Is 13 Too Young to Babysit?

A Connecticut mom was arrested after leaving her kids home in the charge of a 13-year-old.

Moms Talk

Is 13 Too Young to Babysit?

A Connecticut mom was arrested after leaving her kids home in the charge of a 13-year-old.

Moms Talk is a weekly feature on all Lehigh Valley Patches in which local parents, caregivers and other members of the community are invited to share opinions and advice on parenting topics. This week’s Moms Talk question relates to the “right” age to begin babysitting. This spring, a Connecticut mom was arrested and accused of endangering her four children when she left them under the supervision of a 13-year-old babysitter. The 13-year-old happened to be her oldest child and that child was supposed to watch three younger siblings – ages 10, 4 and 18 months – for one hour while the mother was at church. During that time, as the story goes, the 4-year-old walked across the street into a neighbor’s yard, and the neighbor reported the …

•  12 Comments
• Photos (1)

tamarya

2:19 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012

No one will ever handle something like that emotionally well. I am sure the mother is going through emotional stress now also but no one cares about that. And now those kids have a bigger emotional issue because their mom was arrested, for doing nothing that really was a crime. As for if you would not let your kids with a 13 yr old, then don't, that is you choice, just like it is someone's choice…   more ›

Moms Talk

How Much Childcare Help Should you Expect From Family?

The transition back to school presents a whole new set of scheduling challenges. When you need someone to watch the kids, should family be expected to jump in?

Moms Talk is a weekly feature on all Lehigh Valley Patches in which local parents, caregivers and other members of the community are invited to share opinions and advice on parenting topics. This week’s Moms Talk question relates to childcare backup. The start of the school year brings a whole new set of scheduling challenges, with missed school buses, after-hours meetings at work and ferrying kids from sports to scouts and everything in between being just the tip of the iceberg. Babysitters are expensive these days. Plus, they are virtually impossible to find when a last-minute need arises. And, Murphy’s Law dictates that that last-minute need will come up as surely as the sun. So, here’s what we want to know: When you are in a pinch for …

•  5 Comments
• Photos (1)

Mountain View

Dads Aren't "Babysitters"

Dads and moms alike are equally responsible for spending time with their children. One-on-one time should never be considered babysitting.

One thing that really gets me going is when I hear moms say, “My husband is going to babysit the kids so I can get some 'me' time.” Last time I checked, the creation of a child required a mom AND a dad. The upbringing, however, can vary of course. There are now single parents, same-sex parents, and grandparents involved with child-rearing. In a traditional home, both parents should be (in my opinion) equally responsible for their child’s care and development until they become responsible adults. It shouldn’t be a one-parent job unless there's some legitmate reason. And I do understand this happens. But, I struggle when I hear moms talk about how great their husbands are for “babysitting” the kids. “Oh, I’m so lucky! He’s going to babysit …

•  10 Comments
• Photos (1)

tamarya

3:41 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012

My pet peeve is when kids get hurt in dads care, yet it was the mothers fault also. I finally told someone off on the article of where the dad let the todllers home and they started the fire. This woman was saying both mom and dad should lose them but yet they were home in dads care while mom was working. I finally said to my knowledge of 33 yrs of life dads are more than a sperm donor and he is …   more ›