15 year old sibling watching 7 year old overnite

[mmurphybagm]

Georgia is where I live. What are the laws for a 15 year old being alone with her 7 year old sibling overnite?

 

[Isis1]

Georgia is where I live. What are the laws for a 15 year old being alone with her 7 year old sibling overnite?

There isn't any. Is the 15 year old irresponsible? Has she been taught the usage of 911? How far away is another responsible adult? Neighbor? How far away is the parent? The other parent?

 

[mmurphybagm]

15 year old staying with 7 year old overnite

She's very responsible. She knows CPR and my apartment complex is in the middle of town. There are 6 officers that live there in the 24 unit complex. My seperated spouse is 4 miles away. I just don't want to break the law and have my kids taken away, but the alternative is an alcoholic father.

 

[Isis1]

She's very responsible. She knows CPR and my apartment complex is in the middle of town. There are 6 officers that live there in the 24 unit complex. My seperated spouse is 4 miles away. I just don't want to break the law and have my kids taken away, but the alternative is an alcoholic father.

How often do you plan on doing this? Does dad have visitation? Overnights? Has a next door nieghbor been assigned to check in from time to time?

 

[mmurphybagm]

I work nights at a hospital in Labor and Delivery. Three of my neighbors are cops and my friends and now what's going on. As of now, they have been staying with their Dad during the night, but he's getting served this next week and I know that the drinking will increase. Furthermore, my 15 year old told me on Monday that she doesn't think that she can handle staying there cause of the drinking. The visitation has been open to accomodate him and not upset the kids environment, which is about to happen anyway.

 

[Isis1]

I work nights at a hospital in Labor and Delivery. Three of my neighbors are cops and my friends and now what's going on. As of now, they have been staying with their Dad during the night, but he's getting served this next week and I know that the drinking will increase. Furthermore, my 15 year old told me on Monday that she doesn't think that she can handle staying there cause of the drinking. The visitation has been open to accomodate him and not upset the kids environment, which is about to happen anyway.

Granted there is no specific law, but a judge might have a problem with it. Has a GAL been assigned? Once in awhile might not be an issue, but 5 days week might cause the judge's eyebrow to raise. Is dad a danger to the children? Passed out drunk? Unresponsive during an emergency? Having a dead to the world parent might be seen better the a non physically present parent.

Who knows, maybe dad will get a wakeup call when he realizes his daughter is uncomfortable.

 

[mmurphybagm]

We haven't gotten as far as a GAL yet. I meet with my attorney this morning at 9. I will be gone 3 nights a week, if that makes a difference. And yes, passed out dead to the world. I've tried to wake him before by shaking him, loudly calling his name cause my son was sick and throwing up, but to no avail. Wow! So if my daughter spends the night at my apartment and my son stays with his dad, I hold my breath any pray that nothing happens?

 

[stealth2]

Just speaking personally... I wouldn't be keen on leaving a 15yo home alone overnight, but would do it in a pinch. Leaving a 15yo home to supervise a younger child overnight as a regular thing? No.

 

[ecmst12]

This doesn't sound so bad to me, since OP appears to be surrounded by caring neighbors who will look out for the kids, and the teenager seems to be responsible and able to handle the situation. Certainly sounds better then leaving them with drunk daddy.