It’s Wednesday at 1:45 in the afternoon. Alexis receives a call from her son’s school saying he’s sick with a 101 degree fever, and needs to be picked up from school. Alexis is getting ready to go into an important meeting with a client, and her husband is out of town on business. Alexis panics – she’s not sure who she can call for help. How about you? Do you know who you can call in an urgent situation such as this? Hopefully, you have a list of names and numbers you can call for back-up help.
For working moms, having a strong support network is essential. Given that life is unpredictable, you never know when you’ll need assistance — someone to pick up your child from school, or back-up child care, or someone to take care for your sick child.
Who should be in your support network? Here’s a list:
Boss – A boss can support you by allowing flexibility when needed – to attend parent-teacher conferences or school performances, or to stay home with a sick child.
Co-workers – Co-workers can support you by filling in when you cannot be at work – so you don’t have to come back to twice the work!
Spouse – Your spouse can share household and childcare responsibilities.
Children – Even your children (depending upon their age) can take responsibility and do their part.
Family — Your extended family can support you by providing back-up child care.
Friends – It’s great to have friends who can help in times of need – to trade-off carpooling or caring for children.
Neighbors – A neighbor can help out in a pinch; for example, to pick up your child from school.
Paid Services – These include your child care provider, emergency child care, and household services (including housecleaning, gardening, pest control, window washing, errands, shopping, etc.).
How strong is your network? What’s missing? If you find your support network is not as strong as you’d like, then gain the support you need. Then when you’re faced with an unexpected call, you’ll know who to ask for help.
Every day after school, some 15 million children nationwide go home to an empty house, according to a 2009 Afterschool Alliance study. If you’re the parent of a “latchkey kid”, I imagine your primary concern is your child’s safety.
First, it’s important to determine if your child is ready to stay home alone. There’s no specific age by which children are ready, since developmentally, children can be so different. Consider how mature your child is. Take into account how your child might respond to a variety of everyday situations – such as someone coming to the door, as well as how he or she might react in an emergency situation.
If you think your child may be ready, give it a trial run. For example, go shopping for an hour or so in the afternoon. See how your child handles being alone. Some children really like the independence, while others are afraid to be by themselves.
When you child is ready for the independence, prepare him or her. Here are a few tips:
- Checking in – Have your child check in with you as soon as he or she arrives home from school. With cell phones it’s easy to keep in touch by calling, leaving a voicemail, or sending a text message.
- Rules – Establish and discuss rules for everyday occurrences such as answering the door, snacks, cooking, homework, and TV/video games.
- Emergency plans – Discuss what to do in an emergency, and post a list of important phone numbers next to the phone.
Preparing your child to be home alone will help ease your mind. You’ll feel more confident that your child will be able to handle himself in any situation — and be safe!