PDF This week we celebrated a milestone. It was a big one if you know me. This week I left the children home alone while I ran an errand. Some of you may be saying, “big deal” and you know what, you might be right. But for me… this was a very big deal. A deal so big that I wondered if it would ever be possible for me to leave my children home alone. You see, when I was a child, I wasn’t protected. I was never shielded or sheltered and for that reason, I have been over-protective of my children since the moment they were born. I have endured many slings and arrows from well meaning, and not so well meaning friends, family and acquaintances. I have stood my ground however, not caring what anyone thought, putting my children in a little cocoon. We have certainly done plenty of things, they have plenty of friends and they’ve gone to many different places and been exposed to many different things. I have always been nearby though; always able to hear them if there was any distress.
Last April my son turned the age that it’s legally acceptable to leave a child home alone in our home state of Florida. I bookmarked that information in my brain and did nothing with it. Recently, my children have shown some marked maturity; not all the time, but enough of the time to make me take notice. So this week when I had to go pick up a present that I wanted to be a surprise for Christmas, I decided that the time had come to exercise my freedom to leave the children at home. I made sure that everyone knew my cell phone number by heart and I laid down ground rules about using the stove, answering the phone, answering the door, taking the dogs out and arguing with each other. You would have thought I was going on an overnight trip. I left the house to go on my errand with my heart fluttering just a little, but I was able to calm myself down and actually turn up the radio and sing along at the top of my lungs to “The 80s on 8″. I ran my errand and gassed up the van and then ran out of things to do, so I headed home. I was gone a whopping 40 minutes. I called the children twice while I was out just to check on them and when I returned my daughter asked, “is that it?”
It went very well and I didn’t really worry. As a matter of fact, if I tell you the truth and you promise not to tell them, I must admit my heart was fluttering from the anticipation of actually being alone. I do think we have turned a corner in the overprotective mommy neighborhood.
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I still remember the first time my parents left me at home alone – they ran over to my aunt’s house, one block away from ours, to drop something off. They were gone maybe 20 minutes. But man, was I at the top of the world for the next week or so, telling all of my friends how “grown up” I was, that I didn’t need someone to stay with me
Good for you, getting away for a while, and letting them spread their wings, even ever so slightly. 
MsMeggies last blog post..A Survey About 2008 – stolen!
I don’t think there’s really a “negative” to being over-protective unless it prevents them from social development or its self serving on the parent’s part (ie- not wanting the kid to grow up because they think that means the kid will grow AWAY from them) Plus, I can totally understand your reasoning for why you feel the way you do.
I’m glad that it went well and hope that as everyone is ready the time will increase!!!
Kristis last blog post..::::sigh::::
Good for you! I remember the first time I left all 4 home, Leo & I were across the street at a party and the kids were spying on us!! Melanie called on my cell to ask me if I was going to be drinking those beers all night!! I was sitting on a window seat and she had a clear view from her bedroom window!!