For context, she had a babysitter coming in the mornings to check in, make lunches, get them off to school, and prep dinner for them. All the 14 year old had to do was help them get inside after school. Microwave dinner. Get kids in bed and text mom updates. This was a work trip and they threatened to fire her if she did not go. The father has abuse charges and the police handed him their kids on top of arresting her.

Why exactly should women have kids in a world that despises them for it and yet demands they make kids anyway? What is the point?

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[–] 1 point 20 minutes ago

Where did the extra info come from? The article was very short and did not mention a husband at all or her threat of being fired.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 hour ago

    What is the point?

    There’s a logic to the Cathars reasons. But also… 🎼 In the circle, the circle of life…🎶

    We all search for purpose. I guess you gotta be Neo and choose?

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  • [–] 8 points 3 hours ago (2 children)

    If this case landed in my lap during the time I was a cop, I was trained and instructed to look for a handful of things:

    • Are they safe?

    • Do they have access to food and water?

    • Do they know how to reach help in an emergency? (Access to phone and knowledge of 911 or a close neighbor at home 24/7)

    • Are they getting to school, if they're old enough?

    Seems like the answers are Yes, Yes, (probably) Yes, and Yes, so... there's no case here, the way I see it.

    Obviously Nevada's laws aren't the same as Florida's, but this seems ridiculous.

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  • [–] 11 points 6 hours ago

    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.

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  • [–] 16 points 7 hours ago

    Welcome to the US.

    Where we support no one except rich fucks and corporate interests.

    What a fucking disgrace.

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  • [–] 22 points 8 hours ago (1 child)

    This was a work trip and they threatened to fire her if she did not go.

    In a just world the ones threatening her would be the ones being jailed.

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  • [–] 17 points 8 hours ago (2 children)

    Is there a case against the employer for essentially forcing her into this position?

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  • [–] 59 points 12 hours ago (4 children)

    The kids were 9, 11, 12 and 14. It all depends on the kids but, in general, kids this old should be able to take care of themselves for a couple of days without issues. Putting someone in jail for basic parenting is insane.

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  • [–] 1 point 13 minutes ago

    Maybe. I was taking care of myself (latchkey kid) a lot, but this was five days. I asked my wife who is a bit of an expert and she felt that was too long too. Obviously, there was a problem since 911 was called. It would be different, I think, if the babysitter had stayed over night.

    I'm not sure it rises to the level of arrest but in America there is arrest and then just shooting people.

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  • [–] 4 points 2 hours ago

    I would argue it’s even necessary and/or a good thing. How else are they supposed to become independent human beings if they don’t get some responsibility and freedom from time to time?

    I think the worst thing parents can do is completely shield their kids from the “adult world” until they are almost or even beyond 18. Then they move out at some point and are suddenly completely helpless and have zero habits necessary to manage life on their own.

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  • [–] 6 points 8 hours ago (3 children)

    Part of the issue here is the whole overcompensating for systemic inadequacies in CPS. There are so many stories of CPS dropping the ball on the other side of the equation. Then a mom let's their kids walk to school and gets arrested. Or a mom has her 14yo look after their siblings while she is away on business. How does arresting a parent help them care for their kids?

    Worst, in this case, is that Dad didn't have custody for a reason. And now the kids are with Dad.

    That being said, 14 is not old enough for that level of responsibility. Watch their siblings while Mom and Dad go on a date? Sure. Be responsible for most of the family's well-being while Mom is completely out of town? At 14? That's too much. I doubt anything would have changed if there was a babysitter or guardian there. That doesn't change the fact that 14 is too young to be fully responsible for kids over a span of days. Still doesn't justify arresting her. That's just grandstanding bullshit

    I really feel for this woman, because she really is screwed either way. There's no winning. Especially if she doesn't have family to call on to help. But now, instead of losing her job, she has to fight charges, fight to get her kids back, and (knowing how these things go) likely have to find a new job. It's a real kick in the ovaries.

    Get me out of this timeline, please

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  • [–] 3 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

    On s upon a time a 13 year old was considered an adult, a young adult but still capable of making rational decisions (like babysitting children and self care). It's funny that you're saying she's screwed either way because she wouldn't be if people like you were rational. It's not ideal to have to leave for work, but it's not like she left toddlers alone, she hired professional adult supervision in addition to the supervision of the teens. Some of the adults in your life were latchkey children who walked themselves to school and handled their own affairs. You should speak to them and ask them about it. Some of those adults babysat family and friends children as young adults themselves far before they could drive.

    Attitudes like yours destroy communities and the next generations independence. Fuck learned helplessness.

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  • [–] 4 points 7 hours ago (1 child)

    Your points you've made show me that you either didn't read the article; or are too inept to comprehend what you've read.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 hour ago

    Nah I 100% didn't read the article. I'm pretty inept too. Care to enlighten me on what I got wrong? Aside from thinking 14 year olds shouldn't be responsible for taking care of three kids for 5 days and nights, that's an opinion

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  • [–] 23 points 12 hours ago* (1 child)

    Putting this woman in jail is insane. The situation is shitty and far from good but these kids aren’t toddlers and they had check in and older children.

    Kids this age are more than capable of taking care of themselves for a limited period.

    Florida.txt. Flood the entire state.

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  • [–] 49 points 14 hours ago (3 children)

    Age of consent in Florida is 16, which is only 2 years older than the oldest kid who wasn't legally responsible enough to care for her siblings. You can get pregnant at 16 and you're on your own, but at 14, even with a baby sitter checking in daily, your mom goes to jail. What a world to be alive in.

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  • [–] 5 points 8 hours ago (2 children)

    I get your point and agree. But the thing is that this 14 year old still was completely responsible for his 3 younger siblings the times the babysitter wasn't there. Which is a lot. I know it was and still is normalized for elder siblings to take responsibility for their siblings but this really can be harmful.

    I guess this one time not too much but it shouldn't be the norm.

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  • [–] 5 points 11 hours ago (6 children)

    Yet another reason to avoid children. What other option did she have?

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  • [–] 3 points 9 hours ago (5 children)

    Not go, then take the company to court for unfair dismissal.

    Pay for a 24/7 sitting service then charge it back to the company. Take the company to court if they don't pay.

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  • [–] 4 points 5 hours ago (2 children)

    Both plans require several assumptions. Unless she found a lawyer willing to do the work for free it'll cost her too much. Most states are "right to work" states meaning both plans are DOA if there. Bill your employer... Ya they'll send a pink slip in response.

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  • [+] -10 points 7 hours ago

    Sounds like a skill issue. Someone should have explained to her ~15 years ago how birth control works and then she wouldn't be in this mess.

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