Age Appropriate Supervision?

[GoodDadtoBK]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? CA

Can anybody tell me what is considered "age appropriate supervision" in CA?

The court order states: "The child must not be left alone without age appropriate supervision".

My olderst daughter who is 14 is on Spring Break this week and is with me. I also have my 3 year old for a few days. I took my vacation this week to be with the girls, but there is a chance that I may have to go into work for an hour or two during the week.

I am wondering if the court considers 14 old enough to babysit for an hour or two. (there is no first right of refusal for my 3 year old).

 

[CSO286]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? CA

Can anybody tell me what is considered "age appropriate supervision" in CA?

The court order states: "The child must not be left alone without age appropriate supervision".

My olderst daughter who is 14 is on Spring Break this week and is with me. I also have my 3 year old for a few days. I took my vacation this week to be with the girls, but there is a chance that I may have to go into work for an hour or two during the week.

I am wondering if the court considers 14 old enough to babysit for an hour or two. (there is no first right of refusal for my 3 year old).

I would. I have even been known to allow my 10 year old to be at home alone while I went in for an entire work day. (Of course I live 5 minutes away from work.)

Asuuming there is nothing phyiscally or emotionally wrong with the 14 year old, I'd find it odd if the court said she was unsuitable.

 

[randolph76]

There is no legal age set in California for babysitting a sibling.

 

[GoodDadtoBK]

My step-daughter who is 11 is also home with the girls this week and she stays home by herself sometimes if my wife or I have to run out. I know she is mature enough to handle it (I know some 11 year olds who are not).

I just want to make sure that my 3 year old's mom won't have another complaint to throw at me in court next month.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[CSO286]

My step-daughter who is 11 is also home with the girls this week and she stays home by herself sometimes if my wife or I have to run out. I know she is mature enough to handle it (I know some 11 year olds who are not).

I just want to make sure that my 3 year old's mom won't have another complaint to throw at me in court next month.

Thanks for the advice!

She may complain, but I would have a hard seeing this go anywhere.....

 

[stealth2]

14 for a few hours should be no problem. Overnight? Might be an issue.

 

[GoodDadtoBK]

I agree that overnight would be inappropriate.

It would be two hours, at the most, that I would have be away from the girls. I am sure this will be something that she will try to use against me in court which is why I wanted to run it by you guys first.

I am really hoping that a judge is going to eventually tell her to stop bringing these frivilous issues to court, but I am not going to hold my breath for that to happen.

Thanks, again!

 

[CSO286]

I agree that overnight would be inappropriate.

It would be two hours, at the most, that I would have be away from the girls. I am sure this will be something that she will try to use against me in court which is why I wanted to run it by you guys first.

I am really hoping that a judge is going to eventually tell her to stop bringing these frivilous issues to court, but I am not going to hold my breath for that to happen.

Thanks, again!

You can always ask that she be responsible for any and all costs associated with the frivolus claims. (Might not get it, but you can ask.)

 

[nextwife]

I work 3 miles from the house, and my 13 year old has certainly spent a day here and there home without us. Her school has a lot of Teacher Workshop days, and various loong weekends, and I cannot take them off.

 

[CSO286]

I work 3 miles from the house, and my 13 year old has certainly spent a day here and there home without us. Her school has a lot of Teacher Workshop days, and various loong weekends, and I cannot take them off.

Me too......If I took off every day Small has off, we'd never be able to go on vacation.

 

[mistoffolees]

I agree that overnight would be inappropriate.

It would be two hours, at the most, that I would have be away from the girls. I am sure this will be something that she will try to use against me in court which is why I wanted to run it by you guys first.

I wouldn't worry about it. I can't imagine a court objecting to a 14 year old being home with another child for a couple of hours.

I am really hoping that a judge is going to eventually tell her to stop bringing these frivilous issues to court, but I am not going to hold my breath for that to happen.

Thanks, again!

Courts don't like to prevent someone from bringing frivolous suits. It's more likely that the court would order her to pay the expenses or possibly put up a bond rather than forbidding her from filing suit.

 

[GoodDadtoBK]

Fortunately I have been able to respond to most of her issues on my own. I haven't spent much on attorney fees since the initial hearing when I prevented her from moving our daughter across the country.

Since then, I have been to court five times in the last year for things like this. The court dates usually fall on a day that I am with my daughter, so I am not really losing money, I am losing time with her. I don't think the court can reimburse me for that.. although I wish they could.

 

[mistoffolees]

Fortunately I have been able to respond to most of her issues on my own. I haven't spent much on attorney fees since the initial hearing when I prevented her from moving our daughter across the country.

Since then, I have been to court five times in the last year for things like this. The court dates usually fall on a day that I am with my daughter, so I am not really losing money, I am losing time with her. I don't think the court can reimburse me for that.. although I wish they could.

Actually, they can. Point out how many days you've missed due to ex's frivolous suits and ask the court to order compensatory (makeup) time.

 

[GoodDadtoBK]

Really? Is that something they would actually consider?

Since she has been the one who has filed all of these ridiculous cases, she has chosen the dates. They have always fallen on a day when I am with our daughter. Each time we have gone to court the judge's decision has been in my favor.

I am going to request this when we go to court on the 16th.

Thank you so much.