These Are The MAYS of our Lives- The MAYers, Part VI

[rusafee1183]

Oh - and Shelly - I started staying home alone (for just a little while) when I was about 10, started babysitting my brother and sister when I turned 11 on weekends for my parents. And then I started watching other people's kids about 11 or 12.

 

[lakehead92]

Shelly-

Rule here, is alone for a short period on their own at 10, and able to watch a younger sibling at 12.
The baysitting course is offered to 12 year olds and older.

But as you know... there are some kids that are definitely more mature at 10 or 12 that others.

 

[seacrestpromo]

It is 72 and little windy - a slight Santa Ana condition (warm winds). Unfortunately, they are predicting rain for five days starting on Monday. Boo Hoo!

Sea- How's the weather in CA today? I'm SOOOO looking forward to some warm FL temps

Everyone else-

And thanks again for letting me be a late addition to the MAYers

 

[lakehead92]

Hello everyone!

 

[seacrestpromo]

Hi Lake - Is it frosty up there today?

Hello everyone!

 

[lakehead92]

Hi Lake - Is it frosty up there today?

Hi SEA-

Actually warmer today than it has been the last 2 weeks.

2 degrees celsius.
35.6 F

I can handle it. It is January afterall.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

As for vacations this year, we are going to settle on a date soon for our Alaska cruise. I want to do a "getaway" trip to WDW this year, but I don't know when. I got some other trip ideas in the back of my mind too...are you guys still thinking of doing a PA meet up this Spring?

Sea

Of course I'm still up for a PA MAYer Meet! Summer might be best though, that way I wouldn't have to worry about school.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

When Jeremy was ten, we would leave him home alone for about a hour here and there. When he was about thirteen we left him with his brother at the hotel alone when we went out to dinner in Hawaii.

You know your kids the best - I am sure you will know when it is the right time.

Sea

Shelly- I think the rule here in MD is 10 but 12 or something before you can be left with a younger sibling. I'll have to ask my sister. She had to look into in a couple years back. Hers are 10 and 13. For some kids I really don't think it should be based on a number but rather their maturity level. My DH's nephew is 16 and they never have left him alone. They're too afraid he'll burn the house down. You know your boys best. Perhaps give them little test runs- 20 minutes here and there. My sister started that way but didn't tell them how long she would be. That way they can be surprised when you're back so quickly and if any craziness is going on- you'll know because they wouldn't have had a chance to hide the evidence.

Oh - and Shelly - I started staying home alone (for just a little while) when I was about 10, started babysitting my brother and sister when I turned 11 on weekends for my parents. And then I started watching other people's kids about 11 or 12.

Shelly-

Rule here, is alone for a short period on their own at 10, and able to watch a younger sibling at 12.
The baysitting course is offered to 12 year olds and older.

But as you know... there are some kids that are definitely more mature at 10 or 12 that others.

Thanks for all the thoughts and opinions on this. It's just something we have been thinking about with DS turning 11 this spring. Maybe just an hour here or there. We also thought about leaving them in the room at Disney if we were going to dine at the resort we are staying at. (They will be 11 & 9 by the time we go back) Rather than them having to sit through yet another boring meal with us they could be in the room eating sandwiches and snacks and playing video games! I am sure we could trust them to not answer the door to anyone and behave for an hour or so! Plus we would be able to get to the room within a few minutes if we needed to.

I know I was babysitting my cousins when I was 11. They were 1 and 2 years old. Looking back I can't believe my aunt and uncle would trust an 11 year old with their babies! But I guess girls do mature faster than boys.

 

[huggiebear23]

Speaking of the kids getting older. . . What is the right age to leave your kids home alone? I always thought it was 12, but apparently there is no set age in PA. And I know people who start doing it as young as 8 (not for extended periods of time). I'd love to know the MAYers thoughts on this. . . Also, do any of you with older kids ever leave them in the hotel room alone?

Just curious.

I know I can only ask this here, otherwise I would be flamed!!

I was 10 when I went home alone from school.

Good morning Mayers.

Well, my dad made it safely to Orlando yesterday. His third trip to FL in the last 90 days. I must of forgot to tell you that he met a lady on the cruise we went on in November. She lives about 90 miles north east of Orlando.

They are going to visit DTD and then drive down to Ft. Myers and see the homes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. Then they are driving over to Ft. Lauderdale to see some of her family. I guess she is giving him a tour of the whole state. LOL He will be back in two weeks.

Other than that, just doing the regular life stuff. Getting ready to clean out my garage and then my MIL garage. The house is done and up for sale. We had 60 people visit our open house this past Sunday. Three couples brought their contractor with them, so I am expecting an offer soon.

As for vacations this year, we are going to settle on a date soon for our Alaska cruise. I want to do a "getaway" trip to WDW this year, but I don't know when. I got some other trip ideas in the back of my mind too...are you guys still thinking of doing a PA meet up this Spring?

Sea

That is great news about your dad!!

Hello everyone!

Hi Lake!!

Thanks for all the thoughts and opinions on this. It's just something we have been thinking about with DS turning 11 this spring. Maybe just an hour here or there. We also thought about leaving them in the room at Disney if we were going to dine at the resort we are staying at. (They will be 11 & 9 by the time we go back) Rather than them having to sit through yet another boring meal with us they could be in the room eating sandwiches and snacks and playing video games! I am sure we could trust them to not answer the door to anyone and behave for an hour or so! Plus we would be able to get to the room within a few minutes if we needed to.

I know I was babysitting my cousins when I was 11. They were 1 and 2 years old. Looking back I can't believe my aunt and uncle would trust an 11 year old with their babies! But I guess girls do mature faster than boys.

I think leaving them in the room when you get dinner is fine. You deserve a nice meal at Disney

 

[NewCrew42]

Speaking of the kids getting older. . . What is the right age to leave your kids home alone? I always thought it was 12, but apparently there is no set age in PA. And I know people who start doing it as young as 8 (not for extended periods of time). I'd love to know the MAYers thoughts on this. . . Also, do any of you with older kids ever leave them in the hotel room alone?

Just curious.

I know I can only ask this here, otherwise I would be flamed!!

I can't remember the "age" but when DS was in 4th grade, I left him home alone to run DD to dance, maybe for 20 or 30 minutes and then worked up from there.

DD is 12 and is rarely home alone. She looks young for 12. I worry about if a stranger would come to the door or home invasion with her home alone. She is also my child who has set the house on fire and flooded her bath room. She would never get into trouble, but I just worry more about her.

When we were in DC this past summer, one morning I had told DS to get up a million times. He didn't. Chloe and were ready for breakfast. I made the statement we were going to breakfast and then to the zoo, if he wanted to go, he better find us at the breakfast buffet. So I left his booty in the room. Twenty minutes later he was downstairs, showered and ready to go. He had no trouble getting up the rest of the trip. PS - I would have left his sorry BEHIND in the hotel room alone that day. I was so irritated with him. Sorry, it's a parent of a teenage boy thing. I am sure Sea understands where I'm coming from.

Around the age of 12, I think at WDW I sent Chris to the food court at Pop to get drink refills for us and things like that. He is very mature and big for his age. He always comes off as being older than he really is. I think around this age, we may have left him in the room alone as well.

I hope that helps!

 

[lakehead92]

Holy Cow!!!!

It's almost noon here and I am the first one to post today.
What is going on??? Where is everyone???


HELLLLLLLOOOOOOOO OUT THERE!!!!!!!

I hope everyone is off having a fantastic day!

 

[seacrestpromo]

Happy Friday Mayers!

 

[lakehead92]

Happy Friday Mayers!

Hi Sea.
How is Sunny California!!!

By the way, I forgot to mention congrats on the 3000 posts!!!!
But I can't help but thinking...how many of them were lunch reports...
Yummmmmmmy!


I just live vicariously through the rest of you.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Just finished up my TR. Well, I have a few more posts to make, but the final update is done.

Here is our vacation video if anyone wants to take a look ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NyH6_4Dchw&feature=channel

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

I can't remember the "age" but when DS was in 4th grade, I left him home alone to run DD to dance, maybe for 20 or 30 minutes and then worked up from there.

DD is 12 and is rarely home alone. She looks young for 12. I worry about if a stranger would come to the door or home invasion with her home alone. She is also my child who has set the house on fire and flooded her bath room. She would never get into trouble, but I just worry more about her.

When we were in DC this past summer, one morning I had told DS to get up a million times. He didn't. Chloe and were ready for breakfast. I made the statement we were going to breakfast and then to the zoo, if he wanted to go, he better find us at the breakfast buffet. So I left his booty in the room. Twenty minutes later he was downstairs, showered and ready to go. He had no trouble getting up the rest of the trip. PS - I would have left his sorry BEHIND in the hotel room alone that day. I was so irritated with him. Sorry, it's a parent of a teenage boy thing. I am sure Sea understands where I'm coming from.

Around the age of 12, I think at WDW I sent Chris to the food court at Pop to get drink refills for us and things like that. He is very mature and big for his age. He always comes off as being older than he really is. I think around this age, we may have left him in the room alone as well.

I hope that helps!

Thanks NC! I was hoping you would chime in on this since your kids are a little older than mine.

Funny story about Chris and the hotel room!

 

[lakehead92]

Just finished up my TR. Well, I have a few more posts to make, but the final update is done.

Here is our vacation video if anyone wants to take a look ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NyH6_4Dchw&feature=channel

Hi Shelly... I think everyone is sad it's coming to an end. You have done a fantastic job once again.

 

[lakehead92]

Great video!!!!

I love the pic of the boys in the somberraro's...so cute.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Thanks Lake!

 

[seacrestpromo]

Thank you Lake! Cali is sunny today, but the clouds are starting come and the waves are starting to swell up. We are getting a storm from off of Baja that should be here by Sunday night or early Monday morning.

Glad you like my lunch reports

Sea

Hi Sea.
How is Sunny California!!!

By the way, I forgot to mention congrats on the 3000 posts!!!!
But I can't help but thinking...how many of them were lunch reports...
Yummmmmmmy!


I just live vicariously through the rest of you.

 

[Monny2AE]

I am VERY glad today is Friday! It's been a loooooong one and it's not over yet. Is it time to leave for Disney now?

Shelly I loved your video. I loved the pics of you dancing with your boys and the part where your DS is rockin' out. I'll try and catch up on your TR soon. Promise!

Gotta run...only about 2.5 hours until this fine fine day is OVER!!!!!