For years now, I have planned my entire existence around difficult child....it could not be helped.
Now - difficult child will be turning 16 next month.
Summer starts in two months.
I am NOT, NOT NOT spending another summer tied to my house because difficult child cannot function without supervision.
Now, she absolutely, positively cannot be left home alone. No way. No how.
So - what the heck can I do with her so I can get some time to myself?
She is already hinting that there is no way she will be able to get a job. There are no summer camps around here for kids her age (unless she got hired as a counselor).
Is it OK for me to just drop her off at the mall or at the library while I go and do stuff without her? It feels pretty irresponsible to just drop her off somewhere...plus she's likely to get up to no good.
She already comes up with cash and clothes and jewelry and snacks....and that's without having a job and without me giving her any money! So stealing and scamming? Yes. Will she do that if I drop her off at the mall on Saturdays? Probably.
But - what are my responsibilites here? If I could trust her at all - this wouldn't be such a huge problem. Do I really have to keep her chained to my hip all summer long - again???
Ideas?
Thoughts?
Now - difficult child will be turning 16 next month.
Summer starts in two months.
I am NOT, NOT NOT spending another summer tied to my house because difficult child cannot function without supervision.
Now, she absolutely, positively cannot be left home alone. No way. No how.
So - what the heck can I do with her so I can get some time to myself?
She is already hinting that there is no way she will be able to get a job. There are no summer camps around here for kids her age (unless she got hired as a counselor).
Is it OK for me to just drop her off at the mall or at the library while I go and do stuff without her? It feels pretty irresponsible to just drop her off somewhere...plus she's likely to get up to no good.
She already comes up with cash and clothes and jewelry and snacks....and that's without having a job and without me giving her any money! So stealing and scamming? Yes. Will she do that if I drop her off at the mall on Saturdays? Probably.
But - what are my responsibilites here? If I could trust her at all - this wouldn't be such a huge problem. Do I really have to keep her chained to my hip all summer long - again???
Ideas?
Thoughts?