My 6 yr old is totally fine in my house when/if I’m outside but I definitely wouldn’t leave my yard with him in there. I think it depends on the kid cuz I wouldn’t have been able to leave my daughter inside by herself at 6.
Our son is 6 and I would never leave him alone even if he was with a friend, you never know what could happen!!
No they are to young, to be left alone for any amount of time ! You have every right
I am a grandmother, I would never have left my daughter home alone for 20 minutes at that age and my granddaughter is almost 5, that will never happen with her either.
This post is going to be long, I am 60 years old now. When I was 6, my mom left me at home with my dad while she ran to the neighbors. My dad went to sleep on the couch. The week before I had a fever or something, I remembered thinking the baby aspirin she gave me tasted good, I went to the bathroom, climbed up on the sink, got them out of the medicine cabinet and was eating them when Mom came home and found me. Of course, I was fine, they took me to the ER, when we got home Mom put up all meds, cleaning products, everything that could hurt a child. But it just took a minute for me to find those!
She was on her street and they inside house…do not see prob.
How did you approach your MIL?? Or did you at all? Maybe the dog had to pee and I’m assuming if she took the dog out she was in eye sight of the porch/house? I personally wouldn’t be upset but I am not you.
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Wait, she left the kids in the house while she went out to walk the dog? I don’t see anything wrong with this.
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Remember in her day 6 year old kids would walk home alone, use their key to get in. Call mom to check in. Some kids made simple snacks and called when they were done so mom knew they were ok.
I wouldn’t freak out about it. Tell her you understand she may think it’s ok, but you are the mom and will decide when your child is ready to stay home alone.
It’s definitely not something to destroy a relationship over. 
Let your mil watch your daughter again real soon and remember to set the parameters of how you want her watched. Open honest communication is key.
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I would’ve gone ballistic. Anyone with any sense would know what children can get up to when unsupervised. Plus it’s not legal…for a very good reason. She wouldn’t be left minding mine in future either.
Imagine… oh dear.
You are indeed overreacting.
Wow. Nope you are not over reacting! She left her granddaughter and this other little girl. I would be upset knowing I let my child go to someone’s house and she was left alone. Taking the dog out in the yard to use the bathroom is one thing… but leaving the house walking the dog for 20 minutes is not okay. She could of done that when you got back home.
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Every state is different. My stepson was left home alone with his step sister. She was 9 or 10 maybe and he was 5. Their dog ended up having a seizure right in front of them and died. No one was home. They witnessed it all by themselves. Apparently that’s not enough to lose custody…
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I don’t leave my 6 year old alone in the house ever!! 2 6 year olds is asking for a disaster! Completely dangerous!!!
I used to walk my dog and leave my kids they where ,4&6 they where watching TV and walked the dog in the neighborhood and come back after 20 mins
I didn’t have cameras or anything at all they where good
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I’m with you. She is definitely negligent. Wouldn’t leave my year old lab with her!!
I think it 100% depends on the kids. Now her friend being over there is different because I may leave my kid unattended to take the dog for a walk around the block but if she had a friend over it wouldn’t just because that’s not MY child and I don’t know what the other parent is comfortable with. But I genuinely think it depends on the child. My oldest is 8 and knows how to call 911, knows what to do in the event of a fire or whatever and we’ve told her escape plans whatever whatever. She’s also a very mature and well rounded intelligent kid. I’ve left her to run around the corner to the store to grab stuff for dinner maybe twice. My middle is 5, the extent of me ever leaving him is to walk the trash to the end of the driveway lol and even that’s pushing it cause he is a crazy one and always always getting himself into whatever he can hurt himself with or on. I don’t think there’s a right or wrong answer here and nobody can tell you you’re overreacting cause it’s YOUR kid and you entrusted them with her. Your feelings are valid.
I’m just amazed at all the people saying their 6 year olds are fine alone for 20 min. My kids are 12 and 8 and I still don’t trust the 12 yo to be alone 20 min. Just bc he has yet to listen to anything in his entire life. And my 8 yo is babied and would be scared. My kids are nowhere near how we were growing up.
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Absolutely not! Wouldn’t be watching my kids again
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it all depends on the kid honestly. My 8yo is completely fine for 20 min on her own. But weve done all the safety checks and rules and she stsrted learning them young. In case i were to faint or something. I started teaching her (NOT LEAVING HER) at about 4.5 when i had a brain tumor and received a craniotomy. Being a single mom. I had to start teaching her worse case scenarios and what to do ect.
Yeah that’s not ok for her to do that. If she was just outside the house where they could go and get her that’s different but if she left the area walking the dog that’s a big no.
If you are so worried about your child, you should never leave her. You should have taken her with you!
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Maybe your 6 year olds are raised different but I don’t see the problem
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A six year old is too young to be left alone.
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I would’ve been pissed. You don’t leave at six old by themselves. I would not trust her to watch my children.
20 minutes is way too long!!! Why couldn’t the girls go with her? You have a right to be upset!
Why in the world did she not just take the kids for a walk too?? Or wait?? I would be upset too.
I know mothers who leave their child alone in different parts of the house, such as basements or upstairs bedrooms for 20 mins or longer, you cant always be in the same place as your child, yes things happen , speak to your MIL and if it happens again then be outraged!
I’m in Canada and it’s illegal to leave children under 10 unattended for any amount of time.
Oh I would be very upset 6-year-old doesn’t know how to handle emergencies choking and a variety of emergencies
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Heck no!!! Never in a million years. I have a 6 year old. He needs help still with microwave, fixing food! No way in heck will I ever do that. I don’t where I am at. Heck I know a 10 year old who still can’t defend for herself!! No way in heck will I leave her by herself either. She doesn’t know how to do anything by herself including a microwave!! If they can’t defend for themselves then why leave them alone!! Common sense!! The grandmother could have waited to take the dog or take those kids with her!! No way you’re overreacting!! I was pissed one time that someone left my son in a car by himself for going into a store, paying for gas!! He was young. Anything could happen to a child within seconds!!!
She walked the dog? Or she drove away and left the house?
She wouldn’t be watching my children ever again. I wouldn’t want her help and I wouldn’t trust her.
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I mean it’s your kids and every parent is different.
I personally wouldn’t have an issue if there was a way for the kids to communicate and she was just in the neighborhood.
I was a latch key kid at 6 
Let this serve as a LESSON of what “NOT” to do. Not only did you put your own child in danger, you also endangered the wellbeing of another child.
#HowDareYou
So was she walking the dog in the yard or what? Not enough details. If she was outside for 20.minutes in the yard I’d say it’s no big deal. Hell, you get a shower right? Basically leaving your child unattended.
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Depends on the kid. This would be fine for mine.
That’s a HUGE no-no for me.
Your right if she left the yard, but does the other parent know u left their child in someone else’s care? I would be pissed if they were not supervised by the person I left them with.
20 mins at 6 yrs old is way too long. I never left my kid alone at that age unless I was like right outside in the yard or something and even then I left a door or window open… that was neglectful and I wouldn’t trust her again either.
She should’ve said no because she obviously didn’t watch them.
I’d be pissed too .
No she should have taken the girls with her if she couldn’t wait for you to get back
If you hover, should have taken the girls with you…
and shame on grandma for not knowing that doggies bathroom schedule!
Ummmm…yeah, I would be furious… and you probably better hope the mother of the other child doesn’t find out, probably wouldn’t be allowed to visit your house again… just wow…
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My kids are 15, 11, and 7. I’ll leave my youngest with the older ones for small periods of time because the older ones are responsible enough and my 7 year old is very well behaved. What I WON’T do is leave SOMEONE ELSES kid alone in my house because their parents are expecting me to be caring for their child and I’m not going to assume what I allow my children to do is what someone else would allow their child to do.
The thing is is you clearly asked her to watch them and then she left at the house. Not good.
20 minutes is a long time to leave a two 6 year olds unattended. Maybe I’m a helicopter mom but I don’t even leave my 6 year old unattended even if I’m in the same house. Anything could happen.
That is neglect and is punishable by law. It only takes a second gor a fire to start, kidnapping,robbery anything to happen. She should know better!!!
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I have no words apart from utterly irresponsible and no way she’d be left in care of them again x
Not over-reacting, in fact, I think in most places worldwide, this is illegal.
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I have mixed feelings on this. In a sense yes 20 minutes if going away from the house is a little long but also think since nothing went wrong you’re overreacting. Yes something could have but didn’t. Hey now you know from now on just take the kid with you in my personal opinion.
Not overreacting- you are right to be concerned. Far too young to be left alone.
I think it depends on your kid and how comfortable you are.
I knew how to cook multiple meals, do my laundry and was managing my grandmother’s medications (by choice) and giving her her insulin shots twice a day (also by choice.) at 8.
I can take a walk around the block once or twice alone while the kids play inside. The older 2 know how to lock the doors and turn the alarm on, all of them know where all snacks are, how to use the microwave, and where to go in the house if someone comes to the door (there’s a specific knock we do for them to know it’s us if they used the chain on the door) 90% of the time the kids don’t even leave their rooms while playing to even notice we went to the back yard for almost an hour.
If she was just right out in the yard with the dog no problem. But also if the one is not your kid she shouldn’t have made that decision. Did she walk down the road around the corner or just in circles around the yard where she could hear them playing in ear shot. Did she check in the window or door at all in the 20 mins. I mean I’d go outside and leave my kid inside but I wouldn’t go further
You just posted this in another group… the other day now I wonder if these posts are even real. This is the second time I’ve seen a repost 
some of these comments are a JOKEEE!! it took 20 minutes for a fire to tear through my nextdoor neighbours house killing him and his 2 dogs! we couldn’t access the house while waiting for the fire department as it started by the door!!
DONT LEAVE YOUR YOUNG CHILDREN HOME ALONE! regardless of their capabilities!
I don’t think the issue is whether the 6 year olds are capable of being home alone. The issue is that you trusted your MIL to care for and protect the children in your absence and the fact is, she didn’t. Not only did she leave her grandchild without an adult, she left someone else’s child without any adult supervision which I’m certain the parents would have expected at all times while in your home. I’d be utterly furious. Leaving your child home alone for whatever period of time should only be the choice of the parents and discussed with the child first. She essentially abandoned 2 kids.
Six is really young- I’d be upset. I’m wondering why she didn’t just take the kids with her on the walk?
Just don’t let her baby sit anymore… thats all you need to do . If she was walking the dog she is probably older it probably took her awhile im sure she told them where she was walking the dog at . If she went to town that would be stupid … especially since she knew you were going and thats why she was there … all you can do is ask her what happened ? .
Wasn’t this already posted a few days ago?
Yeah I wouldn’t be happy.
There is also the situation that her friend was there. Bet her mother would not be happy she was not supervised at your house. MIL should have taken them for the walk too.
These people laughing and saying there’s no issue are insane! Imagine what could have happened, there are so many predators out there that could have seen the mil leave and could have went in the house, what if there was an electrical fire, what if one of them choked, could have fallin down the stairs or fell running an hit their head on something… so many different outcomes there could have been. And if you think none of that could ever happen to you, you’re stupid.
1- if you want a job done right, do it yourself
2 - how badly did your raise your child they can’t be unsupervised briefly?
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I wouldn’t trust her again with my kid
Leaving kids alone at that age is not ok!
Nope. I would let her know that is not acceptable and she can’t do that ever again. And then based on her response I would only allow supervised visits.
I need to be able to trust you and if I feel like you’re just placating me and I can’t trust that you won’t do it again, you won’t be watching them alone from then on.
Yeah, not smart on her part. You asked her to watch them and she decided to go for a walk.
If she never left the yard then I would be ok with this but if she took the dog down the street then that’s a hell no.
Hell I need more clarification before I can give an opinion. 
Did the mother in law go on a 20 minute walk away from the house? Or was she just outside of the house? See it really does matter because I don’t see it as a big deal if she was right outside because the kids still have access to her if they need her.
No, I don’t think you’re over reacting. She seems to lack a good sense of judgement. Why did she need to take her dog for a walk at that exact moment? Especially if you were only going to be gone for 1-2hrs for groceries? I’d freak out too.
She betrayed your trust. Never let her watch your children again.
Why complain about your mother in law leaving your child alone, when in actual fact you are the one who left your own child. Remember our children our responsibility. You come across as someone who is very hard on mom in law. And you were waiting on a special moment like this to tell your man how his mommy ain’t shit. Ease up baby
You’re creating problems and stress on your own marriage unnecessary. She made a mistake that you could have avoided. My opinion
I mean, when I was 6 I walked from home from school and was alone for an hour before my mom got home. I’m Gen X and that was our norm so I’m assuming your MIL is a Boomer.
BUT- she said she would watch them so she shouldn’t have left and what concerns me most is that there was a friend there. You have a responsibly to keep that friend safe while in your care.
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she must know her kid is bad and shouldn’t be left alone if she feels this way. She should have taken HER child with her and not left her with the MIL…
I have 4 kids from ages 11-4. If I walk down the street to my sisters house to drop off something or have a small chat with her, I know my kids will be ok. She must not have conversations with her kids about what to do and what not to do when she’s alone. My parents left me and my sister alone since this age and we never had anything happen to us because they taught us what to do and what not to do.
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I wouldn’t trust her again either!
Way too many factors to make an opinion on someone elses choices imo…where do u live? I know every neighbor well and 90% of the town know each other’s children so I wouldn’t see a problem w it where we live. However…do u live in a city? Do u live in a house or apartment? These kinds of decisions r based on way more than the age of the child. Hell I trust my 8yr old more than her 17yr old brother 
and that’s based on personality, not age!
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Why didn’t she take the girls on a walk with her with her dog? Sounds like she cares more about the dog than she does the kids. That’s just my honest opinion. Makes me wonder. 
Times are different now. Kids accidently shooting kids, people breaking in more frequently, fires, kids drowning in bathtubs. 20 minutes alone is too dang long.
I personally don’t think 20 minsalone for two 6 year olds is a huge deal. Things could be worse.
Would never e r watch my kids again…maybe never see them again either
I think if the child knows the basics, not to answer the door for strangers, use the stove & don’t go outside until you get back I think they’ll be okay if you’re just walking around the neighborhood for 20 minutes.
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The fact you even have to ask if you’re over reacting speaks volumes. She would NEVER see me or my kids again if that was my mom.
I’d be mad. She’s not in the yard. What if those girls needed her? They have to go outside yelling for nana during an emergency??
So i would often leaving my child inside at 6 when i needed to be outside. We have farm animals and she didn’t always want to come outside and help. She knew what she could and couldn’t do. She was very responsible at 6 plus I’d leave cartoons or a movie on for her to watch.
Was Grandma actually walking the block or just outside of the camera view? Sounds like she might want to talk with grandma before leaping to conclusions. Things happen even when someone is there watching them! It’s not to say your feelings aren’t valid. Just saying maybe an overreaction. I’m not a hover parent. My daughter was riding her bike for miles without me at 10. But we live in a small town where ever knows everyone. I would get messages when people would see her. Plus she had a tracker on her.
I understand your panic. It’s true things can happen fast. I guess it depends on the kid. Would your daughter & her friend put themselves in danger? (Play with the stove, climb on counters etc) if they’re the type of kids that have to be watched 24/7 because they make poor decisions then yeah I’d be concerned. But normally 6yos can play for 20 minutes without an adult hovering. How far did MIL go? I’ve walked outside several times leaving my kids inside. You have the right to feel how you feel but I wouldn’t ban gma from her gkids.
Yeah, I agree. Twenty minutes is way too long. A six year old should not be unsupervised. I’d talk to her and tell her that’s a no no.
I mean, we used to have kids walking home from school, spending hours home alone, called latch key kids 
Do they know how to get out if there’s a fire? Know not to eat while an adult isn’t there? Have a phone to call 911?
I think to day she’s never watching your kids again is a little extreme. But def have a chat with her
That she couldn’t wait while taking care of two children that are not hers and one that isn’t even related to her is beyond insane to me. I leave my kids alone inside when doing things around our property, but would be upset if someone I asked to watch them did the same. My kids will come looking for me if they need something, to walk around a neighborhood so they couldn’t even run out to get me is just negligent in my opinion.
Was she in the yard? If yes you’re overreacting. Is she allowed to pee?
Did she walk 10 minutes away? That’s a little different but not much. The kids were fine and 10 minutes isn’t out of eyesight unless she’s an Olympic runner with a greyhound
Never live the kids with her again, she is not a responsible adult