What I love about this forum is the different perspectives, which I think I need in this case. I am (in my circle of friends) an easy going, relaxed parent about what my kids can do in terms of staying home alone, riding bikes, etc.
However I am very nervous about my Father in Law's request to let them fly Unaccompanied to visit him.
The girls will be 13, 11, almost 9 (next summer) There are no nonstop flights between Houston TX and Spokane WA, so a layover is unavoidable. The trip essentially is all day... 2-3hrs to layover (usually SLC, or Denver) layover time 1-2 hrs & another 2-3hrs to Spokane.
Of course, my FIL feels that just because they "can" that I should allow it. I'm sorry but I'm not there yet
For example, I let my kids stay in the house alone (doors locked, no cooking) for up to 3 hrs. I can call them/they call me if ever a question or a squabble. I wouldn't allow them to stay home for an 8 hr workday, yet I am supposed to allow them to roam 3 airports and 2 airplanes in a 8 hour day.
(That too is assuming everything goes perfectly!... no delays, missed connections, etc.)
I get that there is an attendant that meets them and gets them off/on the airplane. However this is just a stranger (who I don't get to meet) just doing their job. I send my kids off to camp on the church bus, but I at least get to meet the driver!
And lets not forget, they are sisters. They are usually well behaved, but they will squabble. One will get annoyed, one will borrow something without asking, one will accidentally knock elbows in the seat so the other will retaliate. Who is going to tell them to knock it off!? I don't think I'd want to sit next to 3 squabbling tired, cramped annoyed kids as a passenger. Again, I would expect them to squabble if I left them at home all day with 2000 sq ft to roam around. I can't imagine an airport seat.
And I'd just be a big ol puddle of nerves all day long. I don't think I'd be able to think straight or function knowing that my kids are going to fly 2000 miles away and spend some of that time in a city in between.
Someone tell me if I am too paranoid! I let my kids ride bikes to school, order food at Subway while I wait in the car, stay home for 3 hours in the morning when I work and they have the day off school. I send them off to summer camp as young as age 7. I don't view myself as a scared, paranoid mom, but I cannot bring myself to allow this.
DH and FIL think I'm crazy, and that kids do this all the time. What's up?
However I am very nervous about my Father in Law's request to let them fly Unaccompanied to visit him.
The girls will be 13, 11, almost 9 (next summer) There are no nonstop flights between Houston TX and Spokane WA, so a layover is unavoidable. The trip essentially is all day... 2-3hrs to layover (usually SLC, or Denver) layover time 1-2 hrs & another 2-3hrs to Spokane.
Of course, my FIL feels that just because they "can" that I should allow it. I'm sorry but I'm not there yet
For example, I let my kids stay in the house alone (doors locked, no cooking) for up to 3 hrs. I can call them/they call me if ever a question or a squabble. I wouldn't allow them to stay home for an 8 hr workday, yet I am supposed to allow them to roam 3 airports and 2 airplanes in a 8 hour day.
(That too is assuming everything goes perfectly!... no delays, missed connections, etc.)
I get that there is an attendant that meets them and gets them off/on the airplane. However this is just a stranger (who I don't get to meet) just doing their job. I send my kids off to camp on the church bus, but I at least get to meet the driver!
And lets not forget, they are sisters. They are usually well behaved, but they will squabble. One will get annoyed, one will borrow something without asking, one will accidentally knock elbows in the seat so the other will retaliate. Who is going to tell them to knock it off!? I don't think I'd want to sit next to 3 squabbling tired, cramped annoyed kids as a passenger. Again, I would expect them to squabble if I left them at home all day with 2000 sq ft to roam around. I can't imagine an airport seat.
And I'd just be a big ol puddle of nerves all day long. I don't think I'd be able to think straight or function knowing that my kids are going to fly 2000 miles away and spend some of that time in a city in between.
Someone tell me if I am too paranoid! I let my kids ride bikes to school, order food at Subway while I wait in the car, stay home for 3 hours in the morning when I work and they have the day off school. I send them off to summer camp as young as age 7. I don't view myself as a scared, paranoid mom, but I cannot bring myself to allow this.
DH and FIL think I'm crazy, and that kids do this all the time. What's up?