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Gana's picture

Submitted by Gana on Tue, 08/03/2010 - 9:24am

My fiance's stepkids who are 14 and 16 live with us and visit their mother. Their mother works at nights and leaves them alone while she works the night shift til 4 in the morning. She told the kids to tell us that the neighbor watches them but she only from what we heard comes down and checks on them. Doesn't stay in the apartment house. Is there any way we have a say on what goes on and that they are staying alone in the middle of the night. I can understand them being by themselves if during the day but at night? Any thoughts, please help? What should we do if this happens again?

Comments

stepkate's picture

Submitted by stepkate on Tue, 08/03/2010 - 9:27am

Thats a tough one, I guess, because I kind of remember being left alone overnight at 16, and didn't have a problem with it. Maybe others will disagree, but my parents figured if I was responsible enough to drive, I could stay alone overnight.

Rags's picture

Submitted by Rags on Tue, 08/03/2010 - 9:33am

It is unlikely that you can do anything about it. The Skids are 14&16. A judge will likely rule that they are old enough to be home alone.

We attempted to have a similar situation with my SIL addressed by the courts when she was 15. My IL's home was a health hazard and SIL was left alone in the home for extended periods. The CPS worker and the Judge both told us that if the house is dirty she is old enough to clean it and if there is no food in the house she is old enough to procure food and prepare it.

Good luck trying to address your Skids situation. I doubt anything will come of your efforts if you try. Keep in mind that the people who run the family court system and CPS have not been tried in the crucible of private sector competition and are likely not employable outside of their current roles as non contributing leaches on the asses of the tax payers.

In my HUMBLE opinion of course. Wink

Best regards.

violetforest's picture

Submitted by violetforest on Tue, 08/03/2010 - 9:36am

Teens I will agree can get into a lot of trouble at this age but good luck being able to do anything about it. We cant even get the court to force a bm in our case to bring ss12 for visitation because BM claims that he doesn't want to come and she says that she cant force him.

best bet may be to offer to take in the kids without changing placement or going after additional child support, maybe she will take you up on the offer but unless the kids have been getting into trouble I don't see a big deal.

violetforest's picture

Submitted by violetforest on Tue, 08/03/2010 - 9:38am

thinking about this some more, my oldest was 16 when she watched other peoples children who worked nights in the field of law enforcement. She had our number along with the parent's contact numbers is something went wrong.

mom2five's picture

Submitted by mom2five on Tue, 08/03/2010 - 11:08am

I feel for you. I'm not sure what you can do about it, but I certainly understand your concern. Can you ask mom if she would let the kids stay with y'all on the nights she works?

I think you are right to be concerned. I would never in a million years leave my kids alone all night at that age.