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  #1  
Old 07-04-2007, 11:38 PM
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Children Home Alone Overnight in NJ

What is the name of your state? NJ
What is the law concerning leaving children home alone overnight in New Jersey? If I were to leave with my wife for a weekend, could I leave my 15 year old son home alone?
  #2  
Old 07-05-2007, 01:31 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by reuvypoo View Post
What is the name of your state? NJ
What is the law concerning leaving children home alone overnight in New Jersey? If I were to leave with my wife for a weekend, could I leave my 15 year old son home alone?
Call your local police department and find out. The bigger question is why would you even CONSIDER leaving your 15 year old alone for the weekend?
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  #3  
Old 07-05-2007, 08:28 AM
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I often wonder why people don't search the boards before asking these questions. They've been asked, and answered, multiple times. There are no laws governing when your child is old enough to be left alone. It all depends on the child's maturity and your comfort level. However, if something were to happen in your absence - YOU would be held responsible.

Having said that, I'm recently home from a 10 day trip abroad with one of my children. My 15yo did not want to join us. So yeah - I left him home. He slept at my parents' (Mom came with us instead), my Dad brought him home every morning to take care of the critters, he had a list of jobs to do, every neighbor (and his g/f's parents) was aware of the situation, and Dad picked him up every evening. Weekends he worked all day. And he showed himself to be a responsible young man. I'm proud of him, and I'd do it again.

p.s. I also live in NJ.
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  #4  
Old 07-05-2007, 10:17 AM
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Originally Posted by stealth2 View Post
I often wonder why people don't search the boards before asking these questions. They've been asked, and answered, multiple times. There are no laws governing when your child is old enough to be left alone. It all depends on the child's maturity and your comfort level. However, if something were to happen in your absence - YOU would be held responsible.

Having said that, I'm recently home from a 10 day trip abroad with one of my children. My 15yo did not want to join us. So yeah - I left him home. He slept at my parents' (Mom came with us instead), my Dad brought him home every morning to take care of the critters, he had a list of jobs to do, every neighbor (and his g/f's parents) was aware of the situation, and Dad picked him up every evening. Weekends he worked all day. And he showed himself to be a responsible young man. I'm proud of him, and I'd do it again.

p.s. I also live in NJ.
Yes, but many of us have no nearby relative with whom our child can stay overnight, nor who can look in on them. All my kid's grandparents are deceased. Would you have even considered it if your parents were no longer around or lived cross country?
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  #5  
Old 07-05-2007, 10:54 AM
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Originally Posted by nextwife View Post
Yes, but many of us have no nearby relative with whom our child can stay overnight, nor who can look in on them. All my kid's grandparents are deceased. Would you have even considered it if your parents were no longer around or lived cross country?
Personally, I would not think twice of leaving my daughter alone for the week when she was fifteen...She is very trustworthy and responsible. I would let a trusted neighbor know in case there was a problem.
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"Yes...I did!"
"Did you learn any interesting facts about the animals on the movie (Nation Geographic)?"
"Yes...I did learn interesting things!"
"Would you share with me an interesting fact?"
"Wellll....I learned that Naked Mole Rats are WICKED naked!"

~~~~~~~
  #6  
Old 07-05-2007, 04:36 PM
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Thank you for all of your help, I believe my son is mature and responsible enough, however, my wife does not. We will work it out. Again, thanks, and I did check, but I couldn't find anything.
  #7  
Old 07-05-2007, 05:33 PM
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Originally Posted by reuvypoo View Post
Thank you for all of your help, I believe my son is mature and responsible enough, however, my wife does not. We will work it out. Again, thanks, and I did check, but I couldn't find anything.
I keep picturing Tom Cruise in Risky Business dancing in his boxers to the music of Bob Seeger, before the call girls arrive.
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  #8  
Old 07-05-2007, 05:35 PM
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I leave my dogs home alone.
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  #9  
Old 07-05-2007, 07:27 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nextwife View Post
Yes, but many of us have no nearby relative with whom our child can stay overnight, nor who can look in on them. All my kid's grandparents are deceased. Would you have even considered it if your parents were no longer around or lived cross country?
Yep. 'Cause I have multiple friends who had already volunteered to check in on him and drive him anywhere he needed to be. He has his ditzy moments, but he is really very responsible. And it was made plain to him that if he even thought of having a party or friends over - it would be the last time in a loooooooong time he'd be left home alone at any time. And yeah, we live in a neighborhood where he was kept a close eye on.
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R.I.P. Penny.
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She was a good hound,
and a good friend.
She will be missed.
*********
  #10  
Old 07-06-2007, 02:32 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by reuvypoo View Post
Thank you for all of your help, I believe my son is mature and responsible enough, however, my wife does not. We will work it out. Again, thanks, and I did check, but I couldn't find anything.
Don't let these people condemn you he's your child Do what you feel is right you have a right to post your question just like anyone else does.
  #11  
Old 07-06-2007, 02:35 PM
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Originally Posted by gamble010676 View Post
Don't let these people condemn you he's your child Do what you feel is right you have a right to post your question just like anyone else does.
Who are "these people?"
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  #12  
Old 07-06-2007, 03:23 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gamble010676 View Post
Don't let these people condemn you he's your child Do what you feel is right you have a right to post your question just like anyone else does.
Please enlighten us...Who here was "condemning" the OP?? Who questioned the OP's "right to post"?
__________________
~A 8 a.m. bus-stop conversation~

"So Lil'Blue...Did you like the DVDs I got for you at the library?"
"Yes...I did!"
"Did you learn any interesting facts about the animals on the movie (Nation Geographic)?"
"Yes...I did learn interesting things!"
"Would you share with me an interesting fact?"
"Wellll....I learned that Naked Mole Rats are WICKED naked!"

~~~~~~~
  #13  
Old 07-07-2007, 07:55 PM
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Posts: 29,672
Gee - I thought I was quite supportive.
__________________
Children aren't coloring books. You don't get to fill them in with your favorite colors.
The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini


*********
R.I.P. Penny.
8/12/97 - 11/12/09
She was a good hound,
and a good friend.
She will be missed.
*********
  #14  
Old 07-07-2007, 08:17 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stealth2 View Post
Gee - I thought I was quite supportive.
You were...and informative!!

I think "gamble" isn't playing with a full deck...hee hee...get it?? Ahhhh...I slay myself....
__________________
~A 8 a.m. bus-stop conversation~

"So Lil'Blue...Did you like the DVDs I got for you at the library?"
"Yes...I did!"
"Did you learn any interesting facts about the animals on the movie (Nation Geographic)?"
"Yes...I did learn interesting things!"
"Would you share with me an interesting fact?"
"Wellll....I learned that Naked Mole Rats are WICKED naked!"

~~~~~~~
  #15  
Old 07-09-2007, 08:31 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by reuvypoo View Post
What is the name of your state? NJ
What is the law concerning leaving children home alone overnight in New Jersey? If I were to leave with my wife for a weekend, could I leave my 15 year old son home alone?
I would personally not do it, knowing what I did when my parents went out of town when
I was 15. Do call the police to find out the law, and then do what you feel is best.

My friend left her 16 year old son home last summer for two nights.
He's a good kid, and invited some friends from his baseball team over to hang out.
Before he knew it, the house was crawling with about 70 kids from the high school.
Now that nearly every high school kid has a cellphone, a party can erupt in MINUTES.

He had to call the police to get them to leave. Somebody stole all of his mother's jewelry which was in a box in a closet, and beer and cigarettes were scattered all over the yard.
When his aunt came over to "check" on him later that night, it was too late.
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