Posted on 03/21/2012 7:39:08 AM PDT by ConservativeStatement
Child endangerment charges have been filed against an Uptown couple accused of flying to Las Vegas and leave their two children, 12 and 9, home alone for nearly two days, police said.
The couple took the trip last month, but the charges were not filed until this week, according to police. Shanpreta Howard, 34, and Antowain Johnson, 36, of the 4800 block of North Winthrop Avenue, are both charged with two misdemeanor counts of endangering the health and life of a child.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
Did anything bad happen to the children?
A 9 and 12 year old are fine alone during the day but two days is a bit much in today’s world.
12 years old is old enough to baby sit. I don’t see what the issue is here.
It wasn’t that long ago that people married at 12 and 13
My parents left me home for 8 hours as a 12 year old and boy what a mess I made of the house.....never let me stay home alone again. lol. I just wanted to cook and made a big mess of the kitchen.
Shanpreta and Antowain... clearly traumatized by the names given to them by their own parents.
I disagree. For a few hours or an afternoon, sure, depending on the children, but overnight? No way.
-PJ
>> Shanpreta Howard, 34, and Antowain Johnson, 36,
Funny... I didn’t think the Amish were *into* gambling!
I was babysitting for money at 12.
Pretty sure 12 year old is legal to babysit in most states... 2 days might be a bit of a stretch in terms of time unless you have a relative of neighbor close by/checking in on them, but I don’t know if I’d make a federal case out of it.
I don’t know if I’d personally do it, but a 12 yo and a 9 yo should be able to survive okay for a couple of days.
I agree, my son could handle such things at that age without any issues.
It’s right on the line for me. If it was just a 12 year old, still not thrilled, but I could see it depending on the maturity of the 12 year old.
If it were a 14 year old and a 9 year old, two days is about the limit with frequent phone calls.
But I sure wouldn’t suggest a 12 and a 9 year old alone for 2 days.
Does it rise to the level of “child endangerment”? I think that is an overreach by the government.
My parents went somewhere for several days when my brother and I were that age. We went to school during the days, and a neighbor’s teenager, 16 or so, came over in the evenings to help us fix supper, and spent the night. Kids that age can be reasonably responsible, but for that length of time, I think sensible parents would have arranged someone to check on them and be available in an emergency.
Guess that race ...
more on the story (with plenty of pictures)
With both parents working, my sisters and I were home alone pretty much every day.
Having once been a Pit Boss at a casino, I can tell you that they are definitely *into* gambling. They also like to blame dealers for "taking" their rent money, light bill payments, children's shoes, etc. I often spoke up to point out that the dealer didn't "take" anything, it was willingly put on the table and lost.
I was babysitting for money at 12 as well...
For two days - that’s a bit much. Don’t think that neglect comes into play here though.
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