leaving a kid in a hotel room question

Apathetic Lurker · 07-09-2009, 05:11 PM

Alrighty.... My wife's ex went to Vegas with his wife and my 13yr old step daughter(his daughter)for a wedding. While him and his wife went gambling/dining they left her and a few other younger kids for her to babysit in the hotel from 6pm to midnight. They did go back a few time to check up on the kids...... Does this seem normal behavior. I'm of the opinion that while I wouldnt do it, it's not such a huge deal. My wife is freaking livid. Is my wife overacting or am I a insensitive jackass?

path12 · 07-09-2009, 05:16 PM

It wouldn't bother me much but I can tell you that Ms.path would be as pissed as your wife is.

Mustang · 07-09-2009, 05:20 PM

Seems like we had this discussion not long ago..

Although, for me, the difference being until Midnight and in Vegas. I would say it probably depends on the maturity level of the 13 year old. I'm not sure I'd leave my daughter alone that long in that situation. If he has been generally irresponsible with other things, probably why your wife is extra pissed.

Swaggs · 07-09-2009, 05:23 PM

I think it is a pretty questionable decision. I probably wouldn't make an issue about it unless your step-daughter was upset over it.

clemsonfan · 07-09-2009, 05:38 PM

Hmmmm...if your step daughter is pretty responsible, then I don't see that it's such a big deal.

Matthean · 07-09-2009, 07:13 PM

Depends on the age of the younger kids, but a 13 year old should be able to pull it off. Also depends on how often they checked back and if the kids knew it. I probably would have wanted to take the kids out so they can see Vegas compared to sitting in some hotel. Of course, there is that golden rule that if nothing happened then it was ok, but if anything did happen then they obviously did a bad job of parenting.

thesloppy · 07-09-2009, 07:27 PM

I don't have kids, so I don't think this is a judgment I can make, but it seems to me that a 13 yr-old babysitting from 6-midnight at one's home is perfectly acceptable, so I wonder what's the dividing line in this situation....obviously it's that we're talking about a hotel room in Las Vegas, instead of someone's home. I think the real safety issue here would be making sure that the 13 year old knew the who and how to contact someone in case of any type of emergency, but beyond that, I don't see how being in a Vegas hotel room is any more dangerous to those kids than being at home, as long as they stay in their room (i'm not certain if that was a requirement or not). I think if you weren't confident that the 13 yr old should be babysitting in Vegas, the she also shouldn't be babysitting at home, but if she has passed that responsibility sniff test in everyday situations, I don't think it would be ridiculous at all to leave her in charge of the kids at a hotel.

SteveMax58 · 07-09-2009, 07:38 PM

Yeah, unless the younger kids are literally infants, I think the 13 yr old should be fine. As thesloppy said...13 is around the age many would use as a babysitter assuming the 13 yr old is the responsible type.

I do question why you might drag along the 13 yr old and the smaller kids to Vegas just to leave them in the hotel room though. Sounds boring for them.

Mustang · 07-09-2009, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveMax58

I do question why you might drag along the 13 yr old and the smaller kids to Vegas just to leave them in the hotel room though. Sounds boring for them.

I was about to write this. Pretty shitty just to leave your kids in the room for 6 hours alone.

sabotai · 07-09-2009, 08:03 PM

+2 to the idea that's it's pretty crappy for them to take them to Vegas and make them stay in a hotel room while they go out and have fun. I get that they wanted to gamble since they were, after all, in Vegas....but it's just odd to me that they would choose to gamble and think of their own good time while they left the kids in a hotel room. I've never been to Vegas, but I have to think that there would plenty of things for a couple with kids to do there. Sounds like a pretty selfish couple to me.

Edit: How long were they in Vegas? Were they there for like a week and this was just one night? Or were they there for just the weekend or a day or two?

Fidatelo · 07-09-2009, 11:17 PM

You don't take your kids to on vacation and then lock them in a hotel room while you hit the town. Safe or not, that's just shitty.

Barkeep49 · 07-09-2009, 11:23 PM

I earned good money a few times babysitting in a situation like this but I agree that this particular instance is shitty though not unsafe.

Mustang · 07-10-2009, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barkeep49

I earned good money a few times babysitting in a situation like this.

You hang out in Vegas hotels and look to babysit kids?

That's pretty creepy.

Apathetic Lurker · 07-10-2009, 05:07 AM

Thanks for the answers....I guess i might have been more reasonable than the mrs. She still wants to tie his balls to the bumper of her truck but at least she stopped frothing at the mouth...

sterlingice · 07-11-2009, 12:51 AM

Kid's 13. As long as she's mature enough to handle it, where's the issue? Then again, yeah, we just had this discussion

SI

stevew · 07-11-2009, 01:09 AM

I think it's very shitty to leave them locked in the hotel. Gotta wonder if they brought her along with the sole intention of using her as a babysitter. I hope they and the other parents gave her some money. Cause if they aren't going to be doing family activities, they may as well left your daughter at your house.

But to freak out over leaving them alone? That's way too much.

Apathetic Lurker · 07-11-2009, 06:29 AM

She got 5 bucks for "babysitting" and no, I dont think she has the maturity level of a 13 yr old. 11 tops..thats still higher than the adults that were there.

Maple Leafs · 07-11-2009, 08:24 AM

Did they have a cell phone or some other way for her to contact that them if she needed to?

Were they in the casino of the same hotel, or off somewhere else?

Apathetic Lurker · 07-11-2009, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

Did they have a cell phone or some other way for her to contact that them if she needed to?

Were they in the casino of the same hotel, or off somewhere else?

Not sure about either but im assuming she had her cellphone. But they have been known to use up her minutes on her. I dont know if the Stratosphere has gambling but since its Vegas, im assuming it does. And not sure if there are other ones nearby or if its off the beaten path.

Comey · 07-11-2009, 11:45 AM

It's good it was in the evening. If it had been morning, Housekeeping might have taken them.

JonInMiddleGA · 07-11-2009, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sabotai

I've never been to Vegas, but I have to think that there would plenty of things for a couple with kids to do there.

You think correctly.

You'd need close to a week of 12+ hour days just to exhaust the free/cheap stuff to do with kids. Trust me, I tried it. And it's why Vegas is my son's second favorite city behind Orlando.

stevew · 07-11-2009, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apathetic Lurker

She got 5 bucks for "babysitting" and no, I dont think she has the maturity level of a 13 yr old. 11 tops..thats still higher than the adults that were there.

That is weak sauce.

Mustang · 07-11-2009, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apathetic Lurker

She got 5 bucks for "babysitting" and no, I dont think she has the maturity level of a 13 yr old. 11 tops..thats still higher than the adults that were there.

I guess the nickel slots weren't paying off.

07-09-2009, 05:16 PM	#2
path12 Coordinator Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Seattle, WA	It wouldn't bother me much but I can tell you that Ms.path would be as pissed as your wife is. __________________ We have always been at war with Eastasia.

07-09-2009, 05:20 PM	#3
Mustang Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Wisconsin	Seems like we had this discussion not long ago.. Although, for me, the difference being until Midnight and in Vegas. I would say it probably depends on the maturity level of the 13 year old. I'm not sure I'd leave my daughter alone that long in that situation. If he has been generally irresponsible with other things, probably why your wife is extra pissed. __________________ You, you will regret what you have done this day. I will make you regret ever being born. Your going to wish you never left your mothers womb, where it was warm and safe... and wet. i am going to show you pain you never knew existed, you are going to see a whole new spectrum of pain, like a Rainboooow. But! This rainbow is not just like any other rainbow, its...

07-09-2009, 05:23 PM	#4
Swaggs Coordinator Join Date: Oct 2000	I think it is a pretty questionable decision. I probably wouldn't make an issue about it unless your step-daughter was upset over it. __________________ DOWN WITH HATTRICK!!! The RWBL Are you reading In The Bleachers?

07-09-2009, 07:13 PM	#6
Matthean Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Aug 2008	Depends on the age of the younger kids, but a 13 year old should be able to pull it off. Also depends on how often they checked back and if the kids knew it. I probably would have wanted to take the kids out so they can see Vegas compared to sitting in some hotel. Of course, there is that golden rule that if nothing happened then it was ok, but if anything did happen then they obviously did a bad job of parenting. __________________ Board games: Bringing people back to the original social network, the table.

07-09-2009, 07:27 PM	#7
thesloppy Pro Starter Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: PDX	I don't have kids, so I don't think this is a judgment I can make, but it seems to me that a 13 yr-old babysitting from 6-midnight at one's home is perfectly acceptable, so I wonder what's the dividing line in this situation....obviously it's that we're talking about a hotel room in Las Vegas, instead of someone's home. I think the real safety issue here would be making sure that the 13 year old knew the who and how to contact someone in case of any type of emergency, but beyond that, I don't see how being in a Vegas hotel room is any more dangerous to those kids than being at home, as long as they stay in their room (i'm not certain if that was a requirement or not). I think if you weren't confident that the 13 yr old should be babysitting in Vegas, the she also shouldn't be babysitting at home, but if she has passed that responsibility sniff test in everyday situations, I don't think it would be ridiculous at all to leave her in charge of the kids at a hotel. Last edited by thesloppy : 07-09-2009 at 07:28 PM.

07-09-2009, 05:38 PM	#5
clemsonfan High School JV Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Dayton, OH	Hmmmm...if your step daughter is pretty responsible, then I don't see that it's such a big deal.

07-09-2009, 07:38 PM	#8
SteveMax58 College Starter Join Date: Dec 2006	Yeah, unless the younger kids are literally infants, I think the 13 yr old should be fine. As thesloppy said...13 is around the age many would use as a babysitter assuming the 13 yr old is the responsible type. I do question why you might drag along the 13 yr old and the smaller kids to Vegas just to leave them in the hotel room though. Sounds boring for them.

07-09-2009, 08:03 PM	#10
sabotai General Manager Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: The Satellite of Love	+2 to the idea that's it's pretty crappy for them to take them to Vegas and make them stay in a hotel room while they go out and have fun. I get that they wanted to gamble since they were, after all, in Vegas....but it's just odd to me that they would choose to gamble and think of their own good time while they left the kids in a hotel room. I've never been to Vegas, but I have to think that there would plenty of things for a couple with kids to do there. Sounds like a pretty selfish couple to me. Edit: How long were they in Vegas? Were they there for like a week and this was just one night? Or were they there for just the weekend or a day or two? Last edited by sabotai : 07-09-2009 at 08:05 PM.

07-09-2009, 11:17 PM	#11
Fidatelo Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Winnipeg, MB	You don't take your kids to on vacation and then lock them in a hotel room while you hit the town. Safe or not, that's just shitty. __________________ "Breakfast? Breakfast schmekfast, look at the score for God's sake. It's only the second period and I'm winning 12-2. Breakfasts come and go, Rene, but Hartford, the Whale, they only beat Vancouver maybe once or twice in a lifetime."

07-09-2009, 11:23 PM	#12
Barkeep49 Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Not too far away	I earned good money a few times babysitting in a situation like this but I agree that this particular instance is shitty though not unsafe.

07-10-2009, 05:07 AM	#14
Apathetic Lurker College Prospect Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Buffalo,NY	Thanks for the answers....I guess i might have been more reasonable than the mrs. She still wants to tie his balls to the bumper of her truck but at least she stopped frothing at the mouth...

07-11-2009, 12:51 AM	#15
sterlingice Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Back in Houston!	Kid's 13. As long as she's mature enough to handle it, where's the issue? Then again, yeah, we just had this discussion SI __________________ Houston Hippopotami, III.3: 20th Anniversary Thread - All former HT players are encouraged to check it out! Janos: "Only America could produce an imbecile of your caliber!" Freakazoid: "That's because we make lots of things better than other people!"

07-11-2009, 01:09 AM	#16
stevew Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: the yo'	I think it's very shitty to leave them locked in the hotel. Gotta wonder if they brought her along with the sole intention of using her as a babysitter. I hope they and the other parents gave her some money. Cause if they aren't going to be doing family activities, they may as well left your daughter at your house. But to freak out over leaving them alone? That's way too much.

07-11-2009, 06:29 AM	#17
Apathetic Lurker College Prospect Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Buffalo,NY	She got 5 bucks for "babysitting" and no, I dont think she has the maturity level of a 13 yr old. 11 tops..thats still higher than the adults that were there. Last edited by Apathetic Lurker : 07-11-2009 at 06:34 AM.

07-11-2009, 08:24 AM	#18
Maple Leafs Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2002	Did they have a cell phone or some other way for her to contact that them if she needed to? Were they in the casino of the same hotel, or off somewhere else? __________________ Down Goes Brown: Toronto Maple Leafs Humor and Analysis

07-11-2009, 11:45 AM	#20
Comey College Starter Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: CT via PA via CA via PA	It's good it was in the evening. If it had been morning, Housekeeping might have taken them. __________________

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