After 3 long years, H is home - II

[GoingForward]

GF, out of curiosity, how old are your kids?

The boys are 12, 8, and 3.

Now, I babysat my infant niece when I was 11 one summer, all day by myself until my mom got home from work (after 5 or 6pm).

So naturally as an adult now, I have tried leaving the younger two at home with their older brother.

Let's just say that S12 is not ready and responsible enough to handle this yet.

One time, I went to the store (just around the corner) and was gone for about 15, 20 minutes. When I returned, S12 was playing on the computer while S3 was having fun tossing my mosaic-tiled decorative balls in the kitchen! There were broken bits of glass tile EVERYWHERE! *Sigh*.....

I didn't give up trying to still hand down some responsibility after that. Just told S12 he needed to be PAYING ATTENTION to whatever his little brother was doing. I remember him saying, "Well I didn't hear him!"......How can you NOT hear glass breaking???!!!! I heard it out in the garage when I got out of my car!

Anyway, whenever I need to run to the store, I still do, and I'm always sure to remind them about not answering the phone or the door for anyone. NO EXCUSES, unless it is me or their dad talking on the answering machine telling them to pick up, and if for some reason we are at the door knocking, we will say to them that it is Mom or Dad, open the door. Otherwise, NO. DON'T DO IT.

I ran to the store again one night because I realized we were out of milk, and I needed it for their breakfast the next morning. Came back about 15 minutes later and found H on the couch with S8 (S12 and S3 were in the other room playing, and this happened before H moved back home). H looked p*ssed but was holding it back. He said, "Do they know not to answer the door when you're gone?" I said, "Yes, I remind them every time, and they say they understand." Well H told me that he knocked on the door. Just knocked and didn't say, "It's Dad." Just kept knocking, and without asking who's there, S8 unlocked and opened the door.

*Sigh.... ......Geez.

So now, S8 knows better (I tested him after that incident by knocking on the door and not saying a word - he passed! ), but S12 still doesn't pay attention. He's too much into himself. Hmm, sounds like......

Anyway, now I just take S3 with me all the time again, and I try to make sure I have what we need while the older two are in school during the day so that I don't have to head out in the evening for anything. I could just have them all get in the car, but it's easier leaving S12 and S8 home together so I don't have to hear, "But I don't want to go shopping! I don't like going to the store!"

So see, that's why it was hard to immediately accept the invitation without thinking about the boys first.

Sounds like some nice positives. Hang in there!

Definitely some good things there, and I will.

But I won't count my chickens just yet either!