was the first thing i thought of) since essentially they have literally nothing to lose.
I agree that the kids were too young to be left alone, the parents could also be charged with neglect, especially since the kids are obviously not mature enough nor trustworthy.
I wouldn't know what to do. On one hand I wouldn't want my kids to get in trouble, so I would have everyone call their parents. On the other hand, I don't want a bunch of parents on my case.
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The home owner's kids are legal residents and they did invite at least some of them.
