Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I don't know what your local CPS would have to say about leaving him alone overnight, but I can assure you, it wont be good.
You can leave your child alone once they're 18, not a problem!
But 16 years old is STILL A CHILD in every way except their bodies.
A mere 13 months earlier they were 14 years old>>14 summers to learn how to behave if your friends become rowdy when the parents are away for the night, how to not be scared if something crashes outside at 3am, how to cope if one of the animals has a sudden fit, the pipes burst, a stranger begins calling the house to frighten you...
The possibilities of DISASTER are endless, and being legally a child, OP is entirely responsible for it.
Much, much easier, and some would say KINDER, to stay in at night with your CHILD.
I don't know what your local CPS would have to say about leaving him alone overnight, but I can assure you, it wont be good.
You can leave your child alone once they're 18, not a problem!
But 16 years old is STILL A CHILD in every way except their bodies.
A mere 13 months earlier they were 14 years old>>14 summers to learn how to behave if your friends become rowdy when the parents are away for the night, how to not be scared if something crashes outside at 3am, how to cope if one of the animals has a sudden fit, the pipes burst, a stranger begins calling the house to frighten you...
The possibilities of DISASTER are endless, and being legally a child, OP is entirely responsible for it.
Much, much easier, and some would say KINDER, to stay in at night with your CHILD.
What? CPS would laugh at you for complaining about leaving a 16 year old alone.....it's perfectly legal and pretty darn common.
You really think that a kid should go from never being by themselves to on their own at agec18?
I LITERALLY can't believe that there are people who feel this way.
When I was sixteen, I owned a car and worked 40 hours a week when school was out and 20 hours a week during school. And you people feel a sixteen year old can't be trusted to be alone IN THEIR OWN HOUSE?
What the heck did YOU do that showed such poor judgement at age sixteen that you don't believe that ANY sixteen year old can be trusted? Were you huffing hairspray? Smoking marijuana? Screwing the neighbor kids in the shed? Stealing the old man's liquor?
There are plenty of perfectly respectable teens out there.
What of the Legal Consequences?
There are laws which tell us quite clearly that 16 years old is STILL A CHILD.
Just ignore them?
Also i'd like to point out that OP entitled this "SNEAKY BEHAVIOUR" = her child is not quite as angelic as you were therefore sharing how mature and responsible you were at 16 is pretty pointless.
There are laws which tell us quite clearly that 16 years old is STILL A CHILD.
Just ignore them?
Also i'd like to point out that OP entitled this "SNEAKY BEHAVIOUR" = her child is not quite as angelic as you were therefore sharing how mature and responsible you were at 16 is pretty pointless.
Yes...16 year olds are minors...but nothing has that they typically can't be left alone. So how did you get your teenager through thus time?
I think that parents need to be aware of the LEGAL CONSEQUENCES of what their child does while they are out doing *whatever*.
At 18 a child is Legally an Adult.
At 16 they are not.
Im sorry if you cant see the difference.
Going by your standards we are all A-OK to leave 14 year olds alone too - still illegal, but only 2 years off 16!!
So then what of 12 year olds, the sensible ones?
Leave them also?
I know a lot of 10 year olds far more responsible than their own parents - so them too?
Do you see where I'm going with this?
The LAW is there to clearly define what a Child is, for parents who think kids are just fine alone.
They are not....as OP has told us...!
For one...state laws differ...at least a few states have no minimum age for leaving a child alone...and most states are around age 12. Also...many parents here just don't see a problem with a teen getting taco bell and brining it him to play x box with their cousin....we do see issues with the OP recording the teen non stop and now with you saying that a teenager can't do anything by themselves until age 18. It's not reality or healthy.
So...is this how you raised your teens...and how has it worked out for you?
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
