Yeah what the fuck, I hate stuff like this. Surely the kids had the babysitter's phone number. I remember having to work while the kids were on summer break and think 11 is the age you are allowed to leave them unsupervised in FL. My kids did babysitting at 14! Overnight with literal babies, sometimes. And the 14 year old in question acted appropriately, obviously they aren't irresponsible.

My parents left me at home, if I didn't want to go on a trip, from 10 or so years and it was fine. Even before cell phones, and back when crime rates were exponentially higher here. It was so nice for me, to have time alone, I remember how nice it felt.

It's a bigger example of the laundromat problem. I drive to the laundromat with a baby in a car seat and the laundry in baskets. Do I leave the baby in the car and take the laundry in, or take the baby in and go back out to get the laundry? I can't carry all of them at once, it's an impossible situation.

Hopefully the charges are thrown out and the kids stay with her. Abusive dad seems a much worse choice.