GOING OUT OF TOWN
Maybe you're going out of town for a weekend. Maybe it's just one night. Regardless of how responsible your kids are, they aren't too old for a babysitter. There are simply too many things that can go wrong.
Take the true story about a teen who invited a few friends to a party. They invited a few more. Then word about the party was posted on MySpace. Before she knew what was happening, the teen host had a houseful of people she didn't know. It wasn't long before the police arrived. The parents arrived home to a house that had been trashed and a daughter who now had a police record.
So does that mean you can never leave home until your teen goes to college? No, there are other ways to make sure she has the supervision she needs.
- Arrange for her to stay with a friend - someone you know who shares your basic ideas about rules and curfews.
- If you have family nearby, your daughter could also stay with them.
- See if a trusted adult could stay in your home.
If you are going to be out of town, talk to your neighbors and tell your kids that you have asked other adults to keep an eye on your home.
Adapted from the Sioux Falls Parent Communication Network's High School News, January 2008