Recovery and Latch Key Children

Microwave Explosion

I opened the microwave to heat up a tamale and cheese.  As I opened the door, my eyes got wide and my thoughts of horror turned into angry words. "What happened! Who did this!" I screamed at my 7 year old son and husband lounging in his recliner. The story unfolds . . . .yesterday I was out of town at a meeting.  My husband had carpal tunnel surgery on his hand. After they got home, my husband fell asleep in the recliner.  

My son was hungry and decided to make his own dinner.  He found a can of spaghetti in the pantry and placed it in the microwave.  The spaghetti exploded. 

Learning to cook is a life skill.

When I looked into the microwave this morning, in addition to seeing dried red spaghetti on all the walls I did see some wipe marks where there was an attempt to clean up the mess.  This morning my son said,  "Mama, it is ok because I made another spaghetti . . . and this time I took the metal top off." 

Many kids today are cooking for themselves when their parents are not available.  Parents may still be at work when their children get home from school.  A "latchkey kid" is a name given to a child who comes home to an empty house.  Sometimes children are left home alone while parents run an errand.  

How old must a child be to be left home alone? 

According to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, "Supervision of children is basic to the prevention of harm. Adequate supervision means an adult caregiver is accountable for the child's care.  Although, there is no Texas law that defines a specific age at which a child may be left home alone, there are several factors that should be taken into consideration when deciding how closely to supervise a child, including:

• the age, emotional maturity and capability of the child;
• layout and safety of the home, play area, or other setting;
• neighborhood circumstances, hazards, and risks;
• the child's ability to respond to illness, fire, weather, or other types of emergencies; and
• whether the child has a mental, physical, or medical disability.

The number of children left unsupervised, the accessibility to other responsible adults, the length of time or frequency with which the child is left alone, and the child's knowledge of the parent's whereabouts are additional relevant factors."

Learning to cook and care for oneself is a part of growing up.  Adults are given the responsibility of training children.  As children mature, they are able to take on more responsibility and develop healthy life skills. 

www.stages2change.com

Arise and Shine!

“Get up!” I shouted in the most loving voice an irritated mother could have as my six-year-old son lounged in bed.

We had 45 minutest to get ready for school and the clock was ticking.  When I see my son struggling in the mornings, I have flashbacks of my teen years when my father would come into my bedroom and open the curtains and turn on the lights leaving my room with the door wide open.  He never shouted.  Dad quietly made his desires known.  I hated the invasion and preferred lounging in my bed until Noon.

Isn’t it funny how we see ourselves in our children? The behaviors we have they will imitate. My older son’s father would place his dollar bills on the nightstand. I remember the first time I saw my teenager do the same thing. My younger son has learned to repair things when they are broken . . . .  just like daddy. When I shout in irritation, I may hear an echo later in the day with my son shouting at me in irritation. When I say please and thank you, I may hear my son returning the same kindness. We teach our children through our behaviors.

What are you teaching your child today?

www.stages2change.com